History and Archaeology

Kea has a long and interesting history, going from glory to decline many times through the centuries. It has been inhabited since Neolithic times. The settlement at Ayia Irini near Vourkari played an important role in the Early Aegean Civilization: in the sixteenth century B.C., Ayia Irini served as the hub between the Minoan and Mycenaean worlds, emerging as an important center for trade and culture.

During the Archaic period the cities of Ioulis, Karthaia, Koressia and Poiessa were built, flourishing both economically and culturally. Kea was famous for its political system, known to us by Aristotle as Keion Politeia.

During Byzantine times, Kea was under the administration of the Eastern Roman state. Later, it was conquered successively by various Latin rulers and in 1537 it was conquered by the Turks. Only in 1830 it became part of the modern Greek state.

Ancient Karthaia

Karthaia is the most important archaeological site of the island and a wonderful mini excursion for a swim and a picnic. Leave your car at Stavroudaki and take a hike from there to Karthaia. It takes approximately 1 hour to reach the sea and archaeological site. You will need walking shoes, water supplies, food, hats, sun protecting clothes and to avoid the midday sun, in the summer.

Karthaia must have been the most important from the four ancient cities-states and the site is beautiful. The excavations were completed in 2015. It includes an acropolis fortified with walls, towers and boulders. There is a Doric Temple of Apollo (c. 530 B.C.), as well as a stone theater of 880 seats, that dates back to the Hellenistic times. This was constructed in the Hellenistic period while in the Post-Roman period a baths complex was added.
The most important findings of the excavations in Karthaia are exhibited now in the Archaeological Museum in Ioulis.

The Lion of Kea

Near Ioulis there is an ancient stone-carved lion, known as the Lion of Ioulis (or Liontas), which was carved some time before 600 BC. The legend says that the island of Kea was once home to water nymphs whose beauty, along with their lovely island, made the gods jealous. So they sent a lion to lay waste to the island. In any case, the mainland of Greece was home to a significant population of lions throughout the classical period.