Precycladic period As of ancient times, the prolific development of the Greek spirit owes much to the contribution of Paros. Remains of temples and monuments, as well as finds of antique objects such as tableware and figurines are witnesses to the island's history. A first testimony of this history dates back to the stone age, as proven by the excavations in Salianga, a small island between Paros and Antiparos, where a settlement of the late stone age (end of the 5th to the begining of the 4th millennium B.C.) was uncovered. Figurines of exquisite artwork were found in settlements and tombs on Paros. They comfirm that, during the Cycladic and more specifically the Precycladic period, a remarkable civilisation was developed. During the mid and late Cycladic period, even though the Minoan civilisation of Crete dominated the area of the Aegean sea, Paros continued to grow in importance. It was known under different names, such as: Minois, Iria, Iliessa, Kavarnis, Zakinthos, Minoa, Dimitrias and Platia. It derives its present n me from Paros, the son of Parrasios, a native of Arcadia, who, along with other colonists, settled on the island.
Ionians - period of prosperity The arrival and settling of the island by the Ionians turned Paros into a rich and mighty power. Thus, it was able to establish its own colonies on Thassos, on Propontis and in the Adriatic. The great poet Archilohos of Paros (7th century B.C.), believed to be a contemporary of Homer, lived on Paros at some time during this golden age of the Northern Aegean. Inscriptions found in Elita prove the existence of a temple dedicated to this great poet. It was here that his fellow countrymen came to worship him. At this same period, the artistic life on Paros flourished, as witnessed by finds of richly sculptured decorations. These finds are now exhibited in the museums of Parikia, Asklipion and Delion.
Classical period - Roman - Byzantine years The golden age of Paros lasted the length of the classical period. This was mainly due to the famous marble of Paros, of a pure, dazzling white. Masterpieces of Ancient Greek art, such as the Hermes of Praxitelis and the Afroditi of Milos, were sculptured in Parian marble extracted from the ancient quarry of Marathion. During this period, the art of sculpture reached its peak, with masters like Agorakritos, Scopas and Aristion. As of the 5th century B.C, Paros was dominated successively by Persia, Athens, Sparta, Thebe, Macedonia and the Ptolemeans. A long period of decline had started. It was followed by the Roman domination, which lasted till the foundation of the Byzantine Empire. During the 4th century A.C., idolatry was abolished to be replaced by the Christian faith, gradually gaining the whole island.
New period This period sees a decline of the island's population, leaving it practically deserted. This made it into an ideal base for the North African pirates to launch their raids from. This black page in the history of Paros is followed by the Frankish domination (1207 - 1535). From this period dates the construction of the castles of Parikia, Kefalos and Naoussa. In 1537, after the fall of the Venetians, Barbarossa took possession of the island. It was ruthlessly laid waste. Then, in 1560, came the Turks. During the Turkish occupation, the island flourished thanks to the Sultan's religious concessions. To witness: the traditional architecture of churches and houses of that period. Paros took an active part in the revolution of 1821 (with Manto Mavrogenous as one of the heroes). Their freedom had to be defended once again in the Greek-Italian war of 1940 and in the National Resistance against the Axis invasion. Astonishingly, Greek civilisation survived against the most appalling odds. This was due, in great part, to the efforts of the island's intelligentsia.
History of Paros
As of ancient times, the prolific development of the Greek spirit owes much to the contribution of Paros. Remains of temples and monuments, as well as finds of antique objects such as tableware and figurines are witnesses to the island's history. A first testimony of this history dates back to the stone age, as proven by the excavations in Salianga, a small island between Paros and Antiparos, where a settlement of the late stone age (end of the 5th to the begining of the 4th millennium B.C.) was uncovered. Figurines of exquisite artwork were found in settlements and tombs on Paros. They comfirm that, during the Cycladic and more specifically the Precycladic period, a remarkable civilisation was developed. During the mid and late Cycladic period, even though the Minoan civilisation of Crete dominated the area of the Aegean sea, Paros continued to grow in importance. It was known under different names, such as: Minois, Iria, Iliessa, Kavarnis, Zakinthos, Minoa, Dimitrias and Platia. It derives its present n me from Paros, the son of Parrasios, a native of Arcadia, who, along with other colonists, settled on the island.