View source for Skyros

{{Short description|Island in Greece}}
{{Redirect|Skiros|the town of ancient Arcadia|Skiros (Arcadia)}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
| name              = Skyros
| name_local        = Σκύρος
|type = municipality
| image_map         = 2011 Dimos Skyrou.png
| image_skyline     = Skyros-chora.JPG
| caption_skyline   = Chora
| periph            = [[Central Greece (administrative region)|Central Greece]]
| periphunit        = [[Euboea (regional unit)|Euboea]]
| pop_municipality  = 3052
| area_municipality = 223.10
| population_as_of  = 2021
| coordinates       = {{Coord|38|52|21|N|24|31|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code       = 340 07
| area_code         = 22x0
| licence           = ΧΑ
| mayor             = 
| city_flag         = 
| city_seal         = 
| districts         = 
| party             = 
| since             = 
| elevation_min     = 0
| elevation_max     = 792
| website           = 
}}

'''Skyros''' ({{langx|el|Σκύρος|label=[[Modern Greek]]}}, {{IPA|el|ˈsciros|pron}}), in some historical contexts [[Romanization of Greek|Latinized]] '''Scyros''' ({{langx|grc|Σκῦρος}}, {{IPA|grc-x-attic|skŷːros|link=yes}}), is an island in [[Greece]]. It is the southernmost island of the [[Sporades]], an archipelago in the [[Aegean Sea]]. Around the [[2nd millennium BC]], the island was known as '''The Island of the [[Magnetes]]'''; later, it was consecutively known as  '''Pelasgia''', '''Dolopia''', and finally Skyros. At {{cvt|209|km2|0|abbr=out}}, it is the largest island of the Sporades, and had a population of about 3,000 in 2021.

==Municipality==
The municipality Skyros is part of the regional unit of [[Euboea (regional unit)|Euboea]].<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web |url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg. |title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text |language=el |publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]] |access-date=2021-09-07 |archive-date=2021-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023193509/http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg. |url-status=live }}</ref> Apart from the island Skyros, the municipality consists of the small inhabited island of [[Skyropoula]] and a few smaller uninhabited islands. The total area of the municipality is {{cvt|223.10|km2|0|abbr=out}}.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el|access-date=11 November 2016|archive-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Etymology==
One account associates the name ''Skyros'' with ''skyron'' or ''skiron'', meaning "stone debris".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://goevia.com/en/skyros/culture-and-history-skyros/history-of-skyros |title=History of Skyros Island |year=2016 |access-date=9 November 2018 |quote="Skiron" or "Skyron" means "stone debris". |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208171243/http://goevia.com/en/skyros/culture-and-history-skyros/history-of-skyros |url-status=live}}</ref> The island had a reputation for its decorative stone.<ref>{{cite conference |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=51vdxp7FUdwC |title=Characterisation and differentiation of the Skyros marbles (Greece) and the Medici's breccias (Italy) |first=Lorenzo |last=Lazzarini |year=1999 |conference=Conference internationale ASMOSIA (Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones used in Antiquity) |editor=Max Schvoerer |others=Centre de recherche en physique appliquée à l'archéologie |volume=4 |book-title=Actes de la Conference internationale ASMOSIA, 9-13 Octobre 1995, Archeomateriaux - Marbres at autres roches |publisher=Presses Univ. de Bordeaux |isbn=9782867812446 |access-date=9 November 2018 |quote=The breccias of the Greek island of Skyros were largely used since Roman times for their beauty and low price. |page=117 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208171243/https://books.google.com/books?id=51vdxp7FUdwC |url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Skyros Satellite.jpg|Satellite photo of Skyros and [[Skyropoula]]
File:Map of Skyros - Bordone Benedetto - 1547.jpg|Map of Skyros by [[Benedetto Bordone]], 1547
</gallery>

==History==
[[File:ISLANDS off THESSALY, Skyros. c. 485-480 BC.jpg|thumb|left|Early coinage of Skyros, c. 485–480 BC]]
{{Further|topic=the ancient port town|Cresium}}
According to [[Greek mythology]], [[Theseus]] died on Skyros when the local king, [[Lycomedes]], threw him from a cliff. The island is also famous in the myths as the place from where [[Achilles]] set sail for [[Trojan War|Troy]] after [[Odysseus]] discovered him in the court of Lycomedes.<ref>{{Cite Iliad|19.326}}</ref> [[Neoptolemus]], son of Achilles, was [[Achilles on Skyros|from Skyros]] (or ''Scyros'', as its name is sometimes transliterated), as told in Book Nineteen of the ''[[Iliad]]'' (lines 326-327) and in the play by [[Sophocles]], [[Philoctetes]] (line 239). A small bay named [[Achili (Skyros)|Achili]] on the east coast of the island is said to be the place from where Achilles left with the Greeks, or rather where Achilles landed during a squall that befell the Greek fleet following an abortive initial expedition landing astray in [[Mysia]].<ref>See scholia (bT) ad ''Iliad'' 9.326 for the latter story and the harbor's name.</ref>

In {{circa}} 475 BC, according to [[Thucydides]] (1.98), [[Cimon]] defeated the Dolopians (the original inhabitants) and conquered the entire island. From that date, Athenian settlers colonized it and it became a part of the [[Athenian Empire]]. The island lay on the strategic trade route between Attica and the Black Sea (Athens depended on supplies of grain reaching it through the [[Hellespont]]). Cimon claimed to have found the remains of Theseus, and returned them to Athens.

In 340 BC, the [[Macedon]]ians took over the island and dominated it until 192 BC, when King [[Philip V of Macedon]] and the [[Roman Republic]]an forces restored it to Athens.
[[File:Κάστρο Σκύρου - Είσοδος.jpg|thumb|160px|left|View of the medieval castle]]
[[File:Vue du village de St George de Skyros - Choiseul-gouffier Gabriel Florent Auguste De - 1782.jpg|thumb|220px|Skyros, 1782]]
[[File:Admiralty Chart No 2048 Skyros, Published 1851.jpg|thumb|Admiralty Chart of Skyros, surveyed by Thomas Graves, Published 1851]]

After the [[Fourth Crusade]] of 1202–1204, the island became part of the domain of [[Geremia Ghisi]]. The Byzantines retook it in 1277. After the [[Fall of Constantinople]], Venetians again ruled the island until 1538, when it passed to the Ottoman Empire. It became part of the new Greek state in 1830.

In 1848, Captain [[Thomas Graves (naturalist)|Thomas Graves]] surveyed Skyros for the British Admiralty in the [[frigate]] {{HMS|Volage|1825|6}}. He travelled around the island, and a record of his observations was published the following year.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Graves |first1=Thomas |title=The Isle of Skyros |journal=The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London |date=1849 |volume=19 |pages=152–160 |doi=10.2307/1798090 |jstor=1798090 |url=https://archive.org/details/jstor-1798090}}</ref>

[[Rupert Brooke]], the famous English poet, is buried on Skyros, having died on board a French hospital-ship moored off the island on 23 April 1915, during [[World War I]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jbrooke.htm |title=Rupert Brooke |access-date=2 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405092446/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jbrooke.htm |archive-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> Present at Brooke's burial that same evening, were [[Patrick Shaw-Stewart]] and [[William Denis Browne]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/May02/WDBrown.htm |title=William Denis Browne (1888–1915) |first=Pamela |last=Blevins |work=Musicweb International |year=2000 |access-date=9 November 2007 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140510/http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/May02/WDBrown.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The tomb that visitors see today when they visit the grave, which is located in the Tris Boukes Bay, is one that was commissioned by Brooke’s mother and was placed after the 1st World War. On the tomb is an inscription of Brooke's famous poem ''The Soldier''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aroundskyros.com/things-to-do/#grave |title=Grave of Rupert Brooke |access-date=15 November 2019 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208171301/https://www.aroundskyros.com/things-to-do/#grave |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1941 [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning poet [[Karl Shapiro]] wrote the [[World War II]] poem ''Scyros'', which he set on the island Skyros "because it was a tribute to and irony upon Rupert Brooke."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Poet : an autobiography in three parts |last=Shapiro |first=Karl |date=1988–1990 |publisher=Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill |isbn=0912697865 |volume=The Younger Son |pages=[https://archive.org/details/poetautobiograph0000shap/page/119 119] |oclc=17651234 |url=https://archive.org/details/poetautobiograph0000shap/page/119}}</ref>

In 1963 the Archaeological Museum of Skyros was established, with the inauguration taking place 10 years later in 1973. The Faltaits Folklore Museum was founded in 1964<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://users.otenet.gr/~faltaits/english/museum.htm |title=museum |website=users.otenet.gr |access-date=2018-11-09 |archive-date=2019-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614115939/http://users.otenet.gr/~faltaits/english/museum.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> - one of the first local folklore museums to operate in Greece.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aroundgreece.net/greek-islands/sporades/skyros/ |title=Guide to the island of Skyros |access-date=23 February 2018 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208171246/https://www.aroundgreece.net/greek-islands/sporades/skyros/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Spanish flu===
In 1918, during the [[spanish flu]], approximately one third of the island's population died in less than 30 days. Specifically, the influenza began on 27 October 1918, and of the 3,200 inhabitants on the island, almost 2,000 were infected and 1,000 died.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=A paediatric influenza update 100 years after the Skyros island Spanish flu outbreak - Spandidos Publications |journal=Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine |date=June 2019 |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=4327–4336 |doi=10.3892/etm.2019.7515 |last1=Mammas |first1=Ioannis N. |last2=Theodoridou |first2=Maria |last3=Thiagarajan |first3=Prakash |last4=Melidou |first4=Angeliki |last5=Papaioannou |first5=Georgia |last6=Korovessi |first6=Paraskevi |last7=Koutsaftiki |first7=Chryssie |last8=Papatheodoropoulou |first8=Alexia |last9=Calachanis |first9=Marcos |last10=Dalianis |first10=Tina |last11=Spandidos |first11=Demetrios A. |pmid=31186675 |pmc=6507498}}</ref> {{ill|Konstantinos Faltaits|el|Κωνσταντίνος Φαλτάιτς}} described the dire consequences of the pandemic in a rare chronicle published in 1919, titled {{lang|el|Ἡ γρίππη στὴ Σκῦρο}} {{gloss|The flu in Skyros}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Καλαμαράς |first=Βασίλης Κ. |date=9 November 2020 |title=Κωνσταντίνος Φαλτάιτς (1891-1944): Το χρονικό της ισπανικής γρίππης στη Σκύρο |language=el |work=Enetpress |url=https://www.enetpress.gr/κωνσταντίνος-φαλτάιτς-1891-1944-το-χρονικό-τ/}}</ref>

==Geography==
The north of the island is covered by a forest, while the south, dominated by the highest mountain, called [[Kochila]], (792 m), is bare and rocky. The island's capital is also called Skyros (or, locally, ''Chora''). The main port, on the west coast, is Linaria. The island has a [[castle]] (the ''kastro'') that dates from the [[Republic of Venice|Venetian]] occupation (13th to 15th centuries), a Byzantine [[monastery]] (the [[Monastery of Saint George, Skyros|Monastery of Saint George]]), the grave of English poet [[Rupert Brooke]] in an olive grove by the road leading to [[Tris Boukes]] harbour. There are many beaches on the coast. The island has its own breed of [[Skyros Pony|Skyrian ponies]].
{{clear}}

===Climate===
Skyros has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csa'') with mild to cool, rainy winters and pleasantly warm, dry summers.
{{Weather box
| location = Skyros airport (1955-2010) [[HNMS]]
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 12.3
| Feb high C = 12.7
| Mar high C = 14.1
| Apr high C = 17.7
| May high C = 22
| Jun high C = 26.3
| Jul high C = 27.9
| Aug high C = 27.6
| Sep high C = 24.7
| Oct high C = 20.8
| Nov high C = 17.2
| Dec high C = 13.9
| Jan low C = 7.4
| Feb low C = 7.4
| Mar low C = 8.7
| Apr low C = 11.4
| May low C = 15
| Jun low C = 19.3
| Jul low C = 21.7
| Aug low C = 21.7
| Sep low C = 18.8
| Oct low C = 15.5
| Nov low C = 12
| Dec low C = 9.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 70.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 55.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 49.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 24.3
| May precipitation mm = 15.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 6.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 5.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 8.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 19.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 36.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 54.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 81.1
| source = HNMS (1955-2010 averages)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Sterea&poli=Skyros | title=Climatic Data by City, HNMS, Hellenic National Meteorological Service }}</ref>
}}

==Historical population==
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Population
|-
 |1981
 |2,757
|-
 |1991
 |2,901<ref>{{cite web |title=Απογραφή Πληθυσμού 1991 – GEODATA.gov.gr |url=https://geodata.gov.gr/dataset/apographe-plethusmou-1991 |website=geodata.gov.gr |access-date=6 August 2024 |language=el}}</ref>
|-
 |2001
 |2,602<ref>{{cite web |title=Απογραφή Πληθυσμού 2001 – GEODATA.gov.gr |url=https://geodata.gov.gr/dataset/apographe-plethusmou-2001 |website=geodata.gov.gr |access-date=6 August 2024 |language=el}}</ref>
|-
 |2011
 |2,994
|-
 |2021
 |3,052
|}

==Transportation==

===Air travel===
Skyros is home to the [[Skyros Island National Airport]], a one-runway airport.

===Sea travel===
Skyros Shipping Company operates the ferry service to Skyros. During holiday season the ferry runs twice daily from [[Kymi, Greece|Kymi]] to Linaria on Skyros. During the winter months the service operates daily.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Skyros Island Beach Guide |url=http://www.greekisland.co.uk/skyros/skyros.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328103220/http://www.greekisland.co.uk/skyros/skyros.htm|archive-date=28 March 2020|access-date= |website=Greek Islands Postcards}}</ref> The ship has the name "Achilleas SKYROS SHIPPING CO." (Greek: Αχιλλέας ΣΚΥΡΟΣ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΙΑ).

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:The town of Skyros island, Greece - panoramio.jpg|View of Chora
File:A street in Skyros, Greece.jpg|Street of Skyros
File:Skyros, Greece.jpg|Aerial view
File:The Skyros pony.jpg|Skyros pony
File:Skyros - 2013-03 - Carnaval place centrale (dimanche).JPG|Fest during the [[carnival]]
File:Skyros - 2013-03 - Plateia Brook.JPG|Brooke Square
File:Vraka Skyros Greek Costume.JPG|Traditional dress (Vraka) of Skyros
File:Archaeological Site of Palamari at Skyros 2022.jpg|Archaeological Site of Palamari
File:Agios Nikolaos Church in Skyros 2022.jpg|Agios Nikolaos Church in Molos
File:Shipwreck on Agalipas Beach in Skyros.jpg|Shipwreck on Agalipas Beach
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/sporades/skyros_the_largest_of_the_sporades_islands Sporades] at the official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation
*[http://www.sne.gr The official website of the Skyros Shipping Company]

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Skyros}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Skyros}}

{{Sporades}}
{{Kallikratis-Central Greece}}
{{Aegean Sea}}
{{Stato da Mar}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Skyros| ]]
[[Category:Islands of Central Greece]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Landforms of Euboea (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Locations in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Locations in the Iliad]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Central Greece]]
[[Category:Populated places in Euboea (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Populated places in the ancient Aegean islands]]
[[Category:Sporades]]
[[Category:Territories of the Republic of Venice]]