Lesbos

The island of Lesvos is located between the island of Lemnos and Chios, a short distance from the coasts of Asia Minor. It is among the largest of the North-Eastern Aegean islands: it is in fact the third largest island, after those of Crete and Evia. The island, very beautiful, has marvelous beaches, spas, characteristic villages where it is possible to admire fascinating examples of traditional Venetian and Byzantine architecture, cordial and hospitable inhabitants. Its landscape is dominated by olive trees. Lesvos is famous for its excellent ouzo, a liqueur with a high alcohol content. It is also the birthplace of the poetess Sappho.
Despite the great tourism, the inhabitants of the island have maintained their traditions and customs.
According to Greek mythology, the island takes its name from the brother-in-law of Makaras, son of Elio, god of the sun. The cities of the island are named after the sons of Makaras. According to legend, Makaras had 5 daughters: Mytilini, Mythimna, Issa, Antissa, Arisvi, and 4 sons: Eressos, Kydrolaos, Neadros, Lefkipos. The island is also mentioned by Homer in his Iliad. Another myth connects the island to the famous Orpheus, whose music managed to move and shake every soul. The young musician was killed by some evil deities, enraged by the fact that Orpheus was able to shake even their souls. They dismembered his body and threw the pieces into the River Evros. Orpheus' head and lyre were washed up on the island of Lesbos. As a sign of devotion, the inhabitants of the island placed their heads in the Temple of Apollo.
Lesvos has known in the past an extraordinary artistic production. The famous singer, guitarist and poet Arion (625 – 585 BC), who reformed the dithyramb and contributed to the development of tragedy, was from Mythimna. The great musician and creator of choral poetry, Terpandros, was born in Antissa in 710 BC. Seeking more complex music, he perfected the four-string guitar of the time into a seven-string guitar. Sappho and Alkaios, the two most prominent representatives of Aeolian melodic poetry who lived in the 6th century BC, are from Lesbos. The well-known painter Theofilos lived in Mytilini.
Archaeological excavations have shown that the island was inhabited since Neolithic times and during the Bronze Age. During the 7th century BC. the island became an artistic and philosophical center and developed a great maritime power. In the 6th century BC. it was conquered by the Persians and later captured by the Athenians and then by the Romans. After the fall of the Roman Empire it was occupied by the Saracens and in 1261 it became part of the Byzantine Empire until 1460 when it was taken by the Ottomans. The Turkish imprint still remains evident on the island, as evidenced by the presence of the many mosques. In 1824 the islanders rebelled against their oppressors but the revolution was crushed in blood. On November 8, 1912, the island of Lesvos was liberated by Admiral Koundouriotis and his fleet. The Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923, led to the union of the island with the rest of Greece.