Greek Islands Portal

In ancient times Arki island was called Akritis. As in other greek islands the first inhabitants of Arki were Kares followed by the Dorians and the Ionian Greeks from Militos. They built a small fortress on Arki in the early Hellenistic years. It was called the Castle of Augustine.

The ancient fortifications were used again in the early Byzantine period after having been reinforced appropriately. From the highest point of the castle must have been direct visual contact with Kasteli, the Acropolis of Patmos. When, in 1087, Saint Christodoulos became owner of Patmos, the island of Arki was used by the Monastery as farming land and pasturing ground. Two bronze coins were found on the island, one of which is of the roman type of concord.

At Tiganakia beach has been found prehistoric pottery from the Neolithic period. In Koutsoura area, fishermen report that there are buildings in the sea.