Findings around the island testify the land's history

The roots of Skyros in history can be traced back to the Neolithic era (550-2800 BC), with its first inhabitants being the prehellenic tribes of Pelasgi, Kari and Dolopes. It flourished during the early Copper Age (2800-1900 BC) and reached its prime during the Mycenaean period (1650-1100 BC). In the archaeological position Palamari, in the north part of the island, is one of the most important prehistoric settlements in the Aegean. It is dated during the early and middle Copper Age (2550 - 1650 BC) and it is a well organized commercial port. You can visit the site and watch the excavations that are still ongoing.
In 475 BC, the island came into Athenian ownership and remained for 389 years, until 86 BC. It then became a part of the Roman empire. Contrary to the period of the Roman empire, the influence of the Venetians was particularly important. During that period, Christianity prevailed and many churches were built, mostly on the ruins of pre-Christian temples. The Venetian occupation and the occupation by the Ottoman empire followed thereafter. In the archaeological museum in the Chora, are exhibited findings from the Protohelladic, Mycenaean, Protogeometric and Classical period. A tour around the island testifies as to what History left behind in this land.


Mythology

Achilles departs from Skyros for the war in Troy

Thisseas, Achilles, Neoptolemos and King Lykomedes have been connected with Skyros.
The main character of Homer's Iliad, Achilles, is connected to the island. Son of Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons, and Thetis. The prophets had foretold that if Achilles took part in the campaign in Troy, he would be glorified but he would also die. If he stayed in his homeland, he would live for many years but without glory. Thetis, in order to rescue her son, dressed him up in women's clothes and gave him the girl's name, Pyrra, which means blonde, and sent him to Lykomedes, King of Skyros, to live there with his daughters. He fell in love with princess Diidameia and had a son together, Neoptolemos. However, there was another prophecy. Prophet Kalhas revealed to the Greeks that Troy could never be conquered without Achilles. Ulysses went out to look for him and disguising as a merchant, with weapons hiding inside his merchandise, he managed to get inside Lykomedes' court. While the girls started looking at the women's clothes that Ulysses was selling, Achilles immediately went for the weapons. That is how Ulysses found out where he was and led him to Troy. They departed from a small port in Skyros that today is called Achilli.
Ulysses returned to Skyros, this time to look for Achilles' son and take him to Troy. Neoptolemos invaded Troy, hiding inside the Trojan Horse and killed the king of Troy, Priamos, to get revenge for the death of his father, Achilles.