Editing Thasos (section)

==History==

===Mythology===

Staphylus ({{langx|grc|Στάφυλος}}), the beloved son of god [[Dionysus]], lived in Thasos.<ref>[https://topostext.org/work/240#th.59 Suda, § th.59]</ref>

===Prehistory===

Lying close to the coast of [[East Macedonia and Thrace|Eastern Macedonia]], Thasos was inhabited from the [[Palaeolithic period]] onwards,<ref>Papadopoulos S., "Recent Field Investigations in Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age Thasos", International Symposium in Memoriam Mieczislaw Domaradzki, Kazanlak, Archaeological Institute of Sofia, Kazanluk, (in press)</ref> but the earliest settlement to have been explored in detail is that at Limenaria, where remains from the Middle and Late [[Neolithic]] relate closely to those found at the mainland's [[Drama, Greece|Drama plain]]. In contrast, Early [[Bronze Age]] remains on the island align it with the [[Aegean civilizations|Aegean]] culture of the [[Cycladic culture|Cyclades]] and [[Sporades]], to the south; at Skala Sotiros<ref>Κουκούλη Χ.- Χρυσανθάκη, "Ανασκαφή Σκάλας Σωτήρος Θάσου", Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και Θράκη, 1, ((1987), 1988, 391–406, 2 (1988), 1991, 421–431, 3 (1989), 1992, 507–520, 4 (1990), 1993, 531–545).</ref> for example, a small settlement was encircled by a strongly built defensive wall. Even earlier activity is demonstrated by the presence of large pieces of '[[megalith]]ic' [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] [[stelai]] built into these walls, which, so far, have no parallels in the Aegean area.

There is then a gap in the archaeological record until the end of the Bronze Age c 1100 BC, when the first burials took place at the large cemetery of Kastri in the interior of the island.<ref>Chaidou Koukouli-Chrysanthaki: Πρωτοιστορική Θάσος. Τα νεκροταφεία του οικισμού Κάστρι, Μερος Α και Β, Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού, Δυμοσιέυματα του αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου Αρ. 45, {{ISBN|960-214-107-7}}</ref><ref>Agelarakis A., "Reflections of the Human Condition in Prehistoric Thasos: Aspects of the Anthropological and Palaeopathological Record from the Settlement of Kastri". Actes du Colloque International Matières prèmieres et Technologie de la Préhistoire à nos jours, Limenaria, Thasos.  The French Archaeological Institute in Greece, 1999.  447–468.</ref> Here built tombs covered with small mound of earth were typical until the end of the [[Iron Age]]. In the earliest tombs were a small number of locally imitated [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean]] pottery vessels, but the majority of the hand-made pottery with incised decoration reflects connections eastwards with [[Thrace]] and beyond.

===Antiquity===
[[File:Plan der antiken Stadt Thasos.png|thumb|Plan of Thasos]]
[[File:Agora of Thasos.jpg|thumb|Ancient Agora of Thasos]]
[[File:Geschichtetes, zyklopenhaftes Mauerwerk über Parmenon-Turm, aus Süd C.jpg|thumb|City walls of Thasos]]

The island was colonised at an early date by [[Phoenicia]]ns, attracted probably by its gold mines; they founded a temple to the god [[Melqart]], whom the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] identified as "[[Heracles|Tyrian Heracles]]", and whose cult was merged with Heracles in the course of the island's [[Hellenization]].<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], 5.25.12. "The Thasians, who are Phoenicians by descent, and sailed from [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]], and from Phoenicia generally, together with Thasos, the son of Agenor, in search of Europa, dedicated at Olympia a Herakles, the pedestal as well as the image being of bronze. The height of the image is ten cubits, and he holds a club in his right hand and a bow in his left. They told me in Thasos that they used to worship the same Heracles as the Tyrians, but that afterwards, when they were included among the Greeks, they adopted the worship of Heracles the son of Amphitryon."</ref> The temple still existed in the time of [[Herodotus]].<ref>Herodotus. ''Histories'', 2.44. "In the wish to get the best information that I could on these matters, I made a voyage to Tyre in Phoenicia, hearing there was a temple of [[Hercules|Heracles]] at that place, very highly venerated. I visited the temple, and found it richly adorned with a number of offerings, among which were two pillars, one of pure gold, the other of smaragdos, shining with great brilliancy at night. In a conversation I held with the priests, I inquired how long their temple had been built, and found by their answer that they, too, differed from the Hellenes. They said that the temple was built at the same time that the city was founded, and that the foundation of the city took place 2,300 years ago. In [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]] I remarked another temple where the same god was worshipped as the Thasian Heracles. So I went on to Thasos, where I found a temple of Heracles, which had been built by the Phoenicians who colonised that island when they sailed in search of Europa. Even this was five generations earlier than the time when Heracles, son of Amphitryon, was born in [[Ancient Greece|Hellas]]. These researches show plainly that there is an ancient god Heracles; and my own opinion is that those Hellenes act most wisely who build and maintain two temples of Heracles, in the one of which the Heracles worshipped is known by the name of [[Olympia, Greece|Olympian]], and has sacrifice offered to him as an immortal, while in the other the honours paid are such as are due to a hero."</ref> An [[eponym]]ous Thasos or [[Thasus]], son of [[Phoenix (son of Agenor)|Phoenix]] (or of [[Agenor]], as Pausanias reported) was said to have been the leader of the Phoenicians, and to have given his name to the [[List of islands of Greece|island]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=727}}

Around 650 BC, or a little earlier, Greeks from [[Paros]] founded a colony on Thasos.<ref>AJ Graham,"The Foundation of Thasos", ''The Annual of the British School at Athens'', Vol. 73 (1978), pp. 61-98.</ref> A generation or so later, the poet [[Archilochus of Paros|Archilochus]], a descendant of these colonists, wrote of casting away his shield during a minor war against an indigenous Thracian tribe, the Saians.<ref>Zafeiropoulou F., A., Agelarakis,  "Warriors of Paros". Archaeology 58.1(2005): 30–35.</ref> Thasian power, and sources of its wealth, extended to the mainland, where the Thasians owned gold mines even more valuable than those of the island; their combined annual revenues amounted to between 200 and 300 [[Attic talent|talents]]. Herodotus says that the best mines on the island were those opened by the Phoenicians on the east side of the island, facing [[Samothrace]]. Archilochus described Thasos as "an ass's backbone crowned with wild wood." The island's capital, [[Thasos (town)|Thasos]], had two harbours. Besides its gold mines, the wine, nuts and marble of Thasos were well known in antiquity.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=727}} Thasian wine was quite famous. Thasian coinage bore images of the wine-god [[Dionysos]] and grape bunches.<ref>Hugh Johnson, ''Vintage: The Story of Wine'' pg 39. Simon and Schuster 1989</ref>

During the [[Ionian revolt]] against [[Persian Empire|Persia]], Thasos was under Persian domination. After the capture of [[Miletus]] (494 BC), [[Histiaeus of Miletus|Histiaeus]], the [[Ionia]]n leader, laid siege to Thasos, without success. In response, the Thasians built warships and strengthened their fortifications, but this provoked the suspicions of [[Darius I of Persia]], who compelled them to surrender their ships and pull down their walls.<ref>Agelarakis A., – Y., Serpanos "Auditory Exostoses, Infracranial Skeleto-Muscular Changes and Maritime Activities in  Classical Period Thasos Island", Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2010, 45–57.</ref> After the defeat of [[Xerxes I]] the Thasians joined the [[Delian League]]  but left in a disagreement over their mainland mines and markets.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=727}}
[[File:Thasos - AR tritartemorion.jpg|thumb|right|Silver [[Ancient drachma#Denominations of ancient Greek drachma|tritartemorion]] struck in Thasos {{Circa|411–404 BC}}. [[Satyr]] on the obverse and dolphins on the reverse]]
The [[Athenians]] eventually defeated Thasos' navy, and took the capital after a two-year siege. The Thasians were made to destroy their walls, surrender their ships and their mainland possessions, and pay a regular indemnity. In 411 BC, during a period of political instability at Athens, Thasos accepted a [[Lacedaemon]]ian governor; but in 407 BC the partisans of Lacedaemon were expelled, and the Athenians under [[Thrasybulus]] were admitted.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=727}}

After the [[Battle of Aegospotami]] (405 BC), Thasos again fell into the hands of the Lacedaemonians under [[Lysander]] but the Athenians must have recovered it, for it formed one of the subjects of dispute between them and [[Philip II of Macedon]]ia. In the embroilment between [[Philip V of Macedon]]ia and the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], Thasos submitted to Philip, but received its freedom at the hands of the Romans after the [[Battle of Cynoscephalae]] (197 BC), and it was still a nominally "free" state in the time of [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=727}}

Excavations of various island sites between March and May 1887 by Theodore and [[Mabel Bent]] uncovered an 'Arch of Caracalla', and the collapsed remains of a unique portrait-statue of the emperor [[Hadrian]]'s wife, the empress [[Vibia Sabina|Flavia Vibia Sabina]], with an inscription dedicated to her as a "high priestess".<ref>Sheila Dillon, ''The Female Portrait Statue in the Greek World'', 147-149, 278. Cambridge University Press (2010).</ref><ref>See also Mabel Bent’s diary, January 1888, Istanbul, ''The Travel Chronicles of Mrs J. Theodore Bent, Vol. 1'', p.230 (Oxford, 2006).</ref>

===Middle Ages===
{{further|Byzantine Greece|Frankokratia}}
[[File:Saint Nicholas Church in Limenas, Thasos from SE.jpg|thumb|Byzantine church in Thasos]]

Thasos was part of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]], now known as the [[Byzantine Empire]], from 395 on. According to the 6th century ''[[Synecdemus]]'', it belonged to the province of [[Macedonia Prima]], although the 10th century ''De thematibus'' claims that it was part of [[Thracia]].<ref name="ODB">{{cite encyclopedia | title = Thasos | last1 = Gregory | first1 = Timothy E. | last2 = Cutler | first2 = Anthony  | page = 2031 | editor-first = Alexander | editor-last = Kazhdan |editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan | encyclopedia = [[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]] | location = London and New York | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 1991 | isbn = 978-0-19-504652-6}}</ref> The island was a major source of marble until the disruption of the [[Slavic people|Slavic]] invasions in the late 6th/7th centuries, and several churches from [[Late Antiquity]] have been found on it.<ref name="ODB"/> The island remained in Byzantine hands for most of the [[Middle Ages]]. It functioned as a naval base in the 13th century, under its own ''[[dux|doux]]'', and came briefly under the rule of the [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] [[Tedisio Zaccaria]] in 1307–13. Returning to Byzantine control, its bishopric was raised to an archdiocese by [[Manuel II Palaiologos]]. Thasos was captured by the Genoese [[Gattilusi]] family c.&nbsp;1434, who surrendered it to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1455.<ref name="ODB"/> Following the Ottoman conquest of the [[Despotate of the Morea]]  in 1460, the former Despot [[Demetrios Palaiologos]] received lands on the island.<ref name="ODB"/>

It is related that the Byzantine Greek Saint [[Joannicius the Great]] (752–846) in one of his miracles freed the island of Thasos from a multitude of snakes.

===Ottoman era===
{{further|Ottoman Greece}}
Thasos was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1456.<ref>Somel, Selçuk Akşin, ''The A to Z of the Ottoman Empire'', p. 103, Scarecrow Press, Mar 23, 2010</ref> Under Ottoman rule, the island was known in [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]] as طاشوز - ''Taşöz''. Between 1770 and 1774, the island was briefly occupied by a [[Russia]]n fleet. By this time its population had gravitated to the inland villages as a protective measure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/thassos/index.htm|title=Greek Islands:Thassos|access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref>  Nearly 50 years later, a revolt against Ottoman rule arose in 1821, at the outbreak of the [[Greek War of Independence]], led by Hatzigiorgis Metaxas, but it failed. The [[1831 census of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Census of 1831]] states that the island was populated exclusively by Greeks and that there were 1,821 Greek males fit to fight. This register excluded women, orphans, Christians below the age of puberty, the mentally or physically incapacitated as well as high-ranking officials, so the actual population would have been over double this.<ref>[[Kemal Karpat]] (1985), [https://kupdf.net/downloadFile/59e4a7b908bbc56144e653d7 Ottoman Population, 1830-1914, Demographic and Social Characteristics], [[The University of Wisconsin Press]], p. 9 & 114</ref>

The island had been given in 1813 by the Sultan [[Mahmud II]] to the Ottoman Albanian ruler [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt]] as a personal fiefdom, as a reward for his [[Wahhabi War|intervention against the Wahhabites]]. The island had functioned as the chief centre of recruitment for [[Albanians]] who entered the [[Egypt under Muhammad Ali|Egyptian]] civil service, until 1912.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kamusella|first=Tomasz|author-link=Tomasz Kamusella|title=Central Europe's Limits in the North and the South|journal=Acta Slavica Iaponica|volume=44|year=2023|pages=83–112|issn=0288-3503|publisher=Slavic Research Center, [[Hokkaido University]]}}</ref> On 20 October 1912 during the [[First Balkan War]], the Greek navy invaded Thasos and annexed it into Greece after more than 350 years of Ottoman Turkish rule.

===Modern era===
{{further|Axis occupation of Greece during World War II}}
[[File:Parelia am Fischerhafen C.jpg|thumb|Limenaria in 1950s]]

During the [[Axis powers|Axis]] occupation (April 1941{{snd}}October 1944) Thasos, along with the region of [[East Macedonia and Thrace]], was assigned by the Nazis to their [[Bulgaria]]n allies. The Bulgarian government renamed the island "Tasos" and closed its schools. Thasos' mountainous terrain facilitated resistance activity, mainly led by the left-wing [[National Liberation Front (Greece)|National Liberation Front]] (EAM). After the end of the war and the withdrawal of Axis troops in 1944, the island was caught up in the [[Greek Civil War]]. The leader of the communist naval faction, Sarantis Spintzos, was a native of Thasos.<ref>Κώστας Τσίμας, Σελίδες Ζωής: Αγώνες για την Ελευθερία και τη Δημοκρατία, 2004, σελίδες 36-40</ref> Skirmishes and [[Communism|communist]] guerilla attacks continued until 1950, almost a year after hostilities had ended on the Greek mainland.

In the post-war decades, another native of Thasos, Costas Tsimas, was to attain national recognition; a friend of Prime Minister [[Andreas Papandreou]], he was appointed Director of the [[National Intelligence Service (Greece)|National Intelligence Service]], the first civilian to hold that post.

[[Thasos (town)|Thasos]], the capital, informally known as Limenas, or "the port", is served by a ferry route to and from [[Keramoti]] a port close to [[Kavala International Airport]], and has the shortest possible crossing to the island.
Scala Prinos 20&nbsp;km south of Thassos town is served by a ferry route to and from [[Kavala]].