Skyros facts for kids

Skyros (pronounced SKEE-ros) is a beautiful island in Greece. It's the most southern island in a group called the Sporades, which are islands scattered across the Aegean Sea. Long ago, around 2000 BC, it was known as "The Island of the Magnetes". Later, it had other names like Pelasgia and Dolopia before finally being called Skyros.

Skyros is the largest island in the Sporades, covering about 209 square kilometers (around 80 square miles). In 2021, about 3,000 people lived there.

Quick facts for kids Skyros Σκύρος
Chora
Skyros Location in Greece
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Greece
Regional unit	Euboea
Area
• Municipality	223.10 km2 (86.14 sq mi)
Highest elevation	792 m (2,598 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Municipality	3,052
• Municipality density	13.6800/km2 (35.431/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	340 07
Area code(s)	22x0
Vehicle registration	ΧΑ

What is the Municipality of Skyros?

The municipality of Skyros is like a local government area. It's part of the Euboea region. This municipality includes not only the main island of Skyros but also the smaller island of Skyropoula and a few other tiny islands where no one lives. The total area of this municipality is about 223 square kilometers.

Where Did the Name Skyros Come From?

Some people believe the name Skyros comes from the word skyron or skiron, which means "stone debris". This makes sense because the island was known for its beautiful decorative stone.

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  A satellite view of Skyros and Skyropoula

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  An old map of Skyros from 1547

History of Skyros

Skyros has a long and interesting history, full of myths and real events.

Skyros in Greek Mythology

An ancient coin from Skyros, made around 485–480 BC

According to ancient Greek mythology, the hero Theseus died on Skyros. The local king, Lycomedes, supposedly pushed him off a cliff.

The island is also famous because the great warrior Achilles was hidden there before the Trojan War. Odysseus found him at King Lycomedes' court. Achilles then sailed from Skyros to join the war. Achilles' son, Neoptolemus, was also said to be from Skyros. There's a small bay on the east coast called Achili where Achilles is believed to have left with the Greek fleet.

Ancient Times and Rulers

Around 475 BC, a general named Cimon from Athens conquered Skyros. He defeated the Dolopians, who were the original people living there. After that, Athenian settlers moved to the island, and it became part of the powerful Athenian Empire. Skyros was very important because it was on a key trade route between Athens and the Black Sea, which supplied Athens with grain. Cimon also claimed to have found the remains of Theseus and brought them back to Athens.

Later, in 340 BC, the Macedonians took control of Skyros. They ruled until 192 BC, when the Roman Republic and King Philip V of Macedon gave the island back to Athens.

The entrance to the medieval castle

Skyros in 1782

A map of Skyros made by the British Admiralty in 1851

After a big war called the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), Skyros became part of the land ruled by Geremia Ghisi. However, the Byzantines took it back in 1277. Then, after the Fall of Constantinople, the Venetians ruled the island again until 1538. At that point, it became part of the Ottoman Empire. Finally, in 1830, Skyros became part of the new country of Greece.

Rupert Brooke's Burial Site

Rupert Brooke, a famous English poet, is buried on Skyros. He died on April 23, 1915, during World War I, while on a French hospital ship near the island. His tomb, which visitors can see today in Tris Boukes Bay, was built after the war by his mother. It has lines from his famous poem The Soldier carved on it.

The Spanish Flu on Skyros

In 1918, a terrible sickness called the Spanish flu spread across the world. On Skyros, about one-third of the island's population died in less than 30 days. The flu started on October 27, 1918. Out of 3,200 people living on the island, almost 2,000 got sick, and 1,000 died. A writer named Konstantinos Faltaits wrote about this sad time in a book published in 1919.

Museums on Skyros

The Archaeological Museum of Skyros was started in 1963 and opened its doors in 1973. It shows off ancient artifacts found on the island. The Faltaits Folklore Museum, founded in 1964, is one of the first museums in Greece to focus on local traditions and culture.

Geography and Nature

The northern part of Skyros is covered by a forest. The southern part, however, is mostly bare and rocky, dominated by the highest mountain, Kochila, which is 792 meters (about 2,600 feet) tall.

The main town on the island is also called Skyros, or Chora by the locals. The island's main port is Linaria, located on the west coast. Skyros has an old castle from the 13th to 15th centuries, a Byzantine monastery called the Monastery of Saint George, and many beautiful beaches.

A special animal found on the island is the Skyrian pony, a unique and small horse breed.

Climate of Skyros

Skyros has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild to cool, rainy winters and warm, dry summers.

How Many People Live on Skyros?

The population of Skyros has changed over the years:

Getting To and From Skyros

Air Travel

Skyros has its own airport, the Skyros Island National Airport, which has one runway.

Sea Travel

The Skyros Shipping Company runs a ferry service to the island. During busy holiday times, the ferry sails twice a day from Kymi to Linaria on Skyros. In the winter, it runs once a day. The ship's name is "Achilleas."

Images for kids

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  A view of Chora, the main town

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  A street in Skyros

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  An aerial view of Skyros

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  A Skyros pony

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  Festivities during the carnival

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  Brooke Square

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  The traditional dress (Vraka) of Skyros

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  The Archaeological Site of Palamari

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  Agios Nikolaos Church in Molos

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  A shipwreck on Agalipas Beach

See also

In Spanish: Esciros para niños