In antiquity the island was known as Makre and Pityousa and has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the 8th century BC Ionian colonizers settled here, developing a significant civilization so that the island's floruit endured until the 6th century BC. During the Persian Wars Chios was captured by the enemy, afterwards it joined the Athenian League and then passed to the Macedonians.

It was eventually taken by the Romans. In Byzantine times it belonged to the Thema of the Aegean and, like all the islands, was a victim of constant piratical attacks. It was a bone of contention between the Venetians and Latin emperors and in 1344 passed to the Genoese, under whom it experienced a new period of acme, commercial and economic, mainly due to its monopoly in the trade of mastic. It was ruled by several noble families, the most important being the Giustiniani.

In 1566 Chios was captured by the Turks, who granted it special privileges which prevailed— until the 1821 War of Independence. In 1822 the Chi-otes were massacred by the Turks, which event, along with the later earthquake in 1881, wrought the destruction of many of the island's monuments. Chios was liberated in 1911 and incorporated in the Greek state. Adamantios Korais and Yannis Psycharis were both from Chios.

SIGHTS-MONUMENTS

The island's capital, Chios is also its main port and is located more or less in the middle of the east coast of the island. The oldest quarter is that around the castle, built in Byzantine times (10th century), many Genoese and Turkish influences are also preserved. In addition to sections of the ramparts, towers and a gate are also preserved.

The wall was separated from the harbour by a moat, which no longer exists. Within the walls is the old Turkish quarter, ruins of the Giustiniani palace, the mausoleum of the Turkish admiral, Kara All, who ordered the 1822 massacre, a Byzantine chapel, Byzantine cistern and Turkish baths. Notable monuments in the town include the Early Christian basilica of St. Isidore, in which a significant 7th century mosaic floor was found, and the cathedral (metropolis).

In the Korais library, one of the finest in Greece, there is a collection of rare books and manuscripts and, on the second floor, the Philippos Argentis collection of folk art is displayed. There is also an Art Gallery and Archaeological Museum in which finds and coins from excavations throughout the island are exhibited.

South of the town of Chios (6 km.) is Kampos, a particularly beautiful region with richly planted orchards and mansions set in their midst, the summer residences of the island's leading families. Most of them date from the 18th century and their architecture has distinct Genoese influences. Nowadays many have been abandoned but that on the Argentis estate has been restored and is in good condition, as is the Kazanova mansion near the torrent of Kokala, the Mavrokordatos residence at Frangovouni and those of the Zygomalas (Merminga) and Kaloutas families.

Further south, near the village of Vavyloi, stands the Byzantine shurch of the Virgin of Krina, a 12th century building in which three layers of wall-paintings have been revealed. Also in the vicinity is the Genoese settlement of Sklavia where there are remains of medieval houses and churches. Close to the village of Aghios Georgios Sykousis stands the church of that name, in its present form a 19th century structure, but originally built in the 12th century.