History

Archaeological excavations show that the island was inhabited since the mid-Neolithic period. The most important Neolithic settlement was Poliochni on the north-eastern coast which began as a small village some 6000 years ago and evolved into an urban fortified town – possibly the earliest one in Europe- with a significant civilization.

In Antiquity a number of Hellenic races (Pelasgians, Minyans, Cretans, Achaeans, Athenians, Spartans and Macedonians) colonised the island. Persians also left their mark on the island. During the Classical era, Limnos had two main towns: Hephestia at the northeast and Myrina at the west of the island. Both cities continued to flourish under the Romans and the Byzantines.

During the Byzantine era, the Monasteries of Mount Athos and Patmos acquired large property holdings on the island. In the late middle Ages the town of Kotsinos near Hephestia became the most prosperous city of the island. During the 13^th and 14^th Centuries AD, Venetians dominated Limnos. In the late 15^th century Venice ceded the island to the Ottomans. In 1770, the unsuccessful attempt by Russians under A.Orlof to liberate the island caused great tribulations to the local people and forced many of them to leave the island. Independence from the Ottoman rule was finally gained in 1912.