Chios

With 842 km², the fifth largest island in Greece (Khios, Xios) in the eastern Aegean Sea, off the coast of Anatolia. It has been inhabited for over 5,000 years. Around 700 BC, Chios became a maritime power and a centre of culture and trade. In this heyday, the inhabitants were among the richest in the Aegean Sea. In ancient times, the island was considered the "Bordeaux of Greek wines". According to Greek mythology, King Oinopion (the "wine-faced"), the son of the wine god Dionysus and Ariadne, founded viticulture there. The famous poet Homer (8th century BC) died here. In the second half of the 15th century, a considerable part of the population moved here from the nearby island of Samos for protection from the Ottomans. Today, apart from olive oil and wine, Chios is mainly known for the production of mastic (tree resin). There is viticulture, but no area classified as POP (formerly OPAP).

Landkarte Griechenland - Ägäische Inseln mit Chios
Greece map: From Pitichinaccio - own work, CC BY 3.0, Link
edited by Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer 2/2018

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Chios

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