Milos History, Aphrodite of Milos

The history of Milos starts from the antiquity, like any other place in Greece. Its location and natural resources (mainly obsidian) made Milos a very important center of early Aegean civilization.

Phylakopi is a well known Bronze Age archaeological site located on the north-east side of Milos island. However, part of the site has been washed away by the sea. There is evidence of Phoenician occupation on the island, as well as of Dorian civilization.

In 415 BC the Athenians attacked Milos, conquered it and 5000 Athenian colonists moved to the island. Lysander later restored the island to the Dorian alliance, but it never saw the former prosperity again.

There were many Jewish settlers on Milos and Christianity was very early introduced

Aphrodite of Milos

aphrodite milos The marble statue known as the Aphrodite of Milos is one of the most recognizable works of art from the ancient world. Also referred to as Venus de Milo (Venus, of course, is the Roman version of Aphrodite’s name), this imposing image of the goddess of love and beauty has inspired admiration over the centuries.

There is little doubt about the reason why she is so famous – the statue, with its elegantly twisting pose (and of course, those memorable missing arms), has become an icon of Western art.

Read more about the statue of Aphrodite of Milos

Milos Today

Today the island of Milos has about 4700 inhabitants.

Some of the most important sights to visit on the island include: Arkoudes, Ancient Theatre (near Tripiti), Archaeological Museum (in Plaka), Vani (mines), Glaronissia (rocky islands), Ecclesiastical Museum (in Adamanta), Milos Catacombs (early Christian community), Folk Art Museum of Milos (in Plaka), The Mining Museum, the ship wrecks (east of Sarakiniko) and the ancient settlement of Filakopi.

Milos beaches are also famous for its amazing golden& silver sand and crystal clear azure water. If you don’t like to stay in the sun, you can choose to take sea excursions and some nice ideas are to leave from Kipos beach and head to Gerontas and Kleftiko