Kea: Cyclades’ unassuming historical niche (#1)

For a tiny island off Attica, Kea is rich in myth and history. 

Once upon a time, according to ancient myth, Kea was a lusciously green island called Hydrossa and was populated by beautiful mythical creatures, the water nymphs, who blessed it with its many fresh springs and fountains. 

So affluent was the island that the nymphs caused the envy of gods who punished them by sending a fierce lion that turned the island into this seemingly dry land. The faithful inhabitants appealed to the semi-god Aristaios, son of Apollo and the nymph Kyrini who rescued the island and made sure that Zeus was kept appeased by dedicating a temple to him at the highest point on the island.

Kea’s safety of harbours established it as a convenient haven on route between mainland Greece and the Cyclades. Ancient ruins found on it’s hills and coastal areas, particularly that of a cemetery and settlement on the peninsula of Kefala between Otzias and Agias Nikolaos dated around 3300 BC, is the first example of systematic burial in the entire Aegean.

The first reports of Kea’s Ionian inhabitants, also known as Keos, date back to 12th Century AD. Kea’s ancient independent cities, Karthea, Korissia, Ioulis, Poiessa date back since 6th Century AD and traded with many civilisations reaching as far as Egypt and Mesopotamia. This developed the island’s commercial and cultural impression in the area with Keians known to take part in the ancient Olympics while they also minted their own coins. 

They have famously fought the Persians in naval battle of Salamis and the words of famous Kean poet, Simonides of Ioulis are known to all:

"At Marathon the Athenians fought for Greece and scattered the might of the Mede and all his gold.

Stranger, go tell the Lacedemonians that we lie here in obedience to their word"

Kea’s turbulent relationship with neighbouring superpower of the time, Athens, developed both affluence at times of peace and philosophical or lyrical talent during times of upheaval. To name but a few, Bachylides, the great lyric poet, Xenomides, the historian of myths and traditions, Pythokleides, the sophist and music teacher whose most famous pupil was Perikles, and Prodicos, who with Protagoras was considered the father of linguistics and philology were among those who left their imprint in Greek and world history.