Psara - Definition and Overview

Psara is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It lies 44 nautical miles north-west of Khios. It has been inhabited since the Mycenaean period, and its inhabitants have always relied on the sea to make a living.

Psara joined the Greek War of Independence on April 10, 1821. A noted native naval leader of the time was future Prime Minister of Greece Constantine Kanaris. The island was invaded on June 21, 1824 by Egyptian forces under the command of Ibrahim Pasha. A part of the population managed to flee the island, but those who didn't were either sold into slavery or slaughtered. More than 15,000 Greeks were massacred. The island was deserted and surviving islanders were scattered through what is now Southern Greece.

Modern Psara is inhabited by fewer than 1,000 people, all of which inhabit the single small village on the island, also called Psara.