Chios

Chios is the fifth largest Greek island, found in the northern Aegean Sea. It is also the tenth largest island in the entire Mediterranean Sea. Just across the Chios Strait lies Turkey. Chios is famous around the world for producing a special kind of gum called mastic gum, earning it the nickname "the Mastic Island." Visitors love to explore its beautiful medieval villages and see the ancient Nea Moni monastery from the 11th century, which is a World Heritage Site.

The main town on the island is also called Chios, but locals often call it Chora, meaning "land" or "country." This town sits at the highest point of the island.

Long ago, during the Greek War of Independence, Chios faced a very sad time. The island stayed part of the Ottoman Empire until it joined Greece in 1912.

Geography

Chios is a beautiful island shaped like a crescent or kidney. It stretches 50 km (31 mi) from north to south and is 29 km (18 mi) wide, covering an area of 842.289 km² (325.210 sq mi). The land is mountainous and dry, with a line of mountains running the length of the island. The two tallest mountains, Pelineon and Epos, are in the north.

The island can be divided into five regions. Along the east coast are important towns such as Chios Town, Vrontados, and Kambos. Chios Town is centered around the main harbor and a medieval castle. North of Chios Town is Vrontados, a suburb that claims to be the birthplace of the poet Homer.

In the southern part of the island are the Mastichochoria, seven villages known for producing mastic gum since ancient Roman times. These villages were built with strong walls and narrow streets.

Between Chios Town and these villages are many historic towns and fishing villages along the coast.

In the center of the island lies the Nea Moni monastery, a special place recognized by UNESCO. It was built in the 11th century.

The climate on Chios is warm and moderate, with summer temperatures around 30 °C (86 °F) and winter lows around 7 °C (45 °F). The island enjoys steady breezes throughout the year, mostly from the north or southwest.

A special type of white earth found near Pyrgi has been used since ancient times for its skin-care properties.

History

The island of Chios has a rich history. Its name may come from a mythical figure, Chios, son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Ancient writers also suggested it was named after a nymph called Chione. Over time, it was known by various names such as Ophioussa, meaning "snake island," and Pityoussa, meaning "pine-tree island."

During ancient times, Chios was home to early human settlements, with evidence of people living there as far back as the Neolithic era. The island later became an important place in the ancient world, known for its wine and trade. It was part of the Ionian League and one of the first cities to make coins. Chios also had its own government and joined alliances like the Delian League with Athens.

In later centuries, Chios was ruled by various powers, including the Romans, Byzantines, and Genoese. The Genoese controlled the island for centuries, focusing on trade while allowing local Greeks to keep much of their way of life. In 1566, the Ottoman Empire took over Chios, where it became known for its valuable mastic gum.

During the Greek War of Independence, Chios had a very difficult time. Despite this, the island later became part of modern Greece in 1912. Throughout its history, Chios has remained an important place for trade, culture, and the production of mastic gum.

Demographics

Government

In 2011, the area of Chios was changed by joining eight smaller parts together. These parts are now called municipal units. They are Agios Minas, Amani, Chios (town), Ionia, Kampochora, Kardamyla, Mastichochoria, and Omiroupoli.

Economy

The people of Chios are good merchants who travel by ship to sell local products. These include a special gum called mastic, olives, figs, wine, mandarin oranges, and cherries.

The island has many tasty foods, such as pasta called Kordelia, a dish named Malathropita, and a cheese called Mastello. There are also special drinks like Mastiha and Souma. Long ago, people mined a material called antimony on the island.

Culture

Chios has many interesting places to visit and traditions to learn about. One special place is Nea Moni, a beautiful monastery with colorful mosaics that is recognized as a World Heritage Site. The island also has several museums, including the Chios Byzantine Museum, the Chios Mastic Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Chios, and the Chios Maritime Museum.

In the town of Vrontados, people celebrate Easter in a unique way called rouketopolemos. During this celebration, teams from two churches fire homemade rockets at each other's bell towers while the Easter service is happening inside. Chios also has sports teams like F.C. Lailapas and NC Chios, and local media such as Alithia TV and newspapers like Chiakos Laos, Politis, and Dimokratiki.

Chios has friendly connections with several cities around the world, known as twin towns or sister cities. These include Çeşme in Turkey, Ermoupoli and Polykastro in Greece, Ortona and Genoa in Italy, Brezno in Slovakia, and Guiyang in China.

Notable natives and inhabitants

A person from Chios is called a Chian.

Ancient

• Homer (8th century BC), poet
• Glaucus of Chios (around 700 BC), Greek metal sculptor
• Homeridae
• Oenopides (around 490 – around 420 BC), mathematician and geometer
• Ion of Chios (484-421 BC), tragedy writer
• Hippocrates of Chios (around 470 – around 410 BC), mathematician, geometer and astronomer
• Likymnios of Chios (5th century – 4th century BC), Greek poet
• Metrodorus of Chios (4th century BC), Greek philosopher
• Theopompus of Chios (378 – around 320 BC), historian
• Erasistratus of Chios (304–250 BC), anatomist and doctor
• Aristo of Chios (around 260 BC), philosopher
• Claudia Metrodora (around 54–68 AD), public benefactor

Medieval

• Saint Markella (14th century), saint
• Leo Kalothetos (1315–1363), governor of the Byzantine empire
• Leonard of Chios (15th century), scholar
• Giovanni Giustiniani (1418-1453), died during the Fall of Constantinople and buried in Chios
• Matrona of Chios (15th century, died before 1455), saint
• Andreas Argenti (saint) (died 1465), saint
• Andrea Bianco (15th century), Genoese mapmaker who lived on Chios
• In 1982, Ruth Durlacher suggested that Chios might have been Christopher Columbus's birthplace. Columbus said he was from the Republic of Genoa, which included Chios at the time. Columbus was friends with Chian families from Genoa, mentioned Chios in his writings, and used Greek for some of his notes. The surname 'Columbus' is still common on Chios. Other common Greek spellings are: Kouloumbis and Couloumbis.
• Vincenzo Giustiniani (Dominican) (1516–1582), cardinal
• Vincenzo Giustiniani (1564–1637), banker and art collector
• Francisco Albo (16th century), pilot on Magellan’s expedition, the first circumnavigation of the Earth
• Leo Allatius (Leone Allacci) (around 1586–1669), scholar and theologian
• Constantine Rodocanachi (1635–1687), chemist, lexicographer, and doctor to Charles II of England

Modern

• Rodocanachi, noble family
• Scylitzes, noble family of Byzantine descent
• Mavrokordatos, noble, then princely family in Eastern Europe
• Negroponte, noble family
• Damalas, princely family, former rulers during the Frankokratia
• Rallis, noble family of which the famous Ralli Brothers/Ralli baronets descend from
• Athanasios Parios (1722–1813), theologian, philosopher, educator, and hymnographer
• Macarius of Corinth (1731–1805), bishop, mystic and writer
• Nikephoros of Chios (around 1750–1821), abbot of Nea Moni monastery, theologian and saint
• Eustratios Argenti (theologian) (1685–1762), theologian and doctor
• Eustratios Argenti (national hero) (1767–1798), executed with Rigas Velestinlis
• Alexandros Kontostavlos (1789–1865), politician
• Christophorus Plato Castanis (1814–1866), academic, author and classicist, former slave, orphan and refugee to the United States
• Alexandros Georgios Paspatis (1814–1891), linguist, historian and physician, researcher of the Romani language and of the history and culture of the Roma people
• George Colvocoresses (1816–1872), military officer
• Mustapha Khaznadar (1817–1878), Prime Minister of the Beylik of Tunis
• Michel Emmanuel Rodocanachi (1821–1901), trader and banker of London
• Andreas Syggros (1830–1899), banker, descended from Chios
• George Glarakis (1789-1855), politician, Minister of Education (1838)
• Patriarch Constantine V of Constantinople (1833–1914)
• Ibrahim Edhem Pasha (1819–1893), Ottoman Grand Vizier
• Namık Kemal (1840–1888), writer, served as a sub-prefect of Chios from 1886 to his death on the island in 1888
• Osman Hamdi Bey (1842–1910), painter, archaeologist
• Ioannis Psycharis (1854–1929), philologist, descended from Chios
• Ambrosios Skaramagas, merchant
• Konstantinos Amantos (1874–1960), Byzantine scholar, professor at the University of Athens, member of the Athens Academy
• Stylianos Miliadis (1881–1965), painter
• Kostia Vlastos (1883–1967), banker, of the old Vlastos family
• John D. Chandris (1890–1942), shipowner
• Stavros Livanos (1891–1963), shipping magnate
• Ioannis Despotopoulos (1903–1992), architect
• Kostas Perrikos (1905–1943), Greek Resistance figure, leader of PEAN
• Yiannis Carras (1907–1989), shipowner
• Adamantios Lemos (1916–2006), actor
• Andreas Papandreou (1919–1996), politician, Prime Minister of Greece
• Mikis Theodorakis (1925–2021), composer, born on the island
• Jani Christou (1926–1970), composer
• George P. Livanos (1926–1997), shipowner
• Petros Molyviatis (1928–2025), politician
• Stamatios Krimigis (1938), NASA space scientist
• Takis Fotopoulos (1940), political philosopher
• Adamantios Vassilakis (1942–2021), diplomat
• Dimitris Varos (1949–2017), author, poet, journalist
• Mark Palios (1952, of Chian descent), former professional footballer and former chief executive of the English Football Association
• Matthew Mirones (1956), New York politician
• Nikos Pateras (1963), shipowner
• Angeliki Frangou (1965), shipowner
• John Sitaras (1972), fitness professional
• Ioannis Fountoulis (1988), water polo player