Sikinos
The ancient name of Sikinos is Oinoi, which means wine in Greek. Solon in 604 BC made a reference to the island and its name. It also tells us that Sikinos, even in ancient times, was a great producer of wines. The name Sikinos comes from a peculiar tale. On the island of Lemnos ruled a king named Thaos. He was forced to flee the island when the island's women decided to revolt and kill all the males on the island. They began to kill them one by one and Thaos was forced to escape by hiding in a trunk. The trunk was set to sea and drifted all the way to Oinoi. On the island of Oinoi, modern day Sikinos, Thaos met a nymph with whom he had a child with. He was named Sikinos. The Ionians settled the island in 10th century BC. The Dorians followed in 5th century BC. She was a part of the Duchy of Naxos from 13th - 16th century AD. Under the rule of the Turks the island went through a dark stage of its existence. During the war of independence the Sikinians fought bravely against the Turks. During the dictatorship of Ionnais Metaxas from 1936-1940 more than a 1000 socialists and communists were deported to the Cyclades. Sikinos also bore the burden of refugees whom soon outnumbered the islanders. The sights are: Interesting mansions as well as the churches of Pantanassa and the Holy Cross. It was founded in 1787. It has got a woodcut golden temple and excellent postbyzantine icons of the Cretan School. Three windmills at the highest point of Chora.
The monastery of the Spring of life. Situated on the edge of a cliff, it gives the impression of a castle, as it is surrounded by a wall. It used to be a shelter. The monastery was abandoned in 1834. In Episcopi, where we can find significant samples of ancient habitation on the island. In the northwest of the Island, Ions had built ancient Sikinos. The excavations revealed the remnants of a building. This was considered to be the temple of Apollo. However it is probably a heros tomb (3rd cent. B.C.). in the 5th cent. B.C. it was turned into a Christian temple dedicated to the Virgins Assumption. In the south of Episcopi, in the area of Santa Marina, there are remnants of a wall, marbled sculptures and pots. The nature is wild but the view is excellent.
Another ancient settlement in the north-east of the island called Palaeokastro and the Black Cave - one of the biggest caves on the island.
Also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikinos
http://www.sikinos.gr/en/Homepage.aspx
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=28199
