Cyclades

2300 BCE

The Citadel at Kastrí is constructed on Syros.

1500 BCE

The bronze age settlement at Ayia Irini on Kea reaches its peak.

700 BCE

The Lelantine War between Chalkis and Eretria results in a Chalkis victory and Eretria’s loss of Andros, Tenos, and Koressos, Ioulis, and Karthaia on Kea. Miletos joined the side of Eretria and Samos and Thessaly on the side of Chalkis.

655 BCE

Akanthos founded by settlers from Andros.

600 BCE

Lion of Ioulis carved on Kea.

556 BCE

The reknowned poet Simonides is born in Ioulis on Kea.

541 BCE

Approximate time when Polykrates becomes tyrant of Samos. He is supported by Lygdamis of Naxos.

535 BCE

Approximate date of Pisistratos of Athens‘ decree that all graves within sight of the temple at Delos be dug up and moved.

499 BCE

Persian forces attempt to take Naxos, but are unsuccessful.

490 BCE

The Persian admiral Datis stops at Delos to pay his respects and demonstrate to the Greeks that the Persians are not hostile to their gods.

490 BCE

As punishment for their support of the Persians, Athens besieges Paros after a heavy fine is rejected. After 26 days, the Athenians are forced to depart.

480 BCE

Andros supplies ships to Xerxes’ fleet. Xerxes stays in Halos.

480 BCE

Karystos, Andros, and Tenos ally with Xerxes and provide ships.

480 BCE

Melos refuses to submit to the Persians and instead provide two triremes to the Greeks that participate in the Battle of Salamis.

480 BCE
September 26

Aegina plays a significant role in the Greek naval victory against the Persian Empire in the Battle of Salamis. Byblos, Arados, Tyre, Halikarnassos under Artemisia, Kos, and Sidon support Darius. Chalkis and Kythnos support the Greek effort. Alexander I serves as a peace negotiator on behalf of the Persians.

479 BCE

Paros sides with Xerxes but their contingent is inactive at Kythnos. For this, Athens enacts a heavy fine.

478 BCE

Delian League founded by Athens, with its regular meeting place at Delos. Ephesos, Phokaia, Gargara, and Eresos are members.

477 BCE

Athens forcefully establishes a Cleruchy on Andros as punishment for their support of Xerxes.

469 BCE

Naxos attempts to leave the Delian League and are severely punished by Athens.

454 BCE

The shared treasury of the Delian League is transferred from Delos to Athens.

429 BCE

Paros pays the highest amount of all islands in the Delian League.

426 BCE

Athens decrees that it is illegal to be born or die on Delos.

426 BCE

Athens attacks the countryside of Melos.

425 BCE

Athens demands that Melos pay tribute, but they refuse.

422 BCE

The satrap of Phrygia, Pharnakes, offers asylum in Adramytteion to exiles from Delos.

416 BCE

Athens surrounds Melos and demands they ally with them. When the Melians reject, all adult males are slaughtered and the women and children are sold into slavery.

411 BCE

Andros proclaims its freedom from Athens.

410 BCE

Athens under Theramenes remove the oligarchy in Paros and replace it with a democracy.

408 BCE

Athens attempts to force Andros back into its orbit, but fails.

405 BCE

Sparta expels the Athenian colonists on Melos and returns the survivors of the siege.

404 BCE

Delos regains control over their sanctuary and island following Athens‘ defeat in the Peloponnesian War.

394 BCE

Athens begins administering the sanctuary at Delos again.

393 BCE

Pharnabazos establishes a naval base at Melos.

377 BCE

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

364 BCE

Ioulis leads a revolt against Athens on Kea.

362 BCE

With Theban power down after the death of Epaminondas, Alexander of Pherai takes Tinos and sells the inhabitants as slaves, then besieges Peparethos. Athens defeats Alexander near Sounion and relieves Peparethos. Alexander then plunders Piraios.

357 BCE-
355 BCE

Chios, Paros, Rhodes, Kos, and Byzantion revolt against Athens in the Social War. Myrina and Hephaistia on Lemnos and Imbros (Athenian allies) are ravaged and Samos is besieged. After bungling by the Athenian general Chares, Persia demands Athens leave and Athens, running out of money, complies.

345 BCE

Delos appeals to Philip II of Macedon to intervene in Athens control over them, but he chooses not to go against Athens at the time.

338 BCE

Melos and Kimolos dispute the ownership of the island Polyaigos. The turn to Argos to mediate, who decide in favor of Kimolos.

333 BCE

Andros receives a Macedonian garrison from Antipater.

315 BCE

Antigonos I Monophthalmos Declaration of Tyre grants autonomy to all Greek cities. While its effects weren’t the same everywhere, it allowed Delos to regain control of its Temple to Apollo from Athens.

314 BCE

Antigonos Monophthalmos creates the Koinon of the Nesiotes, the first federation of the Cyclades Islands, with Delos as its common sanctuary.

313 BCE

An inscription at Delos names Androkles of Amathos as the dedicator of a gold crown.

308 BCE

Ptolemy I frees Andros from Macedonian control.

201 BCE

Soldiers of Philip V construct a defensive fort on Kythnos.

200 BCE

Andros captured by a fleet of Rome, Pergamon, and Rhodes. It becomes part of the Attalid Kingdom.

199 BCE

Attalos sails from Andros to Kythnos and attempts to take it, but is thwarted by the Macedonian garrison there.

167 BCE

The Roman Senate gives Delos to Athens.

100 BCE

Rough time at which Koressos and Poiessa on Kea are absorbed into Ioulis.

88 BCE

Mithridates VI‘s troops take Delos and ransack it.

69 BCE

Delos destroyed again by pirates under Athenodoros, an ally of Mithridates VI.

42 BCE
November

Karthaia and Ioulis on Keos are gifted by Athens to Marc Antony.

41 BCE

Naxos comes under Roman rule, who use it as a place of exile.

2023 CE
April 4

The author of this page and his wife visit the ruins of Delos.