In
the wealth of ancient Greek mythology there are two references to Mykonos.
The first tells us that the island took its name from the hero Mykonos
and the other that it was on Mykonos that Hercules slew the Giants and
that the large rocks which lie scattered about the island are their
petrified corpses in antiquity, the greatest growth of this island was
noted in the historical years during which there were two important
cities, Mykonos and Panormos.
Possibly the first inhabitants of Mykonos Island were Carians, Egyptians
and Cretans. It followed the arrival of Ionians under the leadership
of Hippocles. Little is known about Mykonos during ancient times but,
by coin depictions, we are able to presume that Dionyssos was the island’s
patron god.
During
the Byzantine times Mykonos Island was initially subject to the province
of islands and later to the theme of Aegean. By 1207 it was under the
occupation of the Venetian brothers Andrea and Jeremiah Ghizis while
in 1292 was ravaged by Catalans. A century later, Mykonos was conceded
to Venice by its last ruler, Georgios Ghizis. The island was totally
destroyed and practically deserted in 1537 by Khaired-Din Barbarossa.
The Venetians conquered Mykonos in 1207 and by Turks in 1537 Mykono's
fleet energetically took part in the 1821 Revolution in which the figure
of Manto Mavrogenous stood out. In October 1822, the Turks undertook
a landing on the island, but the Mykonians under their heroic woman
leader, Manto Mavroyenous, successfully repulsed it.
After
liberation (1830) Mykonos managed to re-establish its commercial fleet
but the after coming dominance of the steamship resulted in the gradual
constriction of their shipping activities by the end of the past century.
During the period between World War I and World War II, tourism made
its first appearance. From the mid-50s on the island has been gradually
transformed into an important tourist, cosmopolitan and artistic centre
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