Chios is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.
Chios was colonized by Ionians but has been occupied by the Persians. It was part of the Delian League and the Byzantine Empire, before passing through the possession of the Latin emperors of Constantinople, the Genoese, the Ottoman Turks.

Chios claims to be the birthplace of Homer, Hippocrates the mathematician, and Oenopides. Oenopion, a legendary king, is said to have brought winemaking to the island.

Some claim Chios is Christopher Columbus's birthplace. Columbus said he was from Genoa, but he never claimed he was from the city of Genoa itself. Chios was a Genoese possession at the time of Columbus birth, and 'Columbus' is common surname on Chios. Furthermore Columbus appears to have known Chios very well, since he often made references to it in his journals.

Chios is home to one of the biggest ship-owning fraternities in Greece, with such shipping families as Livanos, Chandris, Los, Lemos, Pachos, Pateras, Fafalios, Tsakos, Frangos, and Xylas hailing from the island.

Chios' satellite islands include Oinoussais and Psara, from where Kanaris fired the first shots in the Greek Struggle for Independence (1822 onwards).

Some claim Chios is Christopher Columbus's birthplace. Columbus said he was from Genoa, but he never claimed he was from the city of Genoa itself. Chios was a Genoese possession at the time of Columbus birth, and 'Columbus' is a common surname on Chios . Furthermore Columbus appears to have known Chios very well, since he often made references to it in his journals.

Chios is also the birthplace of some well known poets of modern times as Giorgos Dilvois, Nikos Gialouris, Dimitris Varos and Matheos Moundes.

The Korai Library, in Chios, is one of the most important in Greece, containing 95,000 volumes.

Chios Museum of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Art

Chios Archaeological Museum, Website

Other Personalities:

Ariston of Chios

Bupalus of Chios

Theopompus of Chios about 380 BC.

Christophoros Columbus: A Byzantine Prince from Chios, Greece, by Ruth G. Durlacher-Wolper

Statistics
Periphery:	North Aegean
Capital:	Chios
Area:	910 km² Ranked 46th
Elevation:	Lowest: Aegean Sea Highest: (central part)
Inhabitants:	53,817 Ranked 43rd
Population density:	57.46/km²
ISO 3166-2:	GR-85
FIPS code:	GR50
Car designation:	XI
Code for the municipalities:	54xx
Number of municipalities:	10
Number of communities:	none
Area/distance code:	25xx0
Postal code	82x xx
2-letter abbreviation/HASC:	KH
Website:	www.chios.gr (also in Greek)

References

Official Chios website (http://www.chios.gr) : operated by Chios Prefecture (including tourist guide)

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