An island of Ionia, especially prosperous and a centre for the arts and engineering in the archaic period, with a series of colossal temples of Hera, waterworks (the tunnel of Eupalinos), and famed artists (Rhoikos, Theodoros) and poets. The sixth-century tyrant Polycrates sponsored much new building. The island rebelled against Persian rule but was subdued, and eventually formed part of the Athenian League against Persia, as a democracy.
Above: Map of Greece and the Aegean © Beazley Archive, Ian Hiley