Paros was ideal for it had
a strategic position (centre of the Cyclades) and its
plains were particularly fertile.
The Cretans transformed the island into a naval station and
gave it the name of Minoa, an honorific title given to
Royal Cretan cities.
In 1100 BC, the Ionians came to take the island and, after
a first defeat, they managed to win the Minoans, destroyed
their civilization and become rulers of the island.
In 1000 BC, Paros was taken by the Arcadians, ledby
Parios from who the island took its definitive name.
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Many
poets were born in Paros such as the lyrical poet Archilochus
who was the first poet to use in his poems personal elements
rather than heroic ones.
During ancient times, Paros was famous, around the Mediterranean, for its high quality semi-transparent marble, found at the Marathi Quarries. The same used to build many works of art and masterpieces such as the Temple of Apollo on Delos, the Venus de Milo, the statue of Hermes (Praxiteles) at Olympia and much more.
Part of Paros’ army fought with the Persians, during the
Persian wars, and was defeated by the Athenian army.
In 338 BC, the island came under the rule of Philippe
of Macedonia and became part of the Macedonian empire;
after the death of Alexander the Great (Philippe’s son),
Paros came under the control of the Ptolemies, Alexander’s
successors.
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monasteries were built during those times; among those,
the most famous is the Church of
Ekatontapiliani, located
in the capital of the island, Parikia.
Considered as the most important Byzantine monument of
Greece, this
church is believed to have been built according to the
orders of Saint Helena, Constantine the Great’s mother.
Between 1207 and 1389, Paros became part of the Duchy
of the Aegean, rules by the Venetian Marco Sanudo.
Turkish rule succeeded to the Venetian one and stayed for
many years, until the Greek Revolution of 1821.
After the Independence, the island of Paros, like all
the other Cyclades, became part of the New Greek State.
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