Naxos history is full of legends, historic incidents, pirate invasions and creativity. It is one of the few in Cyclades islands inhabited constantly since prehistoric times until our days.
There are traces that show that the island was first inhabited at the end of the 4th millenium BC. The archaeological findings reveal the island's history at all times. Naxos is one of the first islands that worked with marble. During the Archaic times gravers sculptured Leontes of Dilos and Kourous. The older structures of Dilos are made in Naxos. The sculptors of Naxos also made one of the most important monuments of the Holly Island of Cyclades, "Oikos Naxion" that is the island's dedication.

MYTHOLOGY
Naxos is connected with Ariadni, king Minoa's daughter. The myth says that Theseous abandoned her in Naxo's port. Dionisos saw her there, fell in love with her and married her.
There is also another myth that says that after this abandonment she fell off the island Palatia and drowned herself.
ARCHAIC TIMES
It is believed that first residents of Naxos were Thraces who brought Dionisos in the island. The island then was named Dia, Dionisias or Strogili. Kares arrived later with Naxos as their leader from whom the island took its name.
Naxos was one of the most important centers of the Cycladitic civilization. During the 6th and 7th century flourished, was a strong naval force and had wealth through trade.
At this time, Naxos was one of the most important sculpture centers in Greece, as it's shown from the remarkable archaeological findings.
During the Persian wars, Naxos as a member of the Athenaeum partnership suffered a lot. After the end of those wars Macedonians took her, Ptolemei and then Romans.

BYZANTIUM
During the Byzantine times, Naxos belonged to Aegean Theme. Pirates and Saracens caused a lot of catastrophes to it. That was a decline period for the island as residents abandoned it-because of pirate invasions-looking for better living conditions in nearby islands.
A lot of settlements were built back then in the inner of the island as people left the coast seeking for more secure places to live in.

ENETICS DOMINATION
In1207 Marcs Sanoudos domains the island. A new era is starting for Naxos as it is transmitted to a powerful Ducat where all Cyclades Islands enter under the power of Marcs Sanoudos.
The imposing castle in Chora (town) was built then. The Enetics domination lasted until 1537, when the island was taken over Barbarosa and the Turkish domination.

LATER TIMES
In December 1830 the first Filics vow in Naxos. In the revolution of 1821 Naxo's residents have an active part in the national war of independence. Naxos, as all the islands of Cyclades, is corporated to the Greek Union in 1830 with the Convention of London. Since then, follows the rest of Greece's history.