Sifnos History

The long history of Sifnos is marked by cultural shifts, international influences, and economic prosperity, all of which have informed the unique identity of the island today.

Ancient Times

The oldest traces of inhabitance in the history of Sifnos date back to the Neolithic times. Excavations have revealed small settlements in many of the island’s coastal regions, including Kastro, and relics of an imposing acropolis at the site of Agios Andreas. The name Sifnos is thought to have originated from Sifnus, son of Attican hero and first settler of the island, Sounius. Another theory suggests that it came from the adjective sifnos, meaning hollow, due to the large number of underground shafts in the area.

Most historical writings testify that Sifnos was first inhabited by the Pelasgians, followed by the Phoenicians, the Kares, and the Leleges. In the Late Bronze Age (1600 BC), it came under the cultural and commercial domination of the Minoans. In 1400 BC, the volcanic explosion of Santorini destroyed the main centers of the Minoan civilization. The Mycenaeans subsequently took control of Sifnos and the other islands of the area. An important number of Mycenaen findings have been unearthed throughout the years, mainly in Kalamitsi, at the site of Agios Andreas, and on the mountain Agios Nikitas.

Between 1130 and 1120 BC, the Ionians colonized Sifnos as well as the rest of the Cycladic complex. At that time, the new capital was established in Kastro. The major artistic, commercial, and cultural development during this period is proven by the numerous marble buildings, bases of columns, graves, water supplies, and various sanctuaries. In the 6th century BC, the islanders gained significant amounts of wealth due to the abundance of gold and silver mines. This wealth has been verified through various excavations as well as by the minting of coinage around 600 BC and the rebuilding of the Treasury of the Siphnians in Delphi, where valuable items were stored.

A few years later the local economy declined and the mines were abandoned, probably because they had been depleted. During the Persian Wars, Sifnos took part in the naval battle of Salamina with a pentikontoro (ship with 50 oars and 88 crew members) as well as the battle of Platea. It later became part of both the First and the Second Athenian League. Following the end of the Persian Wars, the names of the cities that took part in the war were inscribed on a golden tripod dedicated to Pythios Apollo in Delphi, which included Sifnos among others.

Roman and Byzantine times

There is not much information available about Sifnos during the Roman and Byzantine years. In the early Byzantine period, it was part of the 29th Province of the Islands, the capital of which was Rhodes. In 1207, Sifnos fell under the authority of Marco Sanudo (the Duke of Naxos), who had by then all of the Cyclades under his influence. In 1279, the island was conquered by Likarios, the admiral of Byzantium, and remained under Byzantine rule until 1307. It was then occupied by Januli I Da Corogna, a Spaniard knight, and was later given as a dowry to Nicolas Gozzadino of Bologna.

Ottoman occupation

The influence of the Gozzadini dynasty lasted until 1537 when the Turks conquered the Cyclades. Under the favorable treatment of the ruling Sultans, the island saw great economic, spiritual, and cultural growth. Around that time a Greek school was established, the School of Agios Tafos, where renowned teachers like Emmanuel Trocahni and Nikolas Chrysogelos taught. Sifnos joined the fight against Turkish rule during the Greek Revolution of 1821 and was led by Nikolas Chrysogelos.

Recent years

In 1833 the island was divided into the municipalities of Apollonia and Artemonas-Kastro. The two municipalities were fused in 1836, with the capital being officially transferred from Kastro to Apollonia. Much like the rest of the Cyclades, Sifnos fell under Italian occupation from 1941 to 1943 and then under the administration of the German regime, until its liberation in 1944.