Serifos

History in Serifos dates back to the 3rd millennium bc. Minoans from Crete and Phoenicians arrived before the Mycenneans in 1800 bc, while the 7th century bc saw Aeolians and Ionians. In the 6th century bc, its mines caused it to develop and become a democracy with its own currency. During the Persian wars it sided with the Persians but changed to the Delian League, dominated by Athens, becoming a member in 377 bc. It was occupied by the Macedons in 363 bc and later by the Ptolemeans of the kingdom of Egypt. In 146 bc, the Romans took the island. An alliance with Mithridates VI was crushed in 88 bc causing a period of long decline during which Serifos became a place of exile. In 1204 ad, with the Franks arrival, cultural and economic development commenced with the mines’ reopening after a millennium in silence. It became part of the Duchy of Naxos in 1207 but disagreement amongst ruling families created instability until the invasion of Barbarossa in 1537, after which numerous pirate raids occurred. It came under Ottoman control in 1566 until the Russian - Ottoman war, 1770 - 1774, when the Russians governed, only to be returned to the Ottomans after the Treaty of Kucuk Kaynarca. Many of the islanders were involved in the War of Independence in 1821. Pirate raids forced further decline. Modern times were based on mining, the first official permit being issued in 1867. The French company Spiliazeza took control of activities though they were managed by the German Emilios Gromman. Working conditions were inhuman, the lack of safety conditions provoking a strike in 1916 in which four workers and two police officers were killed. This became the first bloody revolt in modern era Greece. In 1941, Italians, under the framework of the occupation of Greek territories by the Axis forces, took control until Italy’s capitulation in 1943 when the Germans took charge until its liberation.

In the 6th century bc, its mines caused it to develop and become a democracy with its own currency.

My first visit to Serifos caused me four demolished tyres and a steering wheel half off centre, but I enjoyed it immensely, trekking and freediving everywhere I could. These days, the roads are smooth and travelling times halved. Last time was a mostly-on-foot experience to capture as much detail as possible for the project.