Table of Contents
History of Naxos
Naxos (/?nks?s, -so?s/; Greek: ?????, pronounced [?naksos]) is a Greek island and the largest of the Cyclades. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern times was one of the best abrasives available.
What is Naxos famous for?
Naxos is well known for its long white sandy beaches (Agios Prokopios, Plaka), for its ideal wind conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing (Mikri Vigla, Laguna), for the wonderful quality of the local agricultural products (potatoes and the cheese like arseniko, anthotiro), the impressive Portara (trademark of the …
What happened on the island of Naxos?
Naxos is also the place where Theseus, after killing the Minotaur of Crete, took Ariadne, the daughter of the Cretan King, Minos, who helped him find his way in the labyrinth where the Minotaur was kept and stopped in Naxos on his way back to Athens.
Was Zeus born Naxos or Crete?
Zeus, father of all gods, was born in Crete but was brought up in Naxos in his honor the inhabitants named the island’s tallest mountain after him (Zeus or Zas). On the peak of Mt Zas an eagle gave Zeus the thunder, through the power of which he became ruler of Olympus, home of the gods.
When was Naxos discovered?
1025 BCE. In the 8th century BCE the island, through export of its local marble and emery, was prosperous enough to found colonies. Naxos, in a joint venture with Chalkis, founded the city of Naxos in Sicily in 735 BCE, the first Greek colony on the island.
Should I go to Crete or Naxos?
Once on the islands, you’ll find Naxos easier to explore just because it is so much smaller than Crete. Despite being the largest of the Cyclades, Naxos is only 430 km compared with Crete’s 8,450 km2. Conclusion. Although Naxos is smaller and easier to navigate, we have to give this one to Crete for easy arrivals.
Which part of Greece is Naxos in?
Naxos is an island in Greece, part of the Cycladic group located in the Aegean Sea. Naxos lies about 40 km south of Mykonos, 180 km southeast of Athens, 85 km North of Santorini, and 200 km north of Crete. Flights to Naxos take 40 minutes from Athens; there are no direct flights to Naxos from any other cities.
How long is the ferry from Mykonos to Naxos?
How long is the ferry ride from Mykonos to Naxos? The ferry ride is around 40 minutes. The duration of the ferry trip also depends on the type of vessel and its scheduled itinerary.
What does Naxos mean in English?
(?nks?s ) noun. a Greek island in the S Aegean, the largest of the Cyclades: ancient centre of the worship of Dionysius.
Do you need a car in Naxos?
With Naxos being such a big and mountainous island, it is highly recommended, if not essential, to hire a car, for at least some of your stay. Local transportation is quite good on Naxos, however, it will take you ages to get around the entire island this way and, still, you won’t be able to see it all.
Who was Dionysus wife?
4As told by authors of ancient times, Ariadne played a role as the wife of Dionysus in Greek mythology3. According to mythology, Ariadne, the daughter of Crete King Minos, falls in love with Theseus and helps him out of the Minotaur labyrinth in return for marrying her.
Where is Zeus now?
On most days, Zeus is found sulking in his throne on Mount Olympus or trying to rule over his unruly family of Olympians as they bicker and fight. However, when he’s in for some light entertainment, he joins the others in Olympia, the playground of the gods.
What is Poseidon the protector of?
Poseidon was most notably the God of the sea and the protector of all waters; sailors relied upon him for safe passage. Poseidon was allotted his dominion after the fall of the Titans. Zeus and Hades were his brothers.
Is Naxos or Paros better?
Paros has better nightlife (though not too wild) and feels a little trendier with more shopping and boutique hotels. Naxos has just a little nightlife but more historic churches and archaeological sites. Paros has better public transportation linking its main villages to nearby beaches.
How big is Naxos?
How long is the ferry from Naxos to Santorini?
The Naxos to Santorini ferry duration ranges from approximately 1 hr 20 min to 2 hr 20 min. The travel time varies, depending on weather conditions, the type of vessel and the itinerary.
Can you live in Naxos year round?
Naxos is an agricultural island in the Cyclades and is a good place to live all year round.
Is Naxos pretty?
Naxos is the largest and arguably the most beautiful of the Cyclades, a group of some 220 islands in the southern Aegean Sea.
Is Naxos cheaper than Santorini?
Is Naxos expensive? If you exclude Santorini, overall, the Greek islands are not an expensive destination. And neither is Naxos. There are endless options for reasonably-priced hotels and restaurants around the island.
How long is the ferry from Athens to Naxos?
The duration of the ferry trip from Piraeus (Athens) to Naxos ranges from about 3-6 hours, while the trip Rafina – Naxos lasts from about 3-7 hours, depending on the ferry.
Is Naxos a party island?
Naxos is not a strutting or party island; hotels and restaurants are reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and traditionally Greek, especially in the villages.
How do you pronounce Naxos in Greek?
How long is the ferry from Paros to Naxos?
The Paros to Naxos ferry duration is 1 hr on average.
Is there an airport on Naxos?
Naxos Island National Airport is an airport in Naxos, Greece (IATA: JNX, ICAO: LGNX). It is located near Agios Prokopios, 3 km from Naxos City. The airport opened in 1992.
How far is Naxos from Paros by ferry?
The Greek island of Paros is one of the Cyclades group of islands and lies in the Aegean Sea close to the island of Naxos which is about one hour away by ferry.
How big is Naxos in miles?
Who was born on Naxos?
The union between the god and the mortal resulted in the births of Oenopion, Staphylus and Evadne. According to P. Decharme, there were two Ariadnes: one of them was abandoned by Theseus on the island of Naxos where she died, and the other was the wife of Dionysus.
What is the population of Naxos Greece?
Naxos has a population of 20.000 inhabitants. Half of them live in Chora, the main town of Naxos.
What animals are on Naxos?
Raptors, like Bonelli’s eagles, Eleonora’s falcons (Falco eleonorae), hawks and owles, a surprising number of waterfowl including herons, ducks, geese and waders, grouses, swallows and blackbirds, as well as various seabirds, like seagulls, Cory’s shearwaters, Yelkouan shearwaters and shags are either resident or …
Where should I stay in Naxos without a car?
Naxos Town Hotels and Places to Stay
- Studios Naxos. 52 Reviews. View Hotel. …
- Naxos Beach Hotel. 103 Reviews. View Hotel. …
- The Saint Vlassis Hotel Naxos. 584 Reviews. View Hotel. …
- Hotel Grotta. 1,777 Reviews. View Hotel. …
- Hotel Galini. 441 Reviews. …
- Galaxy Hotel. 577 Reviews. …
- Alkyoni Beach Hotel. 269 Reviews. …
- Nissaki Beach Hotel. 676 Reviews.
How do you get around Naxos Island?
Move Around Naxos
- Public buses. Public transport is the cheapest way to get around the island, reach the most worth-visiting spots and at the same time enjoy a pleasant journey! …
- Taxis and private transfers. …
- Car and Motorbike Rentals. …
- Organized Tours. …
- Water Taxi. …
- Private boat transfers.
Why does Theseus abandoned Ariadne on Naxos?
1. Another version, mainly recorded by Diodorus claims that upon reaching Naxos, Theseus was forced by the wine-god Dionysus to abandon Ariadne because the god wanted Ariadne to be his wife.
Who did Athena turn into a spider?
Even though Arachne’s weaving was better, Athena didn’t care. She pointed her finger at Arachne and suddenly Arachne’s nose and ears shrank up, her hair all fell out, her arms and legs got long and skinny, and her whole body shrank until she was just a little tiny spider (Arachne means spider in Greek).
Are Aphrodite and Dionysus related?
Dionysus’s parents are commonly told as being Zeus and Semele. Uranus is the grandfather of Zeus. So Aphrodite is Zeus’ father’s half-sister, making her Zeus’ great aunt. And Zeus is the father of Dionysus, so she is Dionysus’ great-great aunt.
Who is the ugliest Greek god?
Hephaestus. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly.
Where does Demeter spend her time?
Demeter was one of the original six Olympians, the daughters and sons of Cronos and Rhea. She did not spend all her time on Mount. Olympus, but instead wandered the fields in her role as the goddess of grain and harvest.
Why did Zeus marry his sister?
Fooled, Hera took the bird to her bosom to comfort it. Thus situated, Zeus resumed his male form and raped her. Why is Zeus married to his sister? To hide her shame, Hera agreed to marry him.
What was Demeter symbol?
| Demeter | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Cornucopia, wheat, torch, bread |
| Festivals | Thesmophoria, Eleusinian Mysteries |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | Cronus and Rhea |
Who killed Medusa?
Perseus set out with the aid of the gods, who provided him with divine tools. While the Gorgons slept, the hero attacked, using Athena’s polished shield to view the reflection of Medusa’s awful face and avoid her petrifying gaze while he beheaded her with a harpe, an adamantine sword.
What is Zeus’s symbol?
Zeus’ symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull, and oak. In addition to his Indo-European inheritance, the classical “cloud-gatherer” (Greek: ????????????, Nephel?gereta) also derives certain iconographic traits from the cultures of the ancient Near East, such as the scepter.
Which Greek island is Mamma Mia set on?
In the original Mamma Mia, the Greek island of Skopelos played the fictional island of Kalokairi. But to shoot Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, filmmakers turned to the island of Vis, off the coast of Croatia.
Is Naxos a touristy?
It is still a dominant economic player in the Cyclades. Naxos is a popular tourist destination with plenty to do. In fact, it is large enough to need a vehicle to get around it, if sightseeing is what you prefer.
Can you do a day trip from Naxos to Paros?
Paros is the most famous day trip from Naxos, as the distance between the two islands is really short and the journey takes only 30-60 minutes. Ferries to Paros depart from Naxos Town, many times per day. In Paros, you can explore exotic beaches and amazing traditional villages.
What is Naxos famous for?
Naxos is well known for its long white sandy beaches (Agios Prokopios, Plaka), for its ideal wind conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing (Mikri Vigla, Laguna), for the wonderful quality of the local agricultural products (potatoes and the cheese like arseniko, anthotiro), the impressive Portara (trademark of the …
Is Naxos a Greek island?
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades islands and, definitely, one of the most beautiful Greek islands! It may be a short ferry ride away from the super famous Santorini, Paros and Mykonos islands, but Naxos is relatively unknown, staying (so far) under the mainstream radar.
What is the best area to stay in Crete?
The best place to stay in Crete is Chania area or western Crete that actually has the best beaches of the island and some of the best hotels along with the beautiful Chania town with its elegant restaurants, the picturesque Old Town of Chania, and the incredible Samaria Gorge (which you should hike).
Can you do a day trip from Naxos to Mykonos?
Take this chance to visit the famous Mykonos Island, one of the top must-see destinations in the world. You will have 6 hours of free time on the island to spend as you wish.
Can you get a boat to Naxos from Santorini?
Traveling from Santorini to Naxos by ferry
The ferry route Santorini-Naxos normally lasts from 1 hour to 4 hours and the ticket cost is around 20 for a conventional ferry and 43 for a high-speed one.
Can you do a day trip from Santorini to Naxos?
You can go on a one-day trip from Santorini to Naxos daily with at least 5 ferry crossings. The earliest ferry from Santorini to Naxos departs at 06:45 from the port of Athinios, arriving around 08:15 in Naxos. Both high-speed ferries and conventional vessels are operating on this route.
