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Argosaronikos Islands | Poros

Poros History

Poros, called Calaureia in ancient times, was the island of Poseidon, god of the sea.  This is evident from various literary references and from the traces of the temple of Poseidon, which are to be found in the middle of the island.  This fact may explain why Poros was chosen to be the headquarters of an amphictyony (alliance) created in the 7th Century BC, whose members were comprised of seven cities.  Subsequently, the fortunes of Poros followed those of the other islands of the Saronic Gulf.  In the War of Independence against the Turks in 1821, Poros fought alongside the other islands, and in 1830 became Greece's first naval base. 

Poros played a significant role in 1821 Revolution. It was placed on the map of history in 1828 where rival assemblies met to make important decisions, which set the Constitution in a positive direction. In 1830 the building of the shipyard and naval station at Poros began.

The ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon are to be found 5 kilometers from the main town, on the road to the monastery of Zoodochos Pighi.  The temple was built in the 6th Century B.C.  According to legend, this is where Demosthenis drank the "konio" poison and died.