ANCIENT TIMES
Archaeological findings have indicated that Agistri was inhabited 2500 years ago. Some of these findings are now exhibited in the Cultural Center of the island, which is found in Milos (Megalohori). Aponissos, Megaritissa and Kontari are some of the areas that were probably inhabited in antiquity. Nowdays one may still see the remnants of buildings found beneath the sea's surface, at the western coast, dating from the pre-christian period.
Agistri is referred by the name "Kekrifalia" by the ancient poet Omiros (Homer), Thucydides and Diodoros. In Iliada (Homer's poem) it was Aegina's ally in the Trojan War. Located so close to Aegina (4 n.m), Agistri has always been related with its history. It belonged to the "Kingdom of Aegina" - along with the surrounding islands - which was ruled by the mythical King Aiakos. In the 14th century Agistri was occupied by the Turks (Ottomans) along with the rest of Greece and was populated by Arvanites. However the island was abandoned in the 17th century, due to the frequent pirate invasions. It remained under the Ottomans until 1821 when the Greek Revolution took place. Then it was repopulated by a small number of people (apx 248 inhabitants in 1835).
14th CENTURY - TODAY
The capital of Agistri is Milos (Megalochori) which is the base of the local authorities and its second port. However the touristic center of the island is found in Skala (main port) and the, near by, lovely Skliri area.