The Volcanic Island of Nisyros

Nisyros is an island of Greece, where there is one of the few active volcanoes whose crater you can enter!

The Story Behind Nisyros

The ancient Greeks believed that Nisyros was created during the legendary “Battle of the Giants”, also known as the “Gigantomachy”.

Dionysisa303, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gaea, Mother Earth, incited the giants against the Olympians, but the Olympians chased the giants away and they retreated terrified…

It was Poseidon’s job to get the Giant Polyvotes out of sight, who crossed the Aegean Sea in fright to save his life. Poseidon, the god of the sea caught up with him near the island of Kos. With his trident he tore off a part of the island of Kos, hurled it against Polyvotes, and finally crushed the giant and buried him under that spot. This part of Kos became the island of Nisyros.

The volcano was formed on the spot where the giant’s mouth was. Every time the volcano is active, it is because of Polyvotes, who sighs because he is a prisoner.

Featured Image Credit: Ввласенко, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Evangelia

Evangelia Hatzitsinidou is the creator and author of www.greek-gods.info which has been merged with Olympioi.com. She has been writing about Greek Mythology for almost twenty years. A native to Greece, she teaches and lives just outside Athens.