Amorgos trivia: 50 facts about this beautiful greek island!

Amorgos is one of the most famous greek islands. And one of the most spellbinding. You should definitely pay it a visit!

So let’s dive into some more trivia and facts about this island!

Amorgos is the easternmost island of the Cyclades island group
And the nearest island to the neighboring Dodecanese island group in Greece
Along with several neighbouring islets, the largest of which is Nikouria Island
It comprises the municipality of Amorgos
Which has a land area of 126.346 square kilometres (48.782 square miles)
And a population of 1,973 (2011 census)
Due to Amorgos’ position opposite the ancient beaches of Ionian towns, such as Militos, Alikarnassos and Ephesos, it became one of the first places from which the Ionians passed through to the Cyclades Islands and onto the Greek mainland
Throughout history, Amorgos was also known as Yperia, Patagy, or Platagy, Pagali, Psichia and Karkisia
Amorgos features a lot of remnants of ancient civilizations
At the time of Archaic Greece, there were three independent city-states there
They are believed to have featured autonomous constitutions but the same currency
Amorgos is distinguished by the size and quality of the walls surrounding the city of Arkesini
By the ancient towers whose remains are scattered all over the island
By the ancient tombs, the stone tools, the inscriptions, the vases and by other antiquities
Due to the name Minoa we suspect that Amorgos had been colonised by the Cretans from ancient times
But there are no archeological remains supporting this view
The names of the three cities given by Stephanus Byzantinus are Arkesini, Minoa, Aigiali or Melania
Which, according to inscriptions, are the most correct
The three towns are on the island’s west coast because that is where bays and natural ports that could provide the proper positioning for seaside towns and forts exist
Aigiali was on the north East Side of the island close to the present day locations of Tholaria and Stroumvos
And to this day can still be found there
Minoa is situated at the center of the northern side near the present day village of Katapola and Arkesini
Close to the present-day lowland location Kastri
Excavations and findings, especially burial tombs, prove the intense presence of Amorgos during the prehistoric years
Particularly during the first period of Cycladic civilisation (3200 to 2000 BC)
The island was featured in Luc Besson’s film The Big Blue (1988)
In which Agia Anna and the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa can be seen
The island was also featured in Giorgos Kordelas’ film Ariadni (2002)
The monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa is situated on the cliff side, northeast of Chora
It was built early in the second millennium in order to protect a religious icon
Dating from the year 812, from intruders
The icon is on public display inside the monastery
Opening time for visitors every day from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
Visitors have to be dressed in a specific way in order to enter
Men have to wear long trousers and women a skirt or a wrap around shift down to the knee, not trousers
The shift may however be over trousers
As of July 2012, the monastery is active and houses three practising monks
Tourism is going up slowly
Although the island features prevent mass tourism
The island is accessible only by boat
The 3 main places of tourist accommodations are Katapola, Aegiali and Chora
Hiking ways are relatively well maintained
Other activities are scuba diving, activities relating to wellness, and the beaches
Although it is not the main attraction of the island compared to other Greek islands
Part of the island is named Aspis
Where the ancient temple of the goddess Aphrodite stood
On 9 July 1956, a very large earthquake occurred that generated a local tsunami of up to 30 m (98 ft)
The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.7
And had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent)
Fifty-three people were killed and 100 were injured