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Free State of Ikaria (Greece, 1912)

by Ivan Sache

History of Ikaria
Flag of the Free State of Ikaria

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History of Ikaria

Ikaria (also spelled Icaria, in the past, Icarius) is an island member of the Anatolian Sporades, aka as Southern Sporades or Dodekanesis, as opposed to the Northern Sporades located closer to mainland Greece. Homer (Iliad 2, 145) writes that the Icarian Sea is the most turbulent part of the Aegean Sea.
The pre-Greek settlers in Ikaria are known as Pelasgians and Carians, but very few is known on them. The Greeks entered the Aegean islands 1500 BC and by 1200 BC had taken most of the islands. However, the first Greek remains in Ikaria are much more recent: the lack of harbours and of arable lands probably postponed the colonization of the island. Ikaria was colonized around 750 BC by Greeks from Miletus (Asia Minor), who probably set up a station on the maritime road to their northern colonies in the Propontis. Random historical references to Ikaria can be found in the Greek classical literature; an Ikarian named Eparchides wrote the history of the island in 350 BC, but his history was mostly an advertising campaign for the local wine.

In the VIth century BC, Ikaria was absorbed by the neighbouring city of Samos and was incorporated into Polycrates' maritime empire. In 490 BC, the Persian army touched upon Ikarian shore. After the Greek victory, Ikaria joined the Delian League and became renowned for the Pramnian wine. Ikaria paid a tribute to Athens, who set up a military colony on the island in order to watch Samos, which was prone to rebellion. The two main cities of the island, the rich, wine-producing Oenoe and the poor Therma did not seem to have had much contact