IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Μαυροειδή Μαρία Μετάφραση : Βελέντζας Γεώργιος , Ντοβλέτης Ονούφριος , Νάκας Ιωάννης (29/6/2005) Για παραπομπή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Μαυροειδή Μαρία , "Naxos", 2005, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία Περίληψη : Γενικές Πληροφορίες Area: 389.434 km2 Coastline length: 133 km Population: 18,188 Island capital and its population: Naxos or Chora (6,533) Administrative structure: Region of South Aegean, Prefecture of the Cyclades, Province of Naxos, Municipality of Naxos (Capital: Naxos or Chora, 6,533), Municipality of Drymalia (Capital: Chalkeio, 408) Local newspapers: Kykladiki, Naxia, The Mask Local radio stations: Erasitechnikos (90.3), Pnevmatiki Kivotos (92.3), Kyklades FM (97.6 and 104.4), Radiofonia Kykladon (101.3), Naxos FM (103.1), Mesogeios (105.4), Space FM (107.5) Local TV stations: Zeus TV Museums: On-the-site Museum of Metropolis Square, Archaeological Museum of Naxos, Apeiranthos Archaeological Collection, Naxos Folklore Museum, Naxos Natural History Museum, Apeiranthos Geological Museum Archaeological sites and monuments: Archaic sanctuaries at Yria, Sagri and the islet of Palatia (Portara), Zas cave, Unifinished colossal statues of the Archaic period (kouroi) at Melanes and at Apollonas, Tower of Cheimarros, Hellenistic Towers (Plaka Tower), Medieval Towers (Tower of Mavrogenis, Oskelou, Agias, Ypsilis, Bazaios, Barotsi at Filoti, Della Rocca), Castle of Chora, Glezos tower, Emery mines, Church of Panagia Protothroni at Chalki, Church of Panagia Drosiani at Moni Traditional settlements: Apeiranthos, Filoti, Naxos (Chora) Natural monuments: The Zas cave. The central and south area of Naxos (Zas and Vigla up to Maurovouni and the sea area from Karades to Moutsouna) have been included in the European network "NATURA 2000" as a Site of Community Importance (SCI). The mountains Zas, Maurovouni and Koronos have been declared Important Bird Areas of Greece Cultural clubs: Naxian Associations' Federation, Naxos Cinema Club, Naxos Environmental Movement, Association for the Protection of the Environment of Naxos, Naxos Touristic-Cultural Association "Xenios Zeus", Naxos' Cultural Association, Melanes' Association "Kouros o Ellinas", Kynidaros' Cultural Association Events: "Klidonas" at Melanes (May 31st), Cultural events in Della Roca Tower Festivals: Naxos Festival at Bazaios Tower Religious feasts: On St Irene's day at Kynidaros (May 5th), on St Thalalaios' day at Agios Thalalaios (May 20th), feast of Panagia Argokoiliotissa at Koronos (on Friday before Easter), on St Apostles' day at Melanes (June 30th), on St Kyriaki's day at Potamia (July 7th), on St Prokopios' day at Agios Prokopis (July 8th), on St Nikodemos' day at Chora and at Glinado (July 14th), on St Marina's day at Aggidia and at Koronos (July 17th), on St Anna's day at Agia Anna (July 25th), on St Paraskevi's day at Kynidaros (July 26th), on St Panteleimon's day at Agersani (July 27th), Transfiguration of the Saviour at Glinado, Damariona and Kourounochori (August 6th), Dormition of Virgin Mary all over Naxos and especially at Filoti (August 15th), on the ninth day after the Dromition of Virgin Mary ("enniamera") at Tripodes (August 23d), on the eve of the Decapitation of St John at Apeiranthos, Apollonas and Agersani (August 29th), feast of Virgin MaryTheoskepasti at Komiaka and at Potamia (September 8th), feast of Panagia (Virgin Mary) Drosiani at Moni (September 8th), on the day of the feast of the Holy Cross at Tripodes and at Moni (September 14th), on St Artemios' day at Kynidaros (October 20th), on St Nicholas' day at Kynidaros (December 6th) Sport clubs: Sport Club "Panaxiakos Omilos Kykladon", Naxos Sport Club, Filoti Sport-Educational Club "Zeus", Sport Club "Asteras Tragaias", Koronida Sport Club, Sport Club "Naxos 2004", Sport Club of Agersani's Association, Sport Club "Anagennisi Eggaron", Naxos Gymnastic Club, Naxos Rifle Club Δημιουργήθηκε στις 2/10/2021 Σελίδα 1/9 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Μαυροειδή Μαρία Μετάφραση : Βελέντζας Γεώργιος , Ντοβλέτης Ονούφριος , Νάκας Ιωάννης (29/6/2005) Για παραπομπή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Μαυροειδή Μαρία , "Naxos", 2005, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία 1. Position - Environment Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades, situated around the centre of the island cluster, to the east of Paros and to the south of Mykonos. From north to south the island is crossed by a mountain range, whose highest point is Mount Zas (1,001 m). The eastern sides of the range are particularly steep, in contrast to the western ones, which are gentle and end in flat and arable land, thus making Naxos the most fertile island of the Cyclades. The coastline is not particularly sinuous, although sometimes (Cape Stavros in the east) oblong headlands and small gulfs with beautiful and tranquil beaches are formed. The organised and modern port of the capital is in the west, on the bay of Naxos, the largest of all bays. There is fine quality marble in the subsoil of Naxos, while emery, a hard rock known from Antiquity as ‘Naxian Soil’, is still mined and has always been used by Cycladic stone carvers. 2. Historical Background 2. 1. Prehistory and Antiquity According to tradition, Naxos is the island where Theseus, on his way back from Crete, provisioned his ship and abandoned Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos. Dionysos fell in love with her there and took her to Mount Olympos via Mount Drion (Zas) giving her immortality. The first evidence of habitation in Naxos has been traced in the Cave of Zas dating back to the late Neolithic Period (4th millennium), while the Cave was continuously used until the late Historical years. In the Early Cycladic period (3rd millennium) Naxos became one of the Cycladic civilization centres and, as a result, the latterʹs initial developmental phase, the Early Cycladic Ι, was named ʺGrotta‑Pelosʺ phase after the important findings in the town of Grotta, on the north limit of the present Chora. The central position of Naxos as the crossroads of sea routes, but also marble and emery, are the key factors for the cultural and economic development of this period, which is mainly expressed through stone figurines and the development of stone carving in general. In the Mycenaean period (1600‑1100 BC) Grotta with its cemeteries at Kamini and Aplomata help Naxos maintain its major role in spreading the Mycenaean civilization over the Cyclades. The Archaic period appoints Naxos to one of the most famous and thriving Aegean centres, as proven by the big number of archaic sanctuaries (Sangri, Gyroulas, Portara, Yria) and the development of sculpture (monumental Kouroi, Sphinx of the Naxians in Delphi, House of the Naxians in Delos). Aristocrats seem to dominate this period and the island must have been in a period of great economic growth. Together with colonists from Chalcis the Naxians founded Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily, already from 735 BC. In the second half of the 6th century BC, Lygdamis, helped by the Athenian Peisistratos, seized power and governed as a tyrant. In the same period Naxos extended its power into Paros and Andros. Around 510 BC the tyranny was abolished and a group of aristocrats was exiled. They were the same who pointlessly attacked the island in 501 BC, helped by Aristagoras, the tyrant of Miletus, and originally supported by the Persians. In 490 BC, Naxos was destroyed by the Persians but in the Sea Battle of Salamis and the Battle of Plataea the island contributed to the Greek victory. Then Naxos took part in the First Athenian League in 478/477 BC but left very early. It was finally subjugated by the Athenians (466 BC) and became a tributary of Athens. In 376 BC, Naxos became briefly a member of the Δημιουργήθηκε στις 2/10/2021 Σελίδα 2/9 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Μαυροειδή Μαρία Μετάφραση : Βελέντζας Γεώργιος , Ντοβλέτης Ονούφριος , Νάκας Ιωάννης (29/6/2005) Για παραπομπή : Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Τσώνος Κωνσταντίνος , Μαυροειδή Μαρία , "Naxos", 2005, Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία Second Athenian League by force. In the Hellenistic years Naxos became a member of the Commonwealth of the Islands (2nd c. BC), while in 41 BC it was incorporated in the Roman province of the Aegean Islands (provincia insularum), seated in Rhodes. 2. 2. Byzantine Period - Modern Times There is not enough information about the development of Naxos in the Byzantine times. However, the important remains of Byzantine architecture and painting (6th‑14th c. AD) prove that the island played a pivotal role in the Cyclades in this period as well. After Constantinople was conquered by the Franks (1204), Naxos became the seat of the Duchy of Naxos under the command of Marco Sanudo. This fact led Naxos to progress and development as it became the economic and commercial centre for Latin sovereigns. Latins streamed to Naxos and, as a result, a large part of the population converted to Catholicism; the two Christian religious communities (Orthodox and Catholics) have been living together in Naxos ever since. In 1537 Hayreddin Barbarossa, in command of the Ottoman fleet, occupied Naxos and other Cycladic islands and made the island subject to Ottoman taxation. Some years later, in 1566, Sultan Selim II conceded the administration of the former Duchy of Naxos to the Jewish diplomat Joseph Nasi and in 1580 Sultan Murad III conceded a preferential treatment (ahtname) to the islands of Andros, Milos, Paros, Santorini, Naxos, Syros and Sifnos. According to this treatment, the islands were absolutely free in religious matters, taxes were reduced, the Janissaries were not allowed to settle and devşirme (levy of boys from the Christian rural population for service at the palace or the army) was prohibited. The treatments granted to the island during Ottoman rule favoured the development of communal institutions. During the Greek War of Independence in 1821, despite the negative or wavering attitude of the upper social strata, some of the Naxians took actively part in the operations against the Ottomans with two ships and two armed corps.