---
title: Naxos
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Naxos
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Naxos, with an area of 430 km², is the largest island in the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/) archipelago. The island enjoyed its most prosperous periods in the early [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/) and again in the [Archaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Archaic/) and Classical periods.
### Naxos in [Mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/)
In certain versions of [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/), no less a figure than [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) himself was brought up on the island and he was worshipped there as Zeus Melosios, patron of sheep. [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/) was also associated with the island and associated locally with goats, shepherds and florists. [Ares](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ares/), the [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) of [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) and general trouble-maker amongst the Olympian gods, sought shelter in the bowels of the island - described as *siderobrotin petran* - the place of iron-eating rock (meaning emery, the island's famous export material used to fine-polish the marble so often used in [Greek sculpture](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Sculpture/)).
The god most closely linked with the island was, however, [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/). In [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) myth he was believed to have been born on the island and it was also here that the god of wine married [Ariadne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ariadne/) following her rejection by [Theseus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theseus/). The life, [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) and rebirth of Ariadne were worshipped in a major nature festival on the island.
### Historical Overview
The island was first inhabited in the [Neolithic period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Neolithic/) with significant signs of occupation in the 4th millennium. In some accounts, the island gained its name from Naxos, the king of the Carians who settled on the island. From the 3rd millennium the Cyclades displayed a distinct [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) of their own - epitomised by the distinct [Cycladic sculpture](https://www.worldhistory.org/article/457/cycladic-sculpture/) which had a penchant for minimalist standing figures carved from marble. From the middle [Bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) Age, Naxos and the Cyclades were influenced by the [Minoan civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Minoan_Civilization/) based on [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/) and the later mainland-based [Mycenaean civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) - evidenced in both [architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/architecture/) and art. The most important settlement at this time was Grotta, located on the western coast.
Settlers from [Ionia](https://www.worldhistory.org/ionia/) occupied the island from c.1025 BCE. In the 8th century BCE the island, through export of its local marble and emery, was prosperous enough to found colonies. Naxos, in a joint venture with Chalkis, founded the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Naxos in [Sicily](https://www.worldhistory.org/sicily/) in 735 BCE, the first Greek colony on the island. Another example of Naxos' wealth is the various monumental dedications that were made at the great sanctuary sites such as [Delos](https://www.worldhistory.org/delos/) (the famous marble lions) and [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/) (the celebrated [Sphinx](https://www.worldhistory.org/sphinx/)). However, it was in the late 6th century BCE that Naxos enjoyed its political and cultural zenith when the tyrant Lygdamis, assisted by his Athenian ally [Peisistratus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pisistratus/), took control of the island. During this period there was an extensive rebuilding programme to improve the various temples of the sanctuaries and Naxos became the dominant force in the Cyclades.
In the 5th century BCE the island became the centre of a revolution against Ionia when Naxian sailors backed the invading Persians, who attempted to occupy the island in c. 499 BCE. The strategy failed but in 490 BCE the Persians once more attacked and this time sacked the island, leaving those inhabitants not slaughtered, enslaved. Consequently, in the battles of [Salamis](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Salamis/) (480 BCE) and [Plataea](https://www.worldhistory.org/Plataea/) (479 BCE) the Naxians, with their fleet of triremes, understandably sided with the Athenians against the Persians. In 474 BCE Naxos became a member of the [Delian League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Delian_League/). However, in c. 467 BCE Naxos rebelled against Athenian domination of the League but ultimately the island was brought into line and from c. 450 BCE an Athenian cleruchy established a semi-dependent status on the island, albeit with a reduced tribute payable to [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/).
Naxos was taken by the Romans in 41 BCE and during the [Byzantine](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Byzantine/) period, in the 5th and 6th centuries CE, many of the pagan temples, including that of Apollo, were converted into Christian churches.
[  Cycladic Figurines Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/1384/cycladic-figurines/ "Cycladic Figurines")### The Archaeological Sites
Naxos had important temples dedicated to Apollo, [Demeter](https://www.worldhistory.org/demeter/) and Dionysos and several lesser sites sacred to other gods. The [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of Apollo is situated on the islet of Palatia which is connected to the main island by a narrow strip of land. The site was traditionally where Ariadne was abandoned by Theseus and then picked up by Dionysos. Nothing remains of the 6th century BCE Ionic temple today except its foundations and the entrance of the prodromos to the inner cella - the Portara (measuring 6m high and 3.5m wide). Once, however, measuring 59 by 28 metres, the temple would have rivalled any in [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/).
The temple of Demeter was built near the settlement of Ano Sagri in the [Archaic period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Archaic_Period/) but the site may well have been the focus of worship to the traditional fertility gods Demeter and Kore as early as the 8th century BCE. From 530 BCE a new Ionic temple was built using marble. It is an early example of Classical architecture and one of the first temples to eliminate the second floor of the cella with the consequent increase in height of the inner columns to support the roof.
Dionysos was worshipped on the island from [Mycenaean](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) times and the surviving temple of Dionysos is situated near the village of Glinado. It is another example of early Classical temple architecture. The ruins today date from c 550 BCE but there is evidence that this structure was built on top of three earlier temples, each built over the site of the other. The previous temples were also dedicated to Dionysos and were destroyed by floods from the nearby river Biblinis. The last temple was dismantled by Christians in the 2nd century CE and a church dedicated to St. George was built in its place. Another interesting feature of the site is a 6th century BCE well, one of the few surviving marble-lined examples.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- Ananiades, D. *Ancient Greece: Temples & Sanctuaries.* Toubis, Athens, 2010
- Hornblower, S. (ed). *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* OUP, Oxford, 2012
- Kinzl, K.H. (ed). *A Companion to the Classical Greek World.* Wiley-Blackwell, London, 2012
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 5000 BCE**: The [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/) are first inhabited by settlers from Asia Mnior.
- **3000 BCE - 2200 BCE**: The first archaeological evidence of organised communities in the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/).
- **3000 BCE - 2000 BCE**: Distinctive minimalistic standing marble figurines are produced in the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/).
- **2200 BCE - 1700 BCE**: Evidence of town planning and more sophisticated [architecture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/architecture/) in the Cylades.
- **1700 BCE - 1400 BCE**: The [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) in the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/) is increasingly influenced by [Minoan](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Minoan/) [Crete](https://www.worldhistory.org/crete/).
- **1400 BCE - 1100 BCE**: [Culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) in the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/) is increasingly influenced by the [Mycenaean civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) of mainland [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/).
- **c. 1025 BCE**: Migrants from [Ionia](https://www.worldhistory.org/ionia/) settle on [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/).
- **700 BCE - 600 BCE**: Temples are built in honour of [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/), [Demeter](https://www.worldhistory.org/demeter/) and [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/) on the island of [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/).
- **600 BCE - 300 BCE**: [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/) appears on the coins of [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/), Mende and various other [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) states.
- **c. 560 BCE**: [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/) dedicates a large [column](https://www.worldhistory.org/column/) and [sphinx](https://www.worldhistory.org/sphinx/) to the oracle of [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/) at [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/).
- **c. 499 BCE**: [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/) is attacked by [Darius](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/darius/)' Persian forces.
- **490 BCE**: [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/) is attacked for a second time by Persian forces.
- **478 BCE**: Many Cycladic states join the Athenian led [Delian League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Delian_League/) as a defence against Persian agression.
- **c. 467 BCE**: The island of [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/) rebels against Athenian dominance of the [Delian League](https://www.worldhistory.org/Delian_League/).
- **431 BCE - 404 BCE**: The Cycladic [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) states side with [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) in the [Peloponnesian war](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peloponnesian_War/) against [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) and her allies.
- **377 BCE - 355 BCE**: The Cycladic [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) states join [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) in the Second Athenian League against [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) .
- **166 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) gives dominion over the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/) to [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/).
- **41 BCE**: [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) takes control over [Naxos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Naxos/) in the [Cyclades](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cyclades/).
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2013, March 02). Naxos. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Naxos." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 02, 2013. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Naxos." *World History Encyclopedia*, 02 Mar 2013, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 02 March 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.