Kos (Cos) is a Greek island in the south-east Aegean, part of the Dodecanese (ancient Sporades) group which prospered in antiquity due to its location on trade routes between Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, and Anatolia. Settled from the Bronze Age, the island was controlled by a long list of powers over the centuries. One of Kos' most famous sons was the celebrated physician Hippocrates, who created a school of medicine on the island in the 5th century BCE. Kos particularly flourished both politically and culturally in the 4th century BCE, after which it became a free city as part of the Roman Empire.
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Definition
Timeline
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3000 BCE - 2000 BCEFirst human presence recorded on Kos.
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1600 BCE - 1200 BCEThe Mycenaean settlement of Serayia flourishes on Kos.
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c. 480 BCEThe Tyrant Kadmos permits the establishment of democratic government on Kos.
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412 BCEThe Spartan general Astyochus sacks Kos.
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411 BCEThe Athenian general Themistocles builds fortifications on Kos.
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c. 350 BCEMausolus, ruler of Caria, invades Kos.
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c. 350 BCEThe Ascelpeion is built on Kos.
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c. 340 BCEThe Greek poet and scholar Philitas is born on Kos.
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332 BCEAmphoterus, admiral of Alexander the Great, takes possession of Kos.
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242 BCEThe games held in honour of Asclepius on Kos are given Panhellenic status.
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c. 102 BCECleopatra II of Egypt sends her treasury to Kos.
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c. 100 BCECoins of Kos and Thespiai depict a lyre on their reverse side.
