Leipsi
or Leipso or Leipsai followed the course of history of the other
Dodecanese Islands. It was inhabited by Kares in the 14th century
B.C., followed by the Dorians in 1200 B.C. and later, by Ions
who probably came from Militos in Asia Minor, a colony of Attika.
Pots and potsherds were found from the Mycenean (1600-1100 B.C.)
and the Geometric periods (1100-800 B.C.).  The
marble Ionian capital which was found in the area of Saint John
and dates from the 4th century B.C., the oil lamps of the first
Hellenistic period (3rd century B.C.) and the tombs and marble
inscribed columns confirm the continuously developing habitation,
whose center was the fortified tower of the Castle, which dominates
the whole area.
Archaeological findings are built into the wall of churches and
homes. Remains of houses exist even from pre-Christian times.
The foundations of a big temple have been found at the Church
of the Virgin Mary of Kousselio. It seems that an ancient temple
lay at the same spot. We do not have any historical data until
730 A.D., when the islands of Lipsi, which are now part of the
Byzantine Empire, acquired strategic importance. But the islands
were devastated by the conflicts between the Byzantines and the
Arabs especially, the invasions of the latter.
In the 11th century (1088), this island together with the island
of Patmos, was transferred to Ossios Christodoulos by the golden
bull of Alexios Komninos the First. The island remained in the
possession of the Monastery of Patmos for 556 years, during which
time it exploited its land for farming and grazing. During this
period, many monasteries and hermitages were founded, such as
the Kimissi at Romani in the West (1500), Kato Panagia, in the
West (Church of the Annunciation, 1770), Panagia of Haros (1600).
In
1522, the island yielded to the Turks who limited themselves to
collecting taxes, making predatory raids, grabbing animals and
killing monks but avoided inhabitation.
The populated area one can see today was founded in 1669 by a
person from Crete named Lios (Elias) when Crete passed from the
Venetian Occupation to the Turkish one. During this period, many
people abandoned their island and were spread throughout the Dodecanese
and other islands. Lios used a cave above the Lendou area for
his first home and later on, built his house, the first one on
the hill, where the post office is today. During the Greek Revolution
of 1821, Lipsi played an important part in the War of Independence
offering shelter to the rebels and helping them get prepared for
War. They also helped Theophilos Pankostas from the island of
Patmos, Patriarch of Alexandria and many captains from the islands
of Hydra, Spetses and Psara. Two letters of great historical significance
have been found: they were written by Andreas Miaoulis in Leipsi
on August 21st and 23rd, 1824, full of enthusiasm and rage against
the enemy, thus motivating and encouraging the Admiral of Psara
who was in Patmos with his fleet. Miaoulis left Leipsi and many
Greeks left other locations united against the Turks for the big
naval battle of Gerontas, at the coast of Asia Minor, where the
Turkish and Egyptian Fleets were forced to retreat on August 29,
1824.
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