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"Chalki" is the official name of
a small island (29 square miles) in the Dodecanese chain, which is
situated in the Carpathian sea South West of Rhodes. It was called by the
ancient Greeks Chalkia, Chalki and by our sailors CharkiaThe name Chalki most probably
originated from copper work shops existing there or from the Phoenician
work "Harki", meaning "shell", shells being found
abundantly along the shores of the island.
The
south East tip of Chalki is only five miles distant from Rhode's cape
Monolithos.
Its shape is practically rectangular its main axis directed from West to
East: in length it is ten kilometres and three kilometres in width.
The earth is stony and rough. However in many places it can be cultivated.
The principal
villages are the following:
Kephalos, Mirtos, Trachia, Kravati, Peristera, Limenaria.
The following
islets emerge from the same under water shelf on which Chalki is situated:
Nipouri or Nipouri, Nisos or Nisaki, Prasouda, Kolofonas, Meglonisi, Agios
Theodoros, Apano Prasouda, Xera, Souka, Sphirna and Alimnia.
The last has cape Mermingas, Sichisi and Katsouna, also two gulfs:
Emporio and Saint George.
The islet Trogosa or Tragousa emerges from different under water shelf.
Bays: Emporios, Botamos and other small ones Chalki have been inhabited
continuously from Neolithic times.
Fragments of opsidium and remnants of ceramic have been found on the site
of the castle, which is above the village Chorio situated on the narrow
part of the Peninsula Trachia's. Prehistoric settlements and excavations
have been confirmed around the medieval fort of Alimnia, where extensive
ruins can be observed.
Fragments of opsidium, stone implements, and potsherd have also been
found. Life continued in subsequent years.
In the fifth century BC the Chalkians appear in the Athenian tax records.
Inscriptions from Knidos in the mid fourth century show that up to this
period Chalki maintained its autonomy.
An excerpt from Theophrastos (372-287 BC) where Chalki is described as a
"Rhodian island" consists of one of the most ancient proofs of
its take over by the Rhodian government.
Chalki belonged to one of the municipalities of ancient Kamiros.
In the Hellenistic time Chalki was fortified with an important fort, built from large stone blocks, rectangular in shape, according to the isodiam system.
The top of the castle is situated south and above Chorio. Remnants of the
above are still intact today.
Above this a medieval fort was built in the fifteenth century, which is
relatively well conserved today. Remnants of a Hellenistic fort are
likewise visible below the medieval fort of Alimnia.
