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A Historic Lighthouse with Maritime Legacy on Dokos
Built in 1923, the Dokos Lighthouse is a striking maritime structure located on the small, rugged island of Dokos, nestled between Hydra and Spetses in the Saronic Gulf, opposite the coast of Ermioni. The lighthouse features a 9-meter-high circular stone tower and an adjoining stone house that once served as the lighthouse keeper’s residence. Crafted from local stone and marble, the lighthouse was destroyed during World War II in 1941 and was rebuilt in 1945. Today, the building shows visible signs of neglect, but it still stands as a fascinating historical structure.
The light emits two alternating flashes every 12 seconds—one white (visible from 6 nautical miles) and one red (visible from 4 nautical miles). The red sector serves as a navigation warning, indicating nearby rocky islets and shallow waters that pose dangers to passing vessels.
The Island of Dokos: A Timeless Stronghold
Though small and uninhabited today, Dokos Island has held strategic significance for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows the island was inhabited as far back as the late 5th millennium BC (Late Neolithic Period). It flourished during the Early Helladic Period (3rd millennium BC) due to the growing importance of seafaring.
In Mycenaean times, settlements thrived in the areas of Ledheza and Kommeni Myti. Known in antiquity as Aperopia, Dokos continued to play a key role throughout history. The ruins of a large Byzantine fortress, later expanded by the Venetians, are testimony to its military importance. Its location allowed control over sea routes to the Argolic Gulf and Eastern Laconia.
During the Greek War of Independence (1821), the naval fleet of nearby Hydra used Dokos as a secure winter anchorage. In the 1970s, marine archaeologists discovered the world’s oldest known shipwreck just off Dokos’ coast—dating back to the second half of the 3rd millennium BC—highlighting the island’s ancient maritime heritage.