Listed 9 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for destination: "LEROS Island DODEKANISSOS".
One of the Sporades, lying between Patmos and Kalymnos, ca. 40 km
from the Anatolian coast (Caria). The island was inhabited in prehistoric times
and again at least from the 7th c. B.C. A close, though not exactly definable,
political relationship with Miletos is attested epigraphically and by statements
of Herodotos (5.125) and Thucydides (8.26-27) from at least the early 5th c. to
Roman times. It has been suggested that Leros was a deme of Miletos in Hellenistic
times, a cleruchy earlier. Habitation of the island apparently continued uninterrupted
into Byzantine times.
There have been no systematic excavations. The principal ancient town
may have been located on the site of the modern Ayia Marina, where remains of
a few unidentified Classical structures are visible. However, the places where
various inscriptions have been found suggest that the administrative center was
Parthenion in the N part of the island. The temple of Parthenos (Artemis) mentioned
by Athenaeus (Deipnosophists (14.655,b,c) and in inscriptions has not been located,
but is presumed to have been in the locality now known as Partheni (Metochion).
At the S end of the island, on top of the hill of Xerokampos, are the remains
of a wall probably built in the late 4th c. B.C., usually thought to be part of
a tower. This, and a similar tower at Partheni, may link Leros to the precautions
taken by Miletos on its peripheral islands, in order to control the sea in Hellenistic
times. Architectural fragments of Classical date are built into later structures,
especially churches, in various parts of the island (Smalu and Lakki), implying
widespread habitation in Classical times. Inscriptions and some ancient objects
are in the Archaeological HaIl in the Library at Platanos.
J. L. Benson, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
A small island, one of the Sporades, opposite to the mouth of the Sinus Iassius, on the coast of Caria ( Herod.v. 125). Here the sisters of Meleager were said to have been transformed into guinea-pigs (meleagrides).
Leros (Leros: Eth. Lerios: Leros), a small island of the Aegean, and
belonging to the scattered islands called Sporades. It is situated opposite the
Sinus Iassius, on the north of Calymna, and on the south of Lepsia, at a distance
of 320 stadia from Cos and 350 from Myndus. (Stadiasm. Mar. Magni, § § 246, 250,
252.) According to a statement of Anaximenes of Lampsacus, Leros was,like Icaros,
colonised by Milesians. (Strab. xiv. p. 635.) This was probably done in consequence
of a suggestion of Hecataeus; for on the breaking out of the revolt of the Ionians
against Persia, he advised his countrymen to erect a fortress in the island, and
make it the centre of their operations, if they should be driven from Miletus.
(Herod. v. 125; comp. Thucyd. viii. 27.) Before its occupation by the Milesians,
it was probably inhabited by Dorians. The inhabitants of Leros were notorious
in antiquity for their ill nature, whence Phocylides sang of them: -
Lerioi kakoi, ouch ho men, hus d'ou,
Pantes, plen Prokleous: kai Proklees Lerios.
(Strab. x. p. 487, &c.) The town of Leros was situated on the west of the modern
town, on the south side of the bay, and on the slope of a hill; in this locality,
at least, distinct traces of a town have been discovered by Ross. (Reisen auf
d. Griech. Inseln, ii. p. 119.) The plan of Hecataeus to fortify Leros does not
seem to have been carried into effect. Leros never was an independent community,
but was governed by Miletus, as we must infer from inscriptions, which also show
that Milesians continued to inhabit the island as late as the time of the Romans.
Leros contained a sanctuary of Artemis Parthenos, in which, according to mythology,
the sisters of Meleager were transformed into guinea fowls (meleagrides; Anton.
Lib. 2; comp. Ov. Met. viii. 533, &c.), whence these birds were always kept in
the sanctuary of the goddess. (Athen. xiv. p. 655.) In a valley, about ten minutes'
walk from the sea, a small convent still bears the name of Partheni, and at a
little distance from it there are the ruins of an ancient Christian church, evidently
built upon some ancient foundation, which seems to have been that of the temple
of Artemis Parthenos. This small island, says Ross, though envied on account of
its fertility, its smiling valleys, and its excellent harbours, is nevertheless
scorned by its neighbours, who charge its inhabitants with niggardliness (l. c.
p. 122; comp. Bockh, Corp. Inscript. n. 2263; Ross, Inscript. ined. ii 188.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Titular see of the Cyclades,
suffragan of Rhodes. According
to Strabo, this island must have been a colony of Miletus;
it next became independent before falling under the Roman domination.
According to the poet Phocylides, the inhabitants of Leros had, without
exception, an evil reputation. It was here that Aristagoras, the leader of the
Tonian revolt against the Persians (499 B.C.), was advised to hide from the vengeance
of Darius.
The island possessed a famous sanctuary of Artemis the Virgin, on
the site of which the present convent of Parthenia and the adjoining church are
supposed to be built. A possession of the Knights of Rhodes,
the island sustained a siege in 1505, and was taken by the Turks in 1523; it was
recovered by the Venetians, who razed its fortifications, in 1648; and it once
more fell into the possession of the Osmanli.
The island is about nine and a quarter miles long by seven and a half
wide. It is barren, mountainous, and rich only in marble quarries.
S. Vailhi, ed.
Transcribed by: Mario Anello
This extract is cited June 2003 from The Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent online edition URL below.
The largest part of the island is relatively flat with plains reaching
down to the sea and low mountains (the highest point being Kleidi, 320 m.). That
is also why it took its name from the ancient Greek word "leros" which
means smooth, flat. Dense vegetation covers a large part of the island. The landscape
is made even more beautiful by plains forested with pine, eucalyptus, oak and
olive trees. It is a landscape that is constantly changing. The sea cutting sharply
into it has formed at many points deep, protected harbors and large bays. The
gulf of Partheni is in the
northern part of Leros; the islet
of Archangelos lies at its entrance, protecting it from the winds. At the
southern tip of the island is the long and narrow bay of Xerokambos;
Kalymnos stands opposite
and the Glaronisia ("Gull islands") are before it.
The island has two large harbors, Lakki
to the southeast, one of the largest natural harbors in the Mediterranean, and
Ayia Marina to the northeast.
There are many small picturesque islands surrounding it on all sides: Ayia
Kyriaki, Peganousa, Farmakonissi,
Strongyli, Trypiti.
Most of these are good fishing spots and the depths of the sea are of incomparable
beauty, enchanting to divers. Leros has quite a number of small springs.
The best known are Paliaskloupis, Kalikaris, Sykidia and Panayies.
The island has a mild and pleasant climate without great fluctuations. The incredible
variety of flowers that ornament courtyards, doors and windows bear witness to
that. The average summer temperature is between 20°-26° C while in winter
it dips to 12°-17° C. Thus, Leros is an ideal place for holidays, no matter
the season.
This text (extract) is cited March 2004 from the Municipality
of Leros tourist pamphlet.
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