General Information
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The Island of Kos lies in the southeastern region of the Aegean Sea,
200 nautical miles from Piraeus,
and is the third largest of the Dodecanese Islands.
It has an area of 295 sq. km., a coastline of 112 km.
and a population which currently exceeds 25,000.
The fact that Kos enjoys one of the best subtropical Mediterranean climates,
taken together with the long hours of sunshine,
the marvellous beaches,
the enormous historical interest and the attractiveness of the City of Kos,
have gradually raised the island to the level
of an exceptional international tourist centre.
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History
The history of Kos goes back more than three thousand and five hundred years.
Kos, was firstly inhabited in prehistoric times.
Around the 14th century BC, arrived in the islands the Minoans from Crete.
A few centuries later, the Dorians started to arrive, and built, around 700 BC,
the Ancient City of Kos, which was part of so-called Dorian Hexapolis.
In the 5th century BC, Kos was taken by the Persians,
after their defeat in mainland, by the Athenian League (479 BC).
In 460 BC, was born Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine,
since he was the founder of the first school of medicine.
After his death (357 BC), the people of Kos built the famous Asklepeion,
in honour of the god Asklepios, which operated as a hospital,
admitting thousands of patients from all over the Mediterranean
and applying the methods of therapy taught by Hippocrates.
Alexander the Great took Kos in 336 BC
and was succeeded on his death by the Ptolemies.
During the Byzantine period Kos was again prosperous,
but was subject to constant raids by enemies,
of whom the most dangerous were the Saracens.
In 1315, the Knights of St John of Rhodes, became masters of the island
and about a century later began to build the Great Fortress
which today stands at the entrance to the harbour.
In 1522, the Turks conquered the island and they held it for almost four centuries,
until 1912, when it was taken by the Italians.
Finally, Kos was incorporated into Greece in 1948.
Maps
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Overview
Kos Island (information)
