NAXOS IN MYTHOLOGY
In Greek mythology Naxos was associated with many myths and ancient gods. Apollo, Ares
And Zeus himself are associated with the island. However, the god most closely linked with the island was Dionysos. In Greek myth he was believed to have been born on the island and it was also here that the god of wine married Ariadne who was stolen from Theseus’ crew when his ship approached the island after he killed the Minotaur.
PRE-HISTORIC AND ANCIENT TIMES
Naxos was first inhabited in the Neolithic period with significant signs of occupation in the 4th millennium BC. The island was a central hub of the Cycladic civilization (circa 3rd millennium BC) with many of its remnants to be found in Naxos in the form of the distinct minimalist marble sculptures. From the Middle Bronze Age all of Cycladic islands were influenced initially by the Minoan and later by the Mycenaean civilization.
From 1000 BC the island takes a leading role in the Aegean sea, being the bridge between the Greek mainland and the Ionian coast. This leading role is proven by the presence of major Naxian contribution in great sanctuary sites such as Delos (the Naxian lions) and Delphi (the Naxian Sphinx). The export of marble and emery to the Greek states provide enough wealth to Naxos to found a colony in Sicily, the modern Giardini-Naxos.
In the late 6th century BCE Naxos reaches its political and cultural peak when tyrant Lygdamis, backed from the tyrant of Athens Peisistratus, took control of the island and started a major rebuilding programme.
As a dominant force in Cyclades, Naxos played an important role in the Persian wars, suffering great loses and ultimately joining the winning side in the battles of Salamis and Plataea. Following the Persian wars, Naxos joined the Athenian alliance, only to rebel against it a little later. Athens recognizing the central role of Naxos established a semi-dependent status on the island. Following, Naxos fell to the hands of Egypt, Macedon and finally to the Romans who used it as a place of exile.
BYZANTINE , VENETIAN AND OTTOMAN RULE
Between the 7th and the 9th century the decline of the Byzantine empire allowed pirates and Arab naval forces to raid the Aegean islands. In Naxos this caused the center of the life in the island to move from the coastline to the mountains where fortified towns were established.
Those fortifications along with he strategic location in the Aegean Sea allowed Naxos to prosper during difficult time. At those “dark ages” of the Byzantine Empire, Naxos was the administrative center of the surrounding islands as well as the commercial hub in the trade between the island of Crete and Constantinople, the capital of the empire.
The prosperity of the island and its central role is proven by the more than 500 byzantine churches and fortified monasteries around the island.
This strategic location made Naxos an appealing target to the Venetians who established their naval empire in the Mediterranean sea. From 1207 AD the Venetian Marco Sanudo occupied Naxos and founded the Duchy of the Aegean Sea with Naxos as the capital, establishing the Latin rule in the region which would last for centuries. The central fortification in the town of Naxos was the residence of the Sanudo family and the rest of the aristocratic families. The Sanudo family produced a line of 12 Dukes while Naxos became a center of attraction for many Latin feudal families who later fought over dominance in Naxos and in turn the Aegean islands. The numerous Venetian towers scattered in the island are the remnants of the gathering of the western lords.
Even when the Ottoman navy seized control of the island in the middle of the 16th century, the Duke of Naxos was allowed to keep the rule, forced only to pay taxes to the Sultan. Over time, the Ottoman Sultans recognized more privileges and partial autonomy to the islands. The head tax remained but the citizens enjoyed religious freedom while they could build churches as they wished.
The thriving Greek population in Naxos rebelled several times against both the Ottoman and the Latin rulers during the 16th and the 17th century. Those revolts won many privileges to the islands over time allowing free trade with Western Europe. A result of this influence was the appearance of the Jesuit and Franciscan monastic orders on Naxos, as well as the founding of an Ursuline monastery. All three orders also founded schools on the island.