History & Civilization

In Paros, as well as in many other islands of Cyclades, there are traces of civilization, which proclaim constant presence of life for 6000 years now.

According to archeological data, the colonization of Cyclades starts in the beginning of the newer Neolithic period (5.000 BC). We come across the first traces of life in Paros, in Saliagko, a little island between Paros and Antiparos. In 1965, during the excavations of Evans and Renfrew, there were found remains of an active Neolithic civilization, an entire state under the sea, which had been developed between 4.300 and 3.900 BC. The habitants of Paros then, were living from fishing, hunting and primitive agriculture.

During the Copper age, three great civilizations appear in the Greek area: the Cycladic (3.200 – 2.000 BC), the Minoan (2.000 – 1.500 BC) and the Mycenaean (1.600 – 1.100 BC). The development of navigation allows the sailors to make long trips, trading products, new ideas and technological accomplishments. The arts are in flush and the Cycladic marble carvers create unique masterpieces, the wonderful Cycladic figurines.

Villages of Paros, where traces of Cycladic civilization were found, are Kampos, Drios, Koukounaries, Plastiras, Glyfa and Faragas. Gleanings of the Cycladic civilization in Paros, from the age of Copper, are saved in excellent condition and are exhibited in the Archeological Museum of Paros, in Paroikia. It mainly concerns burial offerings, marble and ceramic vessels, copperware and figurines.

During the Minoan period, Paros, in the centre of Cyclades, gathers due to its three ports (Paroikia, Naoussa and Drios) military meaning for the Cretans.

After 1.400 BC the Mycenaean civilization starts to gradually dominate in Aegean, where it will also be consolidated in the next two centuries. However, around 1.200 BC this great civilization starts to collapse and new Mycenaean residents from mainland Greece is observed to be settled in Cyclades. A group of Arcadians with leader someone called Paros, migrates eastern and disembarks in Paros where they also settle. The island, which up to that period was called Minoa, takes the name of the leader and from then on, it is called Paros.

The decadence of the Mycenaean civilization, comes to cover the Phoenician propagation. The Phoenicians were merchandising leather, fleece and metals and from Paros marble.

During the Iron age, agriculture is developed in Paros and for this reason, the sanctuary of goddess Dimitra, the patron saint of agriculture, acquire fame outside the island as well. At the end of 9^th BC century and in the 8^th BC century, Paros goes over big thriving. Vessels and subjects of the geometrical period could be admired by someone, in the Archeological museum of Paros, in Paroikia of Paros (www.greece-museums.com).

During the archaic period (700 – 480 BC) residents of Paros establish in 680 BC settlement in Thassos, which disposed great deposits of gold, while later in Hellisponto and in Thrace. Paros is incorporated in the axis of Athens-Eretria-Militos.

The marble quarries in the island operate intensively. During the 6^th BC century, Paros exports sculptures, statues and marble sculptures, reining in marble carving from Naxos. A grand building, built out of Parian marble in Delphi was the Treasure of Sifnos.

During the 1^st half of the 7^th BC century, lived Archilochos the Parian, the premier lyrical poet, who is considered to match Homer. Archilochos from Paros together with poetess Sappho from Lesvos turned poetry from epic battles to love and human feelings. His work unfortunately was saved only segmentally.

The end of this period will find Paros in an unfamiliar flourishing, which will also continue in the next period.

In the beginning of the classical period that is in 480 BC, Paros is under great economical and artistic flourishing and from its workshops come out great statues, like the statue of Victory (470 BC). The Parian marble is in great demand and during this period Paros produces more marble than the mountain of Penteli in Athens. The sanctuary of Apollo in Delos, the statue of Victory in Paionia as well as many works of Parian sculptor Scopas are made out of marble from Paros.

Scopas fashioned the sculptures of the sanctuary of Athena in Tegea as well as the mausoleum of Alikarnassos and the sanctuary of Ephesias Artemis.

The city of Paros, during that period, has fifty thousand residents, wonderful marble buildings and sanctuaries. It is one of the brightest and most beautiful cities of Greece, with high-school, theatre and stadium. It was then when the Asklipieo and the sanctuary of Pythios Apollo were built.

From 338 BC Paros becomes member of the Panhellenic Alliance, which was organized by the Macedonian king Phillip for the expedition against the Persians and remains in it until the death of Alexander the Great.

During the Hellenistic period (323 – 167 BC) and specifically during the one hundred years of the ptolemaic ascendancy (311 – 210 BC) Cyclades and Paros flourish. The marble quarries in Paros work intensively so that Parian craftsmen build sanctuaries and buildings in Delos. During this time Milos buys marble from Paros for the marvelous statue of Aphrodite of Milos to be created (Louvre Museum) www.louvre.fr

The Roman era (167 BC – 330 AD) was probably the most declined period in the history of Paros. The Roman period also marks the end of the Ancient Hellenic Civilization.

In contrary, the role of Paros is significantly upgraded, during the Byzantine period (330 – 1204 AD), and the Aegean regains great value. Many Christian monuments are built, between which prominent is the Temple of Ekatontapyliani (www.ekatontapyliani.org)

At the end of this period the Cyclades succumb to the Venetians (1220 AD).

During the Venetian reign, Paros regains its flourishing. The spirit of the Italian Renaissance is transferred via the Venetians to Paros as well. The parian marble is once again in demand and big amounts of it are destined for Venice. The population of the island grows and a respective prosperity is generated. At the end of the period, Paros comes under the reigning of the last Venetian family the one of the Venieri, just before it was taken from the Turks. In 1537 AD, the pirate Barbarossa forces the family to succumb.

During the Turkish domination, which for the islands of Cyclades starts from the middle of the 16^th century up to 1821, when the Greek Revolution breaks, greater benefits were given to the residents of the islands and of Paros, as much in matters of religion as in matters of local authority compared with the absolutism and the religious oppression of the Venetians.

It is from this period on that most of the monasteries in Paros start to be built. During the Turkish domination the situation is not always stable in Paros. Venetians, pirates, Russians become at times rulers of the islands. The residents of Paros, due to fearing the Pirates, are accumulated in the interior of the island. Thereby, from the 17^th century, the highland villages of Kostos, Lefkes, Prodromos are created. At the end of the 18^th century, during the Russian/Turkish wars, the Russians take over Paros for a small period of time.

During that period, churches, windmills, dovecotes, roads and bridges are built in Paros. The art of ceramics, agriculture, stockbreeding and marble sculpture are once again developed and Paros accents great craftsmen and artisans. There were twenty monasteries operating on the island then. During the last years of Turkish domination, big increase of the demotic civilization of Paros as well as of the whole of Cyclades is observed.