Antiparos (; ; ; is a small island in the southern Aegean, at the heart of the Cyclades, which is less than one nautical mile (1.9 km) from Paros, the port to which it is connected with a local ferry. Saliagos island is the most ancient settlement in the Cyclades, and Despotiko, an uninhabited island in the southwest of Antiparos, is a place of great archaeological importance.

The Community of Antiparos was founded in 1914 and was promoted to a municipality in 2010 with the implementation of the Kallikratis Programme, under the principle of "each island a municipality". It occupies an area of 45.182 square km, including the island of Antiparos and Despotiko. It has, according to the 2021 census, 1,265 permanent residents and a density of 28 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>. The island's economy is based on tourism, fishing, farming and less on agriculture in the plains. It is known for its white houses, cobbled streets and the flowers that thrive in the yards of the houses. It is a tourist resort in the summer for Greeks and European visitors, as well as land investors from the United States.

The main settlement lies at the northeastern tip of the island, opposite Pounda on the main island of Paros, whence a ferry sails for Antiparos harbour. The historical center is located in the Venetian castle of Antiparos, which is connected through the shopping streets in the picturesque coastal street. Other settlements are the resort of St. George in the southwest edge, Soros and Kampos. Beaches in the wider area of the center are Psaralyki, the Sifneiko, Ag Spiridon and the camping beach. Other beaches include: Soros, Glyfa, Apantima, Monastiria.

Etymology

The ancient name of the island was "Oliaros", In 1889 Christos Tsountas excavated in Despotiko, revealing Cycladic cemeteries. From 1964 to 1965 a Neolithic settlement was excavated on the island of Saliagos by Colin Renfrew and J D Evans for the British School at Athens. Stone foundations of buildings, obsidian arrowheads and pottery were found, together with a marble figurine known as the Fat lady of Saliagos.

Classical remains are concentrated on the island of Despotiko. The Isle of Antiparos was identified with ancient Prepesintho, according to the extant writings of Strabo and Pliny.

In 1959 Nikos Zafiropoulos began excavations at Zoumparia and Mantra, on the northeast coast, where there were architecturally Doric temples from the ancient times, dating to 500 BC.

In 1997, the archaeologist Yiannos Kourayos began new excavations at Mantra, bringing to light some of the ancillary buildings of a sanctuary. The temple itself has not so far been discovered, though a number of architectural elements from an early Doric temple have been discovered built into later walls. The main finding so far has been an elongated building, consisting of five consecutive parallel rooms. In the southern room archaic materials of Eastern Aegean, Rhodian, Cypriot and Egyptian origin have been discovered.

Many marble sculptures were found, including two archaic kouros heads, a naked male statue, part of the Archaic period perirrantiriou inscribed with the inscription "Marda anethiken". Among the significant findings include the built-square marble altar dedicated to Hestia Isthmus of classical times and which is testimony to one of the deities worshiped in the Cyclades.

History

left|thumb|170px|The "Camara" (entrance to the Kastro)

The island, under the name Oliarus or Oliaros, was noted by several ancient authors including Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Virgil, and Stephanus of Byzantium. According to Heraclides Ponticus, it was colonised by Sidonians.

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File:Antiparos 02.jpg|Antiparos, view from Pounta, Paros

File:Castle of Antiparos, built by Giovanni Loredan.jpg|Castle of Antiparos, built by Giovanni Loredan

File:Griechenland Antiparos Plazza.JPG|Antiparos Chora

File:GR-paros-antiparos-faehre.jpg|Ferry boat Paros - Antiparos

File:Antiparos-madalena-movie-house.jpg|The house where Madalena was filmed, starring Aliki Vougiouklaki, castle district

File:Map of Antiparos.jpg|Map of Antiparos & Despotiko islands

</gallery>

Notes

References

  • J. P. de Tournefort, Relation d'un voyage au Levant (1717); English edition, 1718, vol. i. p.&nbsp;146
  • Guide-books to Greece.
  • Paros and Antiparos, by Nigel McGilchrist (Genius Loci publications)
  • See Chapter XVI, The Cyclades, or Life Among the Insular Greeks by J Theodore Bent, Published 1885, reprinted by Archaeopress, 2002.
  • Official website