Kimolos – Kimolis – Echinousa – Argentara – Argentiera – Argentière – Cimolus – Kimilos – Kimoulo
From Ios towards the west Sikinos and Lagousa and Folegandros […] and close to these is Kimolos, whence the earth of Kimolia …
Strabo Geographica 10. 5. 1
Kimolia is an island, which was also called Kimolis, and Kimolos, and commonly Kimolos, and by the Italians Argintierra, whose soils are full of nitron. It is 20 miles in circumference, being nearest to Milos, and to Polyaigos.
Meletios Geographica 18
Kimolos is the ancient name of the island, as handed down by ancient and modern writers and geographers. Western cartographers called it Argentiera, Argyri or the Silver Island, from the silver colour of its coasts or from the silver mines that they believed it had.
In its key geographical position on the course of maritime routes, Kimolos forms, together with Milos and Polyaigos, an island cluster at the southwestern entrance of the Archipelago. Its small size and the little distance separating it from Milos seem to have determined its development over time, as well as the relations between the two neighbouring islands.
Arid, with a rocky, steep coastline in the north and a little low-lying land mainly in the southern and southwestern parts, it belongs to the volcanic arc of the southern Aegean and is mostly covered by various volcanic rocks.
Its geological structure had already acquired economic importance in antiquity: the famous ‘Kimolian earth’, the mineral white clay named after the island, has been used since ancient times in pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations, but also for cleaning the body and clothing. It was a main export product.
Its past can be traced through the meagre testimonies of ancient written sources and through the material remains of human activity, which have been highlighted from time to time by archaeological research.
ANCIENT SITES
Amoni: site of historical times, with dense and widely scattered surface pottery sherds
Hellenika – Agios Andreas (Daskalio): site of prehistoric and historical times
Kalamitsi: site of historical times, with scattered dense surface pottery of various periods
Brovarma: site of prehistoric times
Nychia: site of prehistoric times – possible site of flint mining
Paliokastro: site of historical times, fortified, with visible building remains
Kedros – Agios Georgios – Prassa:
- Kedros: site of prehistoric times
- Agios Georgios: site of prehistoric times
- Prassa: According to information from travellers in the 19th century, there were tombs where ancient vessels and tools were recovered.
Siderokapsia: site of historical times, remains of metallurgical operations
Stenda: site of prehistoric and historical times
