According to the legend "Sifnos" was the name of the son of the Attic hero Sounios . From him took the island its name. According to an other version the name Sifnos came from the adjective "Sifnos" that means "empty" because of the many underground galleries that there are in the island. They are reported and other names as Akis, Meropi, Sifanos, Sifana or Sifanto.

Most of the historians mention that Sifnos first was inhabited by Pelasqous and then by Foinikes, Kares and Leleges. According to the legend these inhabitants was chased by the king of Crete Minoa who his sons leaders of Cyclades. It is reported also the town "Minoa" as also and the source "Minoa". At that time there was in Aegean a fribe the Proellines or Aegea. They was mixed up later with Cretans and Achaeans.

Older clues of habitation that have been marked are about in the end of the 5th millenium. During the neolithic era, in Aegean was developed one of the oldest built-up-areas in Europe. Important factors that contributedto the creation of the first Cycladic built-up-areas, it was their geographical position and their wild climate.

After the neolithic progress come the domination of the copper. In the era that follows is developed in Cyclades a particular civilization which goes together withthe first greek civilizationand the Minoan of Crete. It is about the first - Cycladic civilization the research of which, started the great greek archeologist Christos Tsountas in 1898 and 1899. In almost all the island of Cyclades, the excowations brought to light built-up-areas in coastal places.

In Sifnos, Christos Tsountas brought to light graves and foundation of built-up-areas in the places Akrotiri, Vathi and Froundi of Kalamitsi. These graves date in the second half of the 3d millenium. Especially, the prehistoric graveyard of Platys Gialos of which the research started in 1896. Polak who gave important informations about burial customs, the kind of graves and the ceremonial customs of the islanders of the era. The archaeological finds, opened the way for the research of the economic conditions there were in the island. So. its certified in that era there was in Sifno a developed mineral activity that concerns mainly the extraction of silver and lead. Clues of this activity were found in the places of Agios Sostis, Agios Silvestros and Xero Xilo.

The latest scientific researches make known Sifnos as the most important providing source of minerals during the copper era. During the period of the middle - cycladic civilization it is reported that was found a built-up-area in the Castle after the ceramic finds from the excavations. The sea empire of Minoas in Aegean was subversive for the Cyclades. The historian Thucidides mentions the creation of Cretan colonies and especially for Sifnos, Stefanos Vizantios mentions that there was a town with the indicative name "Minoa".

The position of this town is hasn't found yet. The excavations of Barbara Filipaki showed that there was there a small built-up-area in the 3d millenium B.C. The Achaeans spread to the entire Aegean in the beginning of the 2nd millenium, B.C. Until the end of 13th B.C. century the Mycenaean civilization it is the new power of the eastern Mediterranean. In Sifnos was localized Mycenaean findings in various positions but mainly in Froudi, in the Acropolis of Agios Andreas and in the north of the island, on the mountain Agios Nikitas.

In the 6th century B.C. the old stone built temple becomes marble, they are to built new houses and they are contouned the problems of water supply and drainage. So, the city is embelished by marble builting and public palaces as the Prytaneum the market and various sauctums. The graveyard that was found out of the city, testifies that it was in continuous use from the 7th century B.C. till the Roman ages.

They were found remains from various labours as tomb columns, capitals and other finds that certify the rich artistic physiognomy of the place. In the island were worshipping as special deities the Apollo Enargos, Artemis Ekvatiria, Zeus Epivimios, Dionysos, Pan, Athena and Nimves. The main occupations of the inhabitants castle, ceramics and metallurgy. The 6th century B.C. was the age of a great prosperity.

The Herodotus mentions that the people of Sifnos was recher than the islandens and that was happening because of the minerals of gold and silver. Characteristic of Sifnos wealth is the fact of coinig about the 600 B.C., after Aegina and before Athens and Corinthos. The most important and famous piece of architecture is the "Thisavros Sifnion" that testifies the glamour and the flourishing economy.

This piece was dedicated by the inhabitants to the Apollo's sanctum in Delfi. It was built about 325 B.C. and according to Pafsanias it was built by the that came from the profits of Sifnos gold-mines.

It was a very beautiful Ionic building that in it's facade had two caryatids that held the eutablature with a rich plastic decoration instead of pillons and a frieze decorated with masterly reliefs in the 21 sides of the total leugth of 29,63 cm. The whole building had great sculptunes which are excellent samples od the archaic plastics. Some of the them are displayed in the museum of Delfoi.

This brelliant building was so impressive that the priests of Delfoi's saucturu gave.

to the people of Sifnos to special honours for their offering. Till today, in Sifnos have been counted 55 towers and observation posts and they
date from the 6th to 3d century B.C.

In 524 B.C. came to Sifnos fugitives from Samos, political antagonists of the tyrant
of Samos Polykratis and ask to the people of Sifnos economic assistance of 10 talents.
The people of Sifnos deny and then thefugitives force them with siege and pillages
to take the enormous amount of the 100 talents.

Since then, begin for Sifnos the decline.

In 480 B.C. , in the naval battle of Salamina, the Sifnos people participate with a people
penticontoros (ship with 50 oars and crew of 88m) and in 479 B.C. in the battle of Plataies
send a force of infautry lightly armed.

After the victory in Plataies the greeks dedicate to Pythios Apollo in Delfoi a golden tripod with the narues of the cities that made war, engrared Amoung those name was Sifnos as well.

Sifnos takes part in 415 B.C. in the expedition of Athenians against Sicily. In 411 B.C., Peissandros imposes to Sifnos. He oligarchy. At Sifnos is installed a friend - Spartan leadership and a very heavy faxation that aims at the preservation of the authority and the control from the Spartans.

Sifnos because of its geographical position it was for many times the place for meeting and deliberations. In 334 and 333 B.C. the persian flut sailed into Sifnos in an operation of diversion to Alexandros. In 162 B.C. Cretans attack to the city of Sifnos but are not succesful, at first. After they enter the island and provote pillages and important damages.

About Roman era we have very few informations about Sifnos and for the Byzantine ages as well. After the 324 B.C. Sifnos is among the "Province of islands" of the east-roman byzantine state. In the 6th century B.C. Sifnos belouged to the 29th province of islands having as a capital the Rhodes. At that time, ecclesiastically belongs to the bishopric of Paros - Sifnos - Amorgos. From the excavations it hasn't been found out when it started the spread of Christianism in Sifnos.

During the turkish domination, the island, gained privileges in the age of the Surtan Mourat C' 1580 and imbrahem 1646.

In this privileges included the right of churches repair, there weren't the mass kindappings of children e.t.c. The economic development of the islands begins in the middle of 16th century and Sifnos is now for Cyclades an important commercial centre from the beginnings of 12th century. At that time, it appears in Sifno a dynamic personality, Vasilis Logothetis, who affects and elevates the politic, religious and mental course of the island. Its helps the economic progress of Sifnos and finances the erection of the monastery Panagia Vrissiani. In 1646 is established the archbisopric of Sifnos. In the period 1651 - 1664 operated in Sifnos, a school of middle education.

In 1686 the church of Jerulalem allots the monastery dependency of the Holy Sepulchre in Sifnos where there are found today the two temples of Agios Ioannis Prodromeos and the Protomartys Stefanos in the castle. In 1797 the archbishopric of Sifnos is united with the archbishopric of Melos, having as a seat the Sifnos castle.

Later, Sifnos is taken by the russian brothers Orlot and by Turks. In the batle against Turkish domination Sifnos entered in the 15 of April in 1821. The protter of Sifnos people in living material and in money for the battle, mainly from the monasteries was inestimable. During Othonas regency in 1833, Sifnos is divided in two municipalities, Apollonia and Aetemonos - castle. In 1836 the two municipalities are fused in one and the capital is transfered from the castle to Apollonia.

Likewise, many inhabitants emigrate and the economy of the island goes through a difficult period. Many people of Sifnos emigrate and achieve many successes in various sections of science and arts and they never forget their island which help economically. Sifnos people took part in the great polemic events of the 20th century. They served with loyalty their country with all of their forces to the battles that the place gave for its liberty.