Eresos

History

Stephanus of Byzantium, a lexicographer of the 6th century AD, claimed that the city was named after Eresos, a son of the mythical king of Lesbos, Macar. Archaeology suggests that the city of Eresos was founded in the 8th or 7th century BC. Information about Eresos before the Classical period is extremely scant. The lyric poet Sappho may have been born at Eresos c. 620 BCE and belonged to an important family who were socially prominent at Mytilene, the island's most important city. In addition, the oldest Greek inscription on the island, which dates to the 6th century BCE, has been found in the hills above Eresos, and is thought to have belonged to a temple. The remains of defensive towers and large enclosures thought to have had a religious purpose built in the decorative Lesbian polygonal style and located at the edges of Eresian territory suggests a certain degree of wealth and prosperity in the Archaic period. Eresos, along with Antissa and Pyrrha, was one of the minor cities on Lesbos in the 5th century BCE. When Mytilene revolted from the Delian League in summer 428, Eresos supported Mytilene. The following year, it fell to the Athenian general Paches and, along with the other cities of the island except for Methymna, had an Athenian cleruchy imposed on it. In the latter part of the Peloponnesian War, Eresos went back and forth between Athenian and Spartan control on a number of occasions. In summer 412, Eresos revolted from Athens and joined the Spartan admiral Astyochus in making an unsuccessful attempt to seize Methymna. When Astyochus' attempt to take Lesbos failed, Eresos returned to Athenian control. The following year, exiles from Methymna again raised Eresos in revolt. The Athenian commanders, Thrasyllus at Methymna and Thrasybulus on Samos, both…

Geography

From 1999 until 2010, Eresos and the village of Antissa constituted the municipality of Eresos-Antissa which contained five other villages: Messotopos, Vatoussa, Chidira, Sigri and Pterounda located in the west and most barren part of the island. From 2010 until 2019, Eresos was part of the municipality of Lesvos and from 2019 it is part of the municipality of West Lesvos. Bare rocky hills, derived from ancient volcanic activity, dominate the area. Skala Eresou is a centre for international tourism and is a favorite spot of Greek families, young people as well as gay women. With its long beautiful beach with dark volcanic sand and its crystal-clear unpolluted water, Skala Eressou was awarded Blue Flag status by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

Most-observed species

• Black-eared Wheatear

  Oenanthe hispanica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,188
• Cretzschmar's Bunting

  Emberiza caesia Cretzschmar, 1827 · Aves
  1,469
• Red-backed Shrike

  Lanius collurio Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,431
• Crested Lark

  Galerida cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,264
• Cirl Bunting

  Emberiza cirlus Linnaeus, 1767 · Aves
  1,117
• Black-headed Bunting

  Emberiza melanocephala Scopoli, 1769 · Aves
  1,066
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,053
• Barn Swallow

  Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,045

Most recent

• M 4.1 — 2026-01-17
  16 km SW of Psará, Greece
• M 4.4 — 2025-10-27
  16 km WNW of Míthymna, Greece
• M 4.3 — 2025-01-23
  37 km NW of Psará, Greece
• M 5 — 2025-01-21
  4 km SW of Behram, Turkey
• M 4 — 2024-10-27
  9 km NNW of Mantamádos, Greece
• M 4.1 — 2024-10-06
  17 km SW of Eresós, Greece