|
|
 |
Zakynthos has been well known since the times of Omiros, the ancient Greek poet, and the
Trojan war, when it was part of the kingdom of Odysseas. One of the predominant factors
regarding the islands colonisation is that Dardanos, the son of the King of Troy, was its
first settler. The modern historian P. Hiotis, having studied old historical works arrives
at the conclusion that the first settlers who came to Zakynthos were Arcadians from the
city of Psofida – Dardanos was originally of Arcadian descent but had immigrated to
Asia. From Asia, Dardanos arrived in Zakynthos and gave his own name to the new town and
the name of Psofida to its castle. In particular, the tendency of the ancient inhabitants
of the island towards music and the worship of the Goddess Artemis, typical
characteristics of the Arcadians, supports this connection.
|
 |
After the Trojan war, the
Zakynthians became independent from the kingdom of Ithaca and installed Democracy.
Following this, the island was then ruled by the Democrats for some 650 years. During this
period Zakynthos prospered both developmentally and in population growth. At this time the
first Zakynthian colony was established in Spain and named Zakantha |
The older and historical square of Saint Markos in the town centre.
To the right is St Markos Catholic church. |
During
the period of the Persian wars the Zakynthians remained neutral, whereas during the
Peloponesian was they supported the Athenians. Following this,
the Macedonians and later the Romans, governed Zakynthos granting them a level
of independence in the day to day running of the island. It is rumoured that
Christianity first became known to the island in 34AD through Mary Magdalen who stopped at
the island on her way to Rome, another popular version being that St. Beatrice was
responsible. |
18th
century Zakynthos from a painting by Antonis Milanos. |
During the Byzantine period, the
island was frequently attacked by pirates, would-be conquerors and barbarians. With
the crusades of the west, the Ionian islands were to encounter many new adventures
Zakynthos, along with the other Ionian islands, was occupied successively by the
Venetians, the Franks, inhabitants of the Andes, the kingdom of Naples and the Tokous (the
Florentine princes). When the rest of Greece was seized by the Turks in 1484,
Zakynthos and the other Ionian islands fell under the sovereignty of the Venetians. |
Under their rule, Zakynthos
became both organised and influenced by the Venetians which led to the re-birth of the
island. The Venetians established themselves in the capital of the island where they
built the castle and created the substructures for the everyday operations of the
island. The new town slowly expanded outside the boundaries of the ancient castle of
Psofidas, moving down towards the sea where over the years a large, commercial
harbour was created.
The lower classes became oppressed by the higher echelons so when the French democrats
arrived in 1797, they were met with great enthusiasm. Neither the social or economic
problems were to be solved though as a result of the new ruling so the Zakynthians once
again sought new protectors. In 1798 discontentment returned under the rule of the
Russo-Turks lasting until 1807 followed by the succession of the French Empire (1807 –
1814) and finally, the British from 1814 until 1864.
|
|
| The British were
responsible simultaneously for an organised form of government and public works. The
new ideas of the times and the new-found independence of Greece from the Turks created a
radical movement which resulted in the re-union of Zakynthos and the other Ionian islands
with Greece on the 2nd May 1824 when the Greek flag was finally raised again on the
island. |
|
|
|
