Astypalaea (Cos)
town of ancient Greece on the island of Kos
Astypalaea or Astypalaia (Ancient Greek: Ἀστυπάλαια), also known as Isthmus or Isthmos (Ἰσθμός), was a town of ancient Greece in the southwest of the island of Cos, which the inhabitants abandoned in order to build Cos.
Its site is located near modern Kefalos.
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Astypalaea". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
The public source identifies “Astypalaea (Cos)” as town of ancient Greece on the island of Kos. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Astypalaea, town and ancient.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Astypalaea (Cos)”, the useful work is to connect “town of ancient Greece on the island of Kos” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 24, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q17621883. Authority coordinates are 36.746, 26.958. None of the 1 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1854 and 1857.
Architectural summaries often privilege surviving fabric and can understate demolished phases, contested use or displaced communities. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
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Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
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Questions for further research
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This entry incorporates text from “Astypalaea (Cos)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.