Leros (Greek: Λέρος)is a Greek island in the Dodecanese, in the southern Aegean Sea.

Leros, the island of Artemis (Goddess of the hunt) is a beautiful, friendly island 171 nautical miles (317 km) from the mainland port city of Piraeus (45 min flight to Leros airport (IATA code: LRS), from Athens or 11 hour ferry ride from the port city of Pireaus); an island of 53 square kilometres having a coastline of 71 km. A member of the Dodecanese archipelagos, Leros has a population of 8,500 although this figure swells to over 15,000 during the summer peak. It is home to the fabulous Panagia Castle as well as two ancient fortifications.Very near to Leros is Patmos, Lipsi, Kalymnos and the small islands of Agia Kyriaki, Farmakos, Marathi island and Pigianousa.

History

---

According to Homer, Leros took part in the Trojan war (from 1193 – 1184 B.C.) under the leaders Antifos and Feidotos, grandchildren of Hercules. Thoukididis stressed the special importance of the bays and the harbours of Leros during the period of the Peleponnese War (431 – 404 B.C.), where Leros supported the democratic Athenians. After the end of the war Leros came under the sovereignty of the Spartans. It then followed the fate of the rest of the Dodecanese Islands during the years of Alexander the Great and his successors, the Roman years and the Byzantine period.

On his campaign east, Alexander the Great passed through Leros as evidenced by the funerary steles and coins from that period found on the island. Constantine the Great, founder of Constantinople (Istanbul) and builder of the Byzantine Empire brought Leros into his empire by incorporating it into the Theme of Samos. In the year 1309 the Knights of St John of Rhodes seized and fortified Leros. In 1505 the Ottoman Admiral Kemal Reis along with three galleys and other seventeen war sailing vessels besieged the castle but could not seize it. The operation was repeated in 1508 with more ships but again nothing was achieved. On 24 December 1522 a treaty was signed between the Sultan Suleiman and the Grand Magister of the Knights Adam Villers de Ille, and Leros was passed into Ottoman hands.

More on [ Leros ]

BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Ukraine 'must live without fear'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:37:43 -0000
The US vice-president reassures Ukraine that the US has a "deep and abiding interest" in the country's security.
Polish agents tell of CIA jails
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:45:30 -0000
Polish intelligence sources confirm for the first time that the CIA ran a secret facility on Polish soil.
Spain seizes Colombia 'drug lord'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:38:26 -0000
An alleged Colombian drugs lord, known as Beto the Gypsy, is arrested in Spain

NYT > Europe

Conflict Tests Ties Between the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:52:05 -0000
The two churches expressed dismay after the supposedly unthinkable prospect of two Orthodox nations at war with each other failed to deter armed conflict in August.
Without Primaries or Caucuses, Campaign for German Chancellor Begins
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:56:44 -0000
The battle lines in next year’s parliamentary elections in Germany are being drawn the old-fashioned way, through back-room wheeling and dealing.
Now Europeans Are Slower to Spend, and It Shows
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:23:19 -0000
For the first time in more than a decade, consumers in much of Europe are buying less than they did a year earlier, helping to slow economies that may have fallen into recession.

L.A. Times - Europe

Czech official warns of crises involving Russia
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
'A new conflict can be created in Crimea . . . because of [Russia's] political and demographic and military presence,' Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Pojar says. The Czech Republic and Poland have infuriated Russia by agreeing to allow the United States to install a missile defense system in their countries, which are former Soviet satellites that now belong to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
World Briefing
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Ukraine: Cheney urges closer ties with West / Canada: Parliament to be dissolved / Angola: Voters go to polls Cheney pushes ties with West
Lourdes celebrates 150th anniversary of Bernadette's visions
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Pilgrims and secular visitors alike feel their spirits moved by the shrine's and town's beauty and spiritual history. Lourdes, France

UN News Centre - Europe

UN organizes campaign to help Georgia's children return to school
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is organizing a campaign to ensure that all children in Georgia can start the new school year this month, following the recent conflict in the Caucasus country.
Security Council lauds launch of negotiations in reunifying Cyprus
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The Security Council today warmly welcomed the launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, aimed at the reunification of the island.
UN welcomes ‘historic' launch of negotiations to reunify Cyprus
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed today's launch of full-fledged negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities that are aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus.

Europe - International Herald Tribune

EU split over Ukraine's path to membership
By STEPHEN CASTLE Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:37:05 -0000
Poles, Czechs, British, Swedes and Baltic states are pressing for language stating that Ukraine will join the Union.
Cheney pledges U.S. support for Ukraine
By Steven Lee Myers and Alan Cowell Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:05:04 -0000
As tensions with Moscow continue, Vice President Dick Cheney asserted that the U.S. would act as a guarantor for the country that was part of the former Soviet Union.
Cheney backs membership in NATO for Georgia
By Steven Lee Myers Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:14:02 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney was in Georgia, where his words of support placed him on a direct collision course with Russia's leaders.
U.S. to withdraw proposed nuclear pact with Russia
By SUSAN CORNWELL Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:37:05 -0000
The Bush administration will withdraw a civilian nuclear pact with Russia soon as a penalty for its invasion of Georgia last month, a State Department official said Friday.
War splits Orthodox churches in Russia and Georgia
By SOPHIA KISHKOVSKY Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:37:05 -0000
August war was first between two Orthodox nations since Second Balkan War of 1913.
U.S. defends Georgia's right to join NATO
By STEVEN LEE MYERS Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:37:05 -0000
Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a forceful American pledge to rebuild Georgia and its economy, to preserve its sovereignty and its territory and to bring it into the NATO alliance.

Subscribe to Europe RSS feed