Native name: Μακρόνησος | |
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 Makronisos from space: Attica to the NW; Kea to the SE | |
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 37°42′04″N24°07′29″E / 37.70111°N 24.12472°E /37.70111; 24.12472 |
| Archipelago | None |
| Area | 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 281 m (922 ft) |
| Administration | |
Greece | |
| Region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Kea-Kythnos |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 5 (2001) |
| Additional information | |
| Postal code | 840 02 |
| Area code | 22880 |
Makronisos (Greek:Μακρόνησος, lit.Long Island), orMakronisi, is anisland in theAegean Sea, inGreece, notorious as the site of apolitical prison from the 1920s to the 1970s. It is located close to the coast ofAttica, facing the port ofLavrio. The island has an elongated shape, 13 km (8 mi) north to south and 2.5 km (1.6 mi) east to west at its widest point, and its terrain is arid and rocky. It is the largest uninhabited Greek island.[citation needed]
It is part of theKea-Kythnosregional unit and in the municipality ofKea.
In ancient times the island was calledHelen (Ancient Greek:Ἑλένη). It protected the ancient harbours ofThorikos andSounion. It was also calledMacris (Μάκρις), from its length.[1]Strabo describes it as 60stadia (9.4 km) in length; but its real length is seven geographical miles (12 km).[2] It was uninhabited in antiquity, as it is at the present day; and it was probably only used then for the pasture of cattle. Both Strabo andPausanias derive its name fromHelen of Troy, the wife ofMenelaus: the latter writer supposes that it was so called because Helen landed here after the capture ofTroy; but Strabo identifies it with the HomericCranae, to whichParis fled with Helen,[3] and supposes that its name was hence changed into Helena. There cannot, however, be any doubt that the Homeric Cranaë was oppositeGythium inLaconia.[4][5][6][7]
TheKea Channel between Makronisos and neighbouringKea was the site of the sinking, in 1916, ofHMHSBritannic, sister ship of theRMSTitanic.
After theBurning of Smyrna in 1922 and thepopulation exchange between Greece and Turkey,Greek refugees from theOttoman Empire were transferred to Makronisos, where aquarantine station (to minimize the spread ofsmallpox andtyphus infection) was established.[8] Between 1922 and 1923, 12,295 refugees, mostly women, children, and the elderly, passed through Makronisos.[8]
Makronisos was used as amilitary prison island andconcentration camp from the time of theGreek Civil War until therestoration of democracy, following the collapse of theRegime of the Colonels in 1974. Torture methods were used among others. Because of its history, it is considered a monument of the civil war era; therefore the island and the original structures on it are protected from alteration.
Among the prisoners of Makronisos wereApostolos Santas,Nikos Koundouros,Mikis Theodorakis,Leonidas Kyrkos andThanasis Vengos.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Helena".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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