Strategically situated in the southeastern
part of the Aegean Sea, Leros sits on a glorious historical
background. Human presence on the island has been traced
as far back as in the Neolithic Era, an assumption corroborated
through the remains of a settlement, unearthed by archaeologists
in Partheni and estimated to date sometime between 8.000
to 3000 years B.C.
Lore has it that Leros
was first inhabited by the Kares, the Leleges, the Phoenicians
and even the Cretans under the leadership of Rodamanthys, King
Minos' very own son. Later on, the impetuous hordes of Dorians
landed on the island. Through the Homeric verses, Leros is quoted
as having taken part in the Trojan war jointly with the neighboring
island of Kalymnos whereas later on, Herodotus the historian mentioned
that this island had been able to strike more than one alliances
on the political, commercial but also on the cultural and intellectual
level with the celebrated Ionians of Militus.
A glorious moment for Leros was the cultural development experienced
in the 5th century B.C. Those were the days of such illustrious
figures as Demodicus, the satirical poet, and Pheredikes, the
historian. In the wake of the Persian Wars, Leros joined the Athenian
Alliance.
The Army of Alexander the
Great also made its presence felt on the island, a fact
confirmed through tomb stele and coins of the time discovered
in Leros. Plutarch explicitly praised the important position
Leros enjoyed in the domain of navigation, through specific
references in the passage on the captivity of Julius Cesar
in the nearby islet of Leros.
In the Byzantine era, the island saw the building of certain
imposing Christian churches. By decree of Emperor Constantine
the Great, Leros became part of the administrative region
("Thema") of Samos. That was also the time of
construction of such outstanding landmarks as the Fortress
and the church dedicated to Holy Mary ("Panagia")
as well as the Castle of the Lepides, most commonly referred
to as the "Paleokastro", around which there
still raise whatever remains of the so-called Cyclopean
Walls.
Platanos - Aghia Marina
- Panteli.
Formerly separated, these three settlements have ended up forming
one township. Following the formation of the landscape, the houses
cover the area between two bights - namely the port of Aghia Marina
and the bight of Panteli - and two hills - Apityki, crowned with
a fortress on top and Merovigli, renown for its spring of Paliaksloupi
(deriving from the terms "Palaeon Asklipeion" - Old
Aesculapium).
In the very heart of the island, one comes across the township
of Platanos, a historic, administrative, cultural and commercial
center, by far the oldest of all settlements in Leros. At the
foot of the Apityki, on the southern part of such hill and towards
the bay bearing the same name, there is Panteli, once a small
fishermen village. This is a typical crossroads for the route
leading to the windmills and from there on to the fortress. Perennial
port, Aghia Marina is currently a very busy marine installation
- rivaling in activity the port of Lakki. Around these two ports
there currently live a total 2.500 people.
Lakki.
This is the main port of the island, impressive in its buildings
and constructions, renown for its broad streets and the impeccable
structure, reminder of a clearly European urban planning, with
parks and eucalyptus-lined lanes - a different aspect of Leros
that is bound to take visitors by surprise. This is the place
where remains of Ancient Classical buildings can still be seen
incorporated in more recent constructions - mostly churches
around the island.
It was over the years of the Italian rule (1912 - 1948) that
what was once nothing more than a picturesque bay was converted
into a town, the major part of such works having taken place
between 1930 and 1936. Protected and safely arranged in the
utmost inner part of the bay - the entrance of which is barely
500 meter wide - Lakki is righteously considered as one of the
best havens in the Mediterranean. A naval Italian base of the
time, Lakki played a crucial part in World War II. Ialians also
maintained a naval air base in Lepida, also very well equipped.
Lakki boasts of a population of 2400 and lies within a 4 km
distance south from Platanos.
Partheni.
This has been a historic and even holy place in Leros since
antiquity. This is where the first relics, suggesting life in
Leros has flourished since ancient times. The place is famous
for the vestiges of the ancient temple of Virgin Venus (Virgin
translating as "Parthenos" in Greek, hence the name
of Partheni). This temple was destroyed sometime in the 11 century
A.C. when Holy Christodoulos decided to use parts of the ancient
construction as building material for the small church and cloister
of Saint George. Leros' airfield lies next to Partheni. The
bay is further protected by the islet of Archangelos. There
are 300 people living in Partheni, lying within a 8 km distance
from Platanos.
