|os, lies very close to the Asia Minor and 201 nautical miles from Piraeus. It has an area of 290 sq. km., a coastline of 112 km. and a population of 20,000. Kos can be reached by air from Athens and Rhodes or by ferry from Piraeus, Rafina, the Cyclades, the islands of the northern and eastern Aegean, Kavala, Crete, Rhodes and the other islands of the Dodecanese.|
|os was 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. Around 700 BC they built the ancient city of Kos, which together with Lindus, Cameirus, Ialysos on Rhodes, Cnidus and Halicarnassus in Asia Minor formed the so-called Dorian Hexapolis.
|n the 5th century BC, Kos was taken by the Persians, but after their defeat in mainland Athenian League (479 BC). In 460 BC, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, whose name is known throughout the world, since he was the founder of the first school of medicine, was born in Kos. 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
| lexander the Great took Kos in 336 BC and was succeeded on his death by the Ptolemies. During the Byzantine period it 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 and other fortifications. In 1522, the Turks conquered the island and they held for almost four centuries, until 1912, when the Italians took the island. Finally, Kos was incorporated into Greece in 1948.
|oday, Kos is one of the most touristic places in Greece. The fact that the climate is mild most of the year, taken together with the long hours of sunshine, the vast beaches, the enormous historical interest and the attractiveness of the city of Kos have gradually raised the island to the level of an international tourist centre.|
|ere, you can find everything concerning tourist facilities, enjoyment and nightlife. Inspite the heavy development of Kos, you can also discover deserted places around the island and a more traditional way of life.
|Photos and text taken |
from "Kos - History-Art-Folklore-Routes"