Skíros

Skíros (skē'rôs) [key]or Scyros (sī'rus) [key], island (1991 pop. 2,901), c.80 sq mi (210 sq km), E Greece, in the Aegean Sea, largest of the N Sporades. It is a summer resort noted for its fine beaches and grottoes. Skíros is also known for the furniture designed by local artisans. In ancient legend Thetis concealed her son Achilles on Skíros; Neoptolemus, son of Achilles by Deidamia, was reared on the island; and Theseus was killed by Lycomedes there. Skíros was conquered c.469 B.C. by Athenians led by Cimon. The English poet Rupert Brooke, who died (1915) during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I, is buried on Skíros.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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