Mythology : According to mythology, the island of Serifos, “the iron island” as they used to call it, was inhabited by the powered giants called Cyclops. The tremendous Cyclops lived in a cave near Psaropyrgos and the construction of huge walls all over the island – whose remains are said to be the walls of Liomandra and White Tower – is attributed to them. Cyclops, the children of Poseidon, were the first to exploit the mineral wealth of the island and to create an early civilization, which they later bequeathed to people. There is also another legend for which Serifos is known. Arkisios, the king of Argos, having received an oracle that said that his grandson would kill him, decided to imprison his daughter Danae so as not to give birth to any child. Unfortunately, Zeus fell in love with Danae, changed himself into rain seduced her and she gave birth to Perseus. When Arkisios found out, he locked Danae and her son in a box and threw them into the sea. The box arrived in Serifos and mother and son were given shelter by the king’s brother, Diktis. When the king, Polydefkis, met Danae he fell in love with her. For fear that Perseus might prevent him from seducing her, he sent him to kill Medusa – the mortal sister of the immortal mermaids – who was able to petrify whoever dared to look her in the eyes. Perseus succeeded in killing Medusa with the help of the gods’ weapons and mainly with Athena’s shield which he used as a mirror to avoid looking directly into the monster’s eyes. He returned to Serifos demonstrating Medusa’s head that petrified Polydefkis and his peers. According to the legend this is why the island is so rocky. The fact that the first kings of the island were Diktis and Polydefkis, sons of Magnetos and grandsons of Aeolus, suggests that the first inhabitants of the island were Aeolians. History : Passing from mythology to history, during the prehistoric times, we meet the Cretans, who discovered and exploited the minerals of the island. In the 1800’s BC, the Mycenaens reached Serifos, preceded by the Phoenicians. The walls in Liomadra, the White Tower and the tombs around these areas are the traces they have left on the island. In the 6th century BC, Serifos flourishes thanks to its mines. It has already been an Ionian colony and democracy rules. It is a member of the amphictyony of Delos and enters the Athenian Alliance, taking part in the Persian wars. Unfortunately, most of the findings of this civilisation have been looted and got lost. What remains of these years is exhibited in the archaeological museum in Hora. The Hellenistic period left many monuments – an oil press, a semi-circular base, a small cistern, things of clay and stone and the Castle of Grias, where three parts of its walls still remain. In 146 BC, the Romans conquered the island, which at the same time was repeatedly attacked by pirates but managed to maintain its autonomy as far as the election of its governor was concerned, in accordance with the Roman law. During this period the island became the destination of many roman political exiles. During the Byzantine period, the island was still the destination of political exiles and showed no development. On the contrary, during the Venetian domination the cultural and economic growth was quite amazing. The Venetians brought slaves to the island and the mines reopened after 1.000 years. During the Turkish domination the island suffers from pirate attacks and the mines close down resulting in gradual regression. In later years, the development of the island is connected with its mines. Around 1870, the Greek state grants concession to the first mine companies to exploit the mines. Today, the population of Serifos has decreased and most of its people are in tourism, agriculture and fishing. The island has managed to maintain the beauty of the Cyclades and welcomes thousands of tourists every year.