TILOS ISLAND
THE LAND OF ELEPHANTS
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GEOGRAPHY
Tilos is an island of Dodecanese with an area of 62 sq. km., and a coastline of 63 km. Particularly, it is located between Nisyros and Halki and is just 22 nautical miles northwest of Rhodes. The population of the island amounts to 780 inhabitants. Must be remembered that the uninhabited islets of Gaidaros, Gaidaros of Megalo Chorio of Tilos, Antitilos, together with the rocky islets of Giakoumi, Agios Andreas, Agios Konstantinos, Pelagousa and Prasoudas belong to the island, too.
Moreover, the territory of the island is mountainous and rocky with a small plain in the centre. The highest point of the island is the peak of Profitis Ilias at 620 meters.
In Tilos there are four inhabited settlements which are Livadia (the port of the island), Megalo Chorio (capital of Tilos), Agios Antonios and Eristos, while there is one abandoned, that of Mikro Chorio.
Worth mentioning is that due to the abundant water available on the island, the inhabitants are engaged in beekeeping, the cultivation of citrus fruits, vegetables, almonds, and cereals, while the breeding of goats and cattle is also developed. At the same time, mainly during the summer months, the inhabitants of the island are engaged in activities related to tourism.
HISTORY
According to Greek mythology, Tilos, son of the sister of the Sun, gave his name to the island when he built a sanctuary here in honor of Apollon-Sun. During the Roman Period it was named Agathousa or Teutlousa, while the Venetians called it Episkopia or Piskopia, maintaining simultaneously its Greek name.
The existence of a prehistoric settlement is proved by the archeological findings at the place Garipa and the Mycenaean penetration, in 1600 BC. is proved at the place Kastellos Livadia. Then, in the 8th c. BC, Homer mentions that the island was inhabited by habitants of Rhodes. Later, in the 7th c. BC, according to Herodotus, the habitants of Tilos, with the help of the habitants of Lindos of Rhodes, colonized Gela (modern-day Jella) and other cities in Sicily. Afterwards, in the 5th c. BC, the island participated in the Athenian Alliance. During the Classical period the economic and cultural prosperity of the island continued and this is evidenced by the fact that it minted its own coins and became known for its myrrh and cobwebs. In the 5th c. BC in Tilos lived the poetess Irinna, according to many, equal to Sappho.
Equally important is that the main and probably the only settlement until the Early Christian years was the ancient citadel around the castle of Megalo Chorio (4th century BC), which later became a medieval fortress of the Knights. During the 3rd c. BC, Tilos was integrated into the power of Rhodes, while in 42 BC it submitted to the Romans. In the Byzantine period, Tilos belonged to the military land of Samos while it was looted by both the Saracens and the Venetians.
The island suffered two catastrophic earthquakes in 226-227 BC. and 550 AC, with the latter even levelling the early Christian temples, which proves that the habitants of Tilos embraced Christianity very early.
13th century - today
Subsequently, the island fell to the Ioannites Knights in 1309, who respected local authority and favored the development of ecclesiastical murals and founded three castles to protect the inhabitants from pirates and the Ottomans. Then, in 1522 the island was occupied by the Ottomans. After that, in 1675, Tilos was destroyed by the French pirate Krevelier and until the 18th century it faced raids by Algerian and European pirates. Then, in 1912 the Italians became the rulers of the island. Finally, in 1948 this island together with the entire complex of the Dodecanese united with Greece.
Beaches & Villages


Accommodation
Activities

ROUTE PLANNER
HOW TO GET THERE
You will reach Tilos by ferry from Piraeus (222 nm) with a journey time of 14-15 hours or Rhodes. With the ferry line Piraeus - Dodecanese, as well as with the intercommunication lines of the Aegean islands, Tilos is connected with Rhodes, Kalymnos, Kos, Astypalea, Kastelorizo, Nisyros, Symi and the Cycladic islands Naxos, Paros and Syros.
HOW TO GET AROUND
For your travels inside the island, you can use your own vehicle or the city bus. The island is also suitable for hiking, while excursion boats make the tour of the island and visits to its inaccessible beaches.
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