Paxos History

Paxos may be very small, but its history is very interesting, linked with that of Corfu. Centuries of invasion and capture by succeeding naval powers has resulted in a history of particular complexity and interest.

It is traditionally believed that the Phoenicians were the first to settle Paxos, and that the name may be derived from the Phoenician word 'paks' meaning 'slate'. Another version is that some inhabitants of Paxous in Sicily were expatriated and forced to move to Paxoi, naming the islands after their home town. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Paramythia, Athenagoras, says 'Paxos' refers to the flagstones that came from the islands' quarries and were exported. The Thesaurus of the Greek Language by Errikos Stefanou, etymologises the name from the ancient Greek verb 'pignyo' in the future tense - 'pixo'. Another version states that it may have come from the expression paksosas thyras - meaning closed doors, given that the port of Gaios is of the closed type. Paxos or Paxi? Apparently Paxos refers to the main island, Paxi refers to the entire group of small islands including Anti-Paxos.

Archaeological finds last summer, near Magazia were found to be dated as far back as 600BC to 600AD. This was a fascinating and interesting find.