Syros is an island with long and momentous history. According to historic sources and archae-ological finds, the island has been inhabited since the Neolithic times . The Phoenicians are reported as the first inhabitants.

Syros had a leading role in the development of the prehistoric Cycladic civilization. Excavations in the area of Kastri and Chalandriani brought to light the ruins of an ancient settlement and graves dating from the Early Cycladic period (3000 BC).

Then was the period that the civilization known as “Civilization of Syros – Keros” flourished, until about 2000 BC.

In ancient times the island was inhabited by the Ionians.

In the 6th century BC the island enjoyed great prosperity. The economic growth was connected with an important development of social and cultural life. It was the era of the great philo-sopher Ferekides, the inventor of the heliotrope and Pythagoras’ instructor. According to the myth, he lived in two caves. The one is situated in the site of Chalandriani and is known as the “Fere-kides’ Cave”.

During the Persian wars, Syros sided with Athens and became a member of the first Athenian alliance.

In the following centuries, Syros, together with the rest of the Cycladic islands, came gradually under the rule of the Macedonians, the Romans and later of the Byzantine Empire.

1204 is the year that Cyclades came under Venetian domination. An important period began, changing the history of the islands and leaving its indelible mark on Syros.

In the 13 th century, during the Venetian rule, the medieval settlement of Ano Syros was built. A great number of people in the local community accepted the Catholic Dogma. As a result, in the 17 th century, the majority of the population was Catholic.

Catholic monasteries and churches in the island reveal the unique character of Syros. In 1573, the Ottoman fleet occupied the island. Yet, the Otto-man Empire offered substantial privileges to the local community, due to its Catholic population. That attracted the attention of numerous European countries and mainly France, which were interested in protecting the inhabitants and ensuring the maintenance of their privileges.

During the Greek Revolution in 1821, Syros preserved its neutrality.
Thus, it became a shelter during the Revolution, attracting many Greek refugees from Kasos, Chios, Psara, Asia Minor and other places. The capital of the island Hermoupolis was built then. The newcomers gave a new dynamism to the island, which, together with its demographic and economic development, was transformed into an administrative and cultural center.