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Naxos (city)
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Naxos (city)
Naxos (Greek: Νάξος), commonly referred to as Chora (Greek: Χώρα, meaning 'town'), is a city and a former municipality on the island of Naxos, in the Cyclades, Greece. The community has 8,897 inhabitants (2021 census). It is located on the west side of Naxos Island in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was an important centre of bronze age Cycladic culture and an important city in the ancient Greek Archaic Period. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Naxos and Lesser Cyclades, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.
The landscape and city of Naxos has been continuously inhabited since prehistory, which is attested by archaeological findings and remains of ancient structures across the island and within the city. Important remains from the Cycladic and later Mycenean civilizations have been found in the area of Grotta and elsewhere.
During the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Naxos dominated commerce in the Cyclades. Being the largest island among the Cyclades and rich in resources, such as emery and marble, it was able to become one of the most prominent Greek city-states in the archaic period. The city was powerful enough to exert its control over several of the neighboring islands. During the Archaic era, Naxos was also among the first places in Greece where marble sculpture developed. Naxian sculpture from this era has been found all over Greece. The Naxians are even known to have dedicated sculptures and other works in Ancient Greek sanctuaries such as Delos and Delphi.
Around 546 BC, after a period of social struggles, an aristocrat named Lygdamis, initially representing the rural population of the island's hinterland, was able to assume power on the island with the support of the tyrant of Athens, Peisistratos. During his rule, several temples and infrastructure projects are known to have been constructed in the city and elsewhere on the island, such as the temple of Apollo on the islet Palatia, the temple of Demeter in Sangri and an aqueduct that provided water to the city. Lygdamis was removed from power in 524 BC by the Peloponnesian League, a military alliance led by Sparta, and some of his building projects remained unfinished, famously including the temple of Apollo.
In 501 BC the people of Naxos rebelled against the aristocracy, aiming to install a more democratic regime. Many aristocrats fled to the city of Miletus, which was then controlled by the Persian Empire. There, they were able to gain the support of the city's tyrant, Aristagoras, which led him to propose a plan to conquer the island on behalf of the Persians. The plan was authorized in 499 BC and led to a failed invasion of Naxos. This led to the larger Ionian Revolt, and then to the Persian War between Greece and Persia.
The city was attacked by a large Persian fleet in 490 BC. This time it was unprepared for the attack, and it was captured and burned. The Naxians were forced to provide four ships to the Persian fleet to fight in the battle of Salamis. However, the ships switched sides under their commander Democritus, and fought against the Persians, helping the Greeks win the battle.
After the end of the Archaic Period, Naxos never regained its former power and importance. It became part of the Delian League, a military alliance led by Athens. Naxos was the first city to revolt from the League in 471BC, but it was forced by Athens to remain a member.
Naxos continued to exist as a city during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, from which building remains still exist. During the Byzantine period, the town was partially abandoned due to its vulnerability against frequent pirate attacks, and much of the population moved to the island's hinterland. A new capital was established near the center of the island, protected by the castle of Apalirou.
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Naxos (city)
Naxos (Greek: Νάξος), commonly referred to as Chora (Greek: Χώρα, meaning 'town'), is a city and a former municipality on the island of Naxos, in the Cyclades, Greece. The community has 8,897 inhabitants (2021 census). It is located on the west side of Naxos Island in the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was an important centre of bronze age Cycladic culture and an important city in the ancient Greek Archaic Period. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Naxos and Lesser Cyclades, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.
The landscape and city of Naxos has been continuously inhabited since prehistory, which is attested by archaeological findings and remains of ancient structures across the island and within the city. Important remains from the Cycladic and later Mycenean civilizations have been found in the area of Grotta and elsewhere.
During the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Naxos dominated commerce in the Cyclades. Being the largest island among the Cyclades and rich in resources, such as emery and marble, it was able to become one of the most prominent Greek city-states in the archaic period. The city was powerful enough to exert its control over several of the neighboring islands. During the Archaic era, Naxos was also among the first places in Greece where marble sculpture developed. Naxian sculpture from this era has been found all over Greece. The Naxians are even known to have dedicated sculptures and other works in Ancient Greek sanctuaries such as Delos and Delphi.
Around 546 BC, after a period of social struggles, an aristocrat named Lygdamis, initially representing the rural population of the island's hinterland, was able to assume power on the island with the support of the tyrant of Athens, Peisistratos. During his rule, several temples and infrastructure projects are known to have been constructed in the city and elsewhere on the island, such as the temple of Apollo on the islet Palatia, the temple of Demeter in Sangri and an aqueduct that provided water to the city. Lygdamis was removed from power in 524 BC by the Peloponnesian League, a military alliance led by Sparta, and some of his building projects remained unfinished, famously including the temple of Apollo.
In 501 BC the people of Naxos rebelled against the aristocracy, aiming to install a more democratic regime. Many aristocrats fled to the city of Miletus, which was then controlled by the Persian Empire. There, they were able to gain the support of the city's tyrant, Aristagoras, which led him to propose a plan to conquer the island on behalf of the Persians. The plan was authorized in 499 BC and led to a failed invasion of Naxos. This led to the larger Ionian Revolt, and then to the Persian War between Greece and Persia.
The city was attacked by a large Persian fleet in 490 BC. This time it was unprepared for the attack, and it was captured and burned. The Naxians were forced to provide four ships to the Persian fleet to fight in the battle of Salamis. However, the ships switched sides under their commander Democritus, and fought against the Persians, helping the Greeks win the battle.
After the end of the Archaic Period, Naxos never regained its former power and importance. It became part of the Delian League, a military alliance led by Athens. Naxos was the first city to revolt from the League in 471BC, but it was forced by Athens to remain a member.
Naxos continued to exist as a city during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, from which building remains still exist. During the Byzantine period, the town was partially abandoned due to its vulnerability against frequent pirate attacks, and much of the population moved to the island's hinterland. A new capital was established near the center of the island, protected by the castle of Apalirou.
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