Skopelos has a long and varied history, stretching back over 30,000 years. Much prehistoric evidence has been lost, covered or lies undeveloped because of lack of money and resources. And much of this would involve marine archaeology, which is extremely hazardous and expensive. However, enough artefacts have been uncovered to suggest that Skopelos was inhabited since early man first walked these islands.
Archaeological findings shows colonisation by the Cretans around 1600 BC: excavations in the area of Stafilos beach in 1936 uncovered a grave whose size was equivalent to those of the royal tombs of the Minoan civilisation. Among other treasures they found a very large golden sword thought to belong to the Cretan prince, Stafilos. He and his brother Peparithos founded cities at Stafilos, Knossa, the site of the current day town of Glossa, and at the site of the present-day main town. The island came to be known as Peparithos. The Cretans brought with them grain, olive trees, and grapevines, which in turn brought prosperity to the island through the following centuries.
Silver coins minted here in the 6th century BC have been found at the site of the Delphi Oracle. From 800 to 750 BC the island was occupied by people from Chalkis, who had three settlements, Peparithos (Skopelos town), Selinous (Loutraki) and Panormos. Remains of the citadel walls at all three sites can still be seen.
After periods of rule under the Athenians, Macedonians and Alexander the Great, Skopelos came under Roman rule along with the rest of Greece, in 146BC.
From 330-1204AD, under Byzantine rule and 1204-1538, under Venetian rule, the island was self governed, and had its own bishop.
In 1538, Skopelos was attacked by the pirate Barbarossa, who murdered many of the inhabitants.
From the beginning of the 17th century until the 1821 revolution, Skopelos, like the rest of Greece, fell under Ottoman rule. However, in many ways the island was allowed a fair amount of freedom, with no Turks living on the island, and with the right to worship in their churches unchallenged.
In 1821 Skopelos was one of the first to become involved in the revolution, and lent its naval strength to the revolutionaries of Halkidiki, Magnesia and Evia. In 1830, Skopelos became part of the newly established Greek State.
At the start of the 20th century, with the advent of steamships, the boat-building industry suffered very badly. A further blow to the island's economy came with an outbreak of Phylloxera which decimated the islands' vineyards in the 1940s.
In recent years, the traditional agricultural industries of honeymaking, wine production, prune-making, and breeding of livestock have enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance, and provide an alternative source of income to that of tourism for some islanders.
Skopelos has a long and proud history and its people are fiercely independent: They recognise that the island has an existence over and beyond that of a mere tourist destination. They remain unmoved by tawdry commercialism and 'Mamma Mia!' left most of them cold!
Scroll to the right and read a chronological history of Skopelos, its archaeological sites and its museums!