Cycladia Travel Guides

History | Mythology

Mythology

According to a myth, the women of Limnos killed their men and male children, taking revenge as they used to mate with women from Thrace. Only Ypsipyli helped her father Thoas, king of the island, escape by sea and he was eventually rescued by fishermen from the island of Oinoe. Thoas got married to a local nymph and had a son named Sikinos; thus, the island was named after him. According to a marble script found on the island of Sikinos, the old habitants of the island honoured Thoantas and used to name their sons after him.

Another myth supports that Thoantas was son of Dionysus and Ariadne, the daughter of Minoas. Thoantas was placed on the island as king of Limnos by the Cretan Radamanthys for the benefit of Crete. He married Myrina and got a daughter named Ypsipyli.

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