The island took its name from Mykonos island , the son of the mythical king of Delos, Anios, who was a descendant of the god Apollo and nymph Rhoe. According to the mythology under the large granite stones of the island were buried the giants who had been killed by Hercules. Possibly the first inhabitants of Mykonos island were Carians, Egyptians and Cretans. It followed the arrival of Ionians under the leadership of Hippocles. Little is known about Mykonos island during ancient times but, by coin depictions, we are able to presume that Dionyssos was the island’s patron god. During the Byzantine times Mykonos island was part of the prefecture of Achaia. By 1207 it was under the occupation of the Venetian brothers Andrea and Jeremiah Ghizis while in 1292 was ravaged by Catalans. A century later, Mykonos island was conceded to Venice by its last ruler, Georgios Ghizis. The island was totally destroyed and practically deserted in 1537 by terrible pirate Barbarossa. During Turkish occupation, Mykonians proved to be the most experienced sailors and offered their precious services and fleet with numerous ships to the War of Independence. As one of the greatest figures of the war is regarded Mando Mavrogenous, a heroic woman who supported the struggle with her strength and made a decisive contribution by financing and organizing fights. She managed to repulse the Turks when they tried to disembark on Mykonos island in October 1822. After liberation and the recognition of Greece as an independent country in 1830, Mykonos island took up enthusiastically the task of rebuilding. Although after the war mykonian shipping was deteriorated and the island's economy practically destroyed, the people of Mykonos island succeeded in reestablishing the commercial fleet, dominated seas and brought wealth to the Island. In 1933 appeared the first visitors on Mykonos island, who were coming to admire the antiquities on Delos and the Museum of Mykonos island. Since the mid-fifties the island has been gradually transformed into a cosmopolitan resort attracting tourists from all over the world.
