The History of Sifnos
Sifnos B.C.
 According
to the legend "Sifnos" was the name of the son of the Attic hero
Sounios, and the island was named after him. According to another
version the appellation Sifnos derives from the adjective "sifnos"
that means "empty" because of the many underground mine galleries in
the subsoil of the island. The island is also mentioned by the
appellations: "Akis", "Meropi", "Sifanos", "Sifana" or "Sifanto".
Most of the historians mention that Sifnos was first inhabited
by Pelasgians and then by Phoenicians, Kares and Leleges. According
to the legend these inhabitants was chased by the king of Crete
Minoas, who made his sons governors of Cyclades. The town «Minoa» as
well as the spring "Minoa" is also mentioned. At those times, the
Aegean was inhabited by a tribe called the Proellines or Aegeoi.
Later on, they have been mixed with the Cretans and the Achaeans.
 Older
signs
of residential installation that have been noted in Cylades date
from the late 5th millennium B.C. During the Neolithic
era, in the Aegean, one of the oldest settlements in Europe has been
developed. Important factors that have contributed to the creation
of the early Cycladic settlements,
was their important geostrategical
position in the Aegean Sea and their mild
climate.
The Neolithic progress was followed by the early
copper
era. During the following era a particular civilisation is developed
in Cyclades, which develops along with the Protoelladic civilisation
and the Protominoan civilisation of Crete. It is Protocycladic
civilization, which has been studied by the great Greek
archaeologist Christos Tsountas in 1898 and 1899. In almost all the
islands of Cyclades, the excavations
brought to light small settlements built-up in coastal locations.
In Sifnos, Christos Tsountas brought to light graves and foundations
of settlements
at the location Akrotiri in Platis Gialos, Vathi and Froudi of
Kalamitsi. These graves date from the second half of the 3rd
millennium. In particular, the prehistoric graveyard of Platys
Gialos, which was first studied by Polak in 1896, offered important
information on the burial customs, on the grave types and on the
ceremonial customs of the islanders of that time.
 The
archaeological findings opened the way for the study on the economic
conditions of the island in that time. So, it’s certified that
during that time Sifnos had a very developed mining activity, which
mainly regards the mining of silver and lead. Evidences of this
activity have been found at the locations of Agios Sostis, Agios
Silvestros and Xero Xilo. The latest scientific researches come to
the conclusion that Sifnos was the most important providing source
of minerals during the early copper era.
As regards the period of the Middle Cycladic civilization
it is reported that a settlement was already developed in
Kastro of
Sifnos, which is proved by the ceramic findings that have been found
in the excavations.
 The
naval supremacy of Minoas
in the Aegean was subversive for Cyclades. The historian Thucydides
mentions the creation of Cretan colonies on them and especially as
regards Sifnos, Stefanos Vyzantios mentions that at this time, there
was a town with the characteristic appellation "Minoa". The location
of this town hasn’t been located yet by the excavations. The
excavations of Filipaki proved in this location there was a small
settlement in the 3rd millenium B.C.
The Achaeans
spread to the entire Aegean at the early 2nd millenium, B.C. Until
the end of 13th century B.C. the Mycenean civilization it is
the new power in the east Mediterranean. Mycenaean findings were
discovered in Sifnos in various locations, but mainly in Froudi of
Kalamitsi, at the citadel of Agios Andreas and at another citadel at
the north part of the island on the mountain Agios Nikitas.
The Ionian colonists came to Sifnos in about 1130 - 1120 B.C.
After the arrival of the new colonists, a new phase starts which has
been marked by the need for peaceful and safe living of the
residents and by the integrated coping with the new residential
needs.
 So,
at this time, according to Herodotus the ancient capital of
Sifnos, the "asty" (=city) is established, at the centre of the
eastern side of the island, in today's
Kastro.
The new city begins to extend and from the 6th century B.C., it
starts being surrounded by wall. The excavations realised
by British Archaeological School in 1934-1938 brought to light
remains of settlements and graves dating from the 8th century, that
prove the continuous life in Kastro.
In the 6th century B.C.
the old stone-built temple becomes made of marble, while at the same
time new houses are built, new works are realized in order to cope
with the problems of water supply and drainage and the city is
embellished with marble buildings and public mansions such as the
Prytanio, the Agora, and many sanctuaries. The graveyard that has
been found outside the city shows that it has been in continuous use
from the 7th century B.C. till the Roman times.
Remains have been found
from various works, such
as headstones, capitals and other findings, which prove the rich
artistic physiognomy of the region.
In
Sifnos they used to worship
as special deities
Apollo Enargos, Artemis Ekvatiria, Zeus Epivimios, Dionysos, Pan,
Athena and the Nymphs. The main occupations of the residents
of the island were agriculture, cattle-breeding, ceramics, and
mainly metallurgy. The 6th century B.C. was the age of a great
prosperity. Herodotus mentions that the residents of Sifnos were the
richest islanders, because the island had gold and silver minerals.
 A
characteristic of Sifnos’ wealth is the fact that in Sifnos they
started minting in about 600 B.C., in other words after Aegina
and before Athens and Corinth. The most important and famous piece
of Sifnos’architecture, which proves the glamour and the flourishing
economy of the island is the "Thissavros Sifnion" (the
treasure of the residents of Sifnos), which has been built and
dedicated to the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi by the residents of
Sifnos. It has been built in 525 B.C. and according to Pausanias; it
was built from the tithe, which was coming from the profits of the
gold mines of Sifnos. It was a very beautiful Ionic building that in
its facade instead of pillars it had two Caryatids that were holding
the entablature with a rich plastic decoration and a frieze
decorated with masterly reliefs along the 4 sides of the treasure of
total length of 29,63 cm. The entire building had great sculptures
which were excellent samples of mature archaic plastics. Some of
them are exhibited at the museum of Delphi. This brilliant
building was so impressive that the priests of Delphi's sanctuary
gave to the people of Sifnos special honours for their offer.
 Till
today, in Sifnos,
55 towers
and observation posts have been counted dating from the 6th
to the 3rd century B.C. In 524 Samian fugitives come in peace to Sifnos; they are political
opponents of the shrewd tyrant of Samos, Polycrates, and ask from
the residents of Sifnos to help them economically by giving them 10
talents. The residents of Sifnos refuse to give them the money and
the Samians make them give them the enormous amount of 100 talents
by besieging and pillaging the island. That is when the decadence of
Sifnos starts. In 480 B.C., during the naval battle of Salamina, the people of
Sifnos participate with a penticontoros (ship with 50 oars and a
crew of 88 men) and in 479 B.C. during the battle of Plataea send a
force of infantry lightly armed.
After the victory in Plataea
the Greeks dedicate to Pythios Apollo in Delphi one golden tripod on
which they had carved the names of the cities that had participated
in the war. Among these names was Sifnos as well.
 Sifnos
takes part in 415 B.C. in the expedition of Athenians against
Sicily. In 411 B.C., Pissandros imposes oligarchy to Sifnos. A
leadership which is friendly towards the Spartians in installed in
Sifnos, and a very heavy taxation is imposed, which aims at Spartans
keeping the power and the control of the island. Because of its
geostrategical position, Sifnos was often a meeting place and place
of intense deliberations. In 334 and 333 B.C. the Persian fleet
arrived in Sifnos in a diversion operation regarding Alexander the
Great.
In 162 B.C. the Cretans attack the city of Sifnos but they are
pushed back. Later on they invade the island and they cause pillages
and important damages. We have little information on Sifnos as
regards the Roman times and the Byzantine times. In 324 B.C. Sifnos
becomes part of the "Province of the Islands" of the East Roman
Byzantine State.
The History of Sifnos A.C. >>>> |
