
Saria Island ( el, Σαρία), anciently known as Sarus or Saros ( grc, Σάρος),
is an
island in
Greece. It is a rocky, volcanic island just to the north of
Karpathos, separated from it by a strait 100 m (330 ft) wide. It is part of the
Dodekanissos archipelago. In ancient times, a city-state called
Saros was situated on the island.
[ It was a member of the ]Delian League
The Delian League, founded in 478 BC, was an association of Greek city-states, numbering between 150 and 330, under the leadership of Athens, whose purpose was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after the Greek victory in the Battle of Pl ...
.Athenian Tribute Lists
/ref>
Administratively, it is part of the community of Olympos
Olympus or Olympos ( grc, Ὄλυμπος, link=no) may refer to:
Mountains
In antiquity
Greece
* Mount Olympus in Thessaly, northern Greece, the home of the twelve gods of Olympus in Greek mythology
* Mount Olympus (Lesvos), located in Lesb ...
. The 2011 census reported a resident population of 45 persons. It has little plant or animal life, and has a number of steep cliffs. Although only shepherds live on Saria now, the ruins of the ancient city of Nisyros can be found here. It is also a breeding area for Eleonora's falcons.
Although the name is subject to dispute, scholars link it with the name of an ancient Greek princess named Katherine from a line of Saria royalty. Greek legends say she was as beautiful as Helen of Troy and so they named an island after her. On the island of Saria, it is recorded history that a kingdom existed named Mikri Nisyros.
References
External links
Map of Saria Island in relation to community of Olympos and Karpathos Island
Islands of Greece
Dodecanese
Landforms of Karpathos (regional unit)
Islands of the South Aegean
Members of the Delian League
Natura 2000 in Greece
{{AncientAegean-geo-stub