The History of Patmos

Patmos Located in the Dodecanese islands, It is the most northern island of the Archipelago and is very near to Leros and Lipsi. The island of Patmos is seldom mentioned by the ancient authors into their books. It is to be supposed that its prehistoric inhabitants were the Carians. The name Patmos, as it is generally believed derives from the word Latmos, which is the name of a mountain of Caria, a country situated across the island in Asia Minor where the goddess Diane (Artemis), was particularly adored.
Patmos was at times colonized by the Dorians and thereafter followed the Ionians. It is said that the mythology hero Oreste pursued by the Furies, because he killed his mother Clytemnestra, took shelter in Patmos, coming with the Argiens.
The walls of the 6th and 4th centuries BC, of the ancient Acropole situated over the hill Castelli, are evidencing the location of the ancient town. From the well preserved until now relics, it is to be supposed that into the Acropolis ground existed at times the Apollon Temple, the Bacchus Temple and the Hippodrome. Old cemeteries, pottery fragments, carved works in bas-reliefs, inscriptions, sepulchral stones and other dispersed or framed into walls sculptures of the Christian orthodox churches, all said evidences are a proof of the flourishing and prosperous stand of the ancient Patmos.
At the former ancient age it was particularly adored in Patmos the goddess Diana, who was considered as the Patroness of the island. Under the domination of the Romans, the island failed to decline. It was abandoned and used as an exile place.