Sérifos (in Greek Σέριφος ) of the Aegean Sea is a Greek island pertaining to the archipelago of the Cyclades. It is also called Sériphe in French. Located at the North of Sifnos and the South of Kythnos, it makes 78  km ² and counts 900 inhabitants.

Sérifos would draw its meaning name of the old Greek sterifos “sterile”. Culminating point of the island, the Troullos mount reached 585  Mr.

Mythology

Sérifos was the place of dwelling of the Méduse to the head decorated with snakes. This Gorgone petrified those which dared to look at it.

When Danaé puts at the world Persée, wire which it designed of Zeus, the father of Danaé, Acrisios, king of Argos, throw the mother and the son with the sea in a trunk. This trunk reaches Sérifos then and the woman and the child found refuge at a fisherman. King de Sérifos, Polydectès, fell in love with Danaé. This love not being reciprocal, Polydectès sent Persée to kill the Méduse, hoping that it would find death there. Winner of its combat, while using his shield like mirror, Persée, returns with the head of Jellyfish and changes into stone king Polydectès and the island of Sérifos.

History

See also: History of Cyclades

Sérifos was initially inhabited by the wind S and becomes a democracy at seventh century BC During the medic Guerres (fifth century BC), Sérifos is one of the rare cities to refuse the tender with Xerxès and lines up as regards Greek.

Successively under the influence of the Athenian , the Macedonians and the dynasty ptolémaïde, it is conquered by the Romans in 146 av. J. - C.

The Roman Emperors then uses it as place of exile for criminals of state.

The mines of Sérifos thrived later under domination Vénitienne.

Cities and villages

• Chora ( Xωρα ): chief town;

• Livadi ( Λιβαδι ): principal port;
• Psili Ammos ;
• Kentarchos;
• Galani;
• Panaghia;
• Sikamia;
• Livadi Megalomaniac;
• Koutalas;
• Vagia;
• Kalo Ambeli.