Cycladia Travel Guides

History | Mythology

Kimolos Island Name

The beautiful and pristine island of Kimolos was named after its first inhabitant Kimolos, while another theory has the island’s name deriving from the word kimolia (meaning chalk in the Greek language) but it is actually the other way around.
Kimolos has given its name to the Greek word, kimolia (chalk) since it was one of the major mineral deposits found in the island. Other recorded names are, Echinousa (island of the sea urchins), Echidnousa (island of the vipers), since there are many vipers on the island even today, and Argentiera (silver) by the Venetians during the Middle Ages because of its silver colored coastline and its many silver-barite mineral resources.

Kimolos & Milos

The island of Kimolos was part of the Athenian Alliance in 5th century BC and its government was organized according to the Athenian Democracy. In the 3rd century BC the island minted its own coins to help with the extensive exports of chalk and other minerals found in the island and later became the trade hub of the Cyclades. The Goddess Athena was the patron saint of the island and Hermes, Artemis and Poseidon were worshipped as well.

Civilization

History & Inhabitants

During the Middle Ages Argentiera (Kimolos) was ruled by the Venetians and was then part of the Venetian Duchy of the Cyclades up to 1537. In 1638 Kimolos was attacked and destroyed by pirates who conquered and inhabited the island. Kimolos was then ruled by the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century up until 1829 and later became part of the cluster of the Cyclades islands in Greece.

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