v51_0149 - CYCLADES - NAXOS ISLAND - NAXOS Didrachme

CYCLADES - NAXOS ISLAND - NAXOS

(3rd - 2nd century BC)

Naxos was the most important island of the Cyclades. Of very ancient origin, colonized by Athens from the 11th century BC. -VS. , it was renowned for the quality of its wine and its marbles. Naxos was the implacable enemy of its rival and neighbor Paros. It was in the 6th century at the center of a naval empire (thalassocracy) Cycladic. Naxos may be one of the causes of the Ionian Revolt (499-493 BC. -VS. ). The island was occupied by the Persian fleet and Naxos supplied ships to this same fleet at the Battle of Salamis (480 BC).. -VS. ). After the Persian Wars, Naxos joined the Athenian thalassocracy in 477 BC. -VS. by integrating the Attico-Delian league. Naxos wanted to emancipate itself from Athens, which installed a cleruchy (colony) there.. During the Peloponnesian War, Naxos switched sides and allied with Sparta. It was part of the second Athenian thalassocracy in the second half of the 4th century before falling under the Macedonian yoke under Philip V around 201 BC.. -VS. and was part of the League of Islands (Neisiotic) until 167 BC. -VS. with Rhodes. Naxos was further ravaged by Pirates during the Mithridatic Wars (85-63 BC).. -VS. ).