Circa 350-344 BCE
Æ 1.44g, 14mm, 10h
Male head to left, wearing taenia
Kerykeion; ΣΚΙ-ΑΘ[Ι] to right and left.
Rogers 573; BCD Thessaly I 1366; HGC 6, 414.
Ex J. Greiff Collection
Skiathos supposedly received its name from the fact that the shadow of mount Athos meets the island during the summer solstice. Due to the beauty of the island, it was one of many I considered for our last Greek trip, but sadly I haven’t visited it yet.
The first settlers are believed to have come from Caria and Thessaly. In the 7th century BCE, it was then colonized by Chalkis. Like most island cities, the current town has overrun the ancient city, and all that remains are a few sections of the walls.
In 480 BCE, a large portion of the Persian fleet was destroyed near Skiathos. Later, as a result of the Battle of Charonaea in 338 BCE, the island came under Macedonian control.
The fleet of Xerxes I is hit by a storm and badly damaged near Skiathos.
Philip V destroys Skiathos.