Thassos had a turbulent history passing through the hands of various conquerors and invaders whom have all left their mark. The island from as far back as historians dare to theorize was known by many different names. These names reflected the name of the tribe of people who were thought to have settled here such as Sedon and Odones which were Thracian tribes. In many instances the islands name derived from on of its natural resources such as Chrissi (gold) shore of Dimitra (abundant fry fruit produce) or climatic and distinguishing characteristics like Eaire (refreshing summer breezes) and Ethria (clear skies).

There is historical mention of the tribe Cares who inhabited the island and took up arms to fight in the Trojan War and together with another tribe the Pelage settled on the island. Remains of Thracians have been found on the island dating back to 2000 B.C. and across the sea a short distance away mainland shore settlements dating 3000 to 2000 BC. Other historians state that the Greeks settled on the island. Archeologists have found many traces of Greek Hercules who was glorified worshiped and considered one of the guardians of the island. Finally we have the Greek mythological version of where the island obtained her existing name. Thassos together with his brother Kadmus searched the then existing land for their sister Europa. Zeus had abducted Europa. Thassos went to the island in search of her but was unsuccessful. He settled there with his band of men and dominated the island. Thassos became a place for civilizations to flourish in a barbarian world. Of course in order to accomplish this Thassos used slavery in one form or another to mine for gold and tap the islands natural resources as did other Phoenicians hundreds of years before him.The father of history Herodotus notes that the Phoenicians settled and mined the east coast of the island around 1600 – 15000 BC. Eventually Phoenician dominance fades.

With thousands of years of Greek history on its shoulders and its unique natural landscape, Thassos is still known as the “Emerald of the Aegean” despite the forest fires which have devastated some of its woodland in recent years. There are traditional mountain villages and sparkling beaches, the remains of prehistoric settlements, relicts of the ancient and classical eras, early Christian basilicas built on the ruins of ancient temples, old churches and dozens of tiny sanctuaries dotted about the landscape, making Thassos one of the most important travel destinations in the Greek part of Macedonia.

Thassos has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Neolithic tools and crude pottery, similar to those discovered on Limnos and Samothraki and at Troy, have been found at various sites on the island. The inhabitants in prehistoric times were Thracians. Thassos is first mentioned by Herodotus, the father of history, who had visited the island. He tells us that it took its name from Thassos, son of Agenor the Phoenician king of Tyre. Greek mythology goes on to say that Thassos arrived on the island in search of his sister Europa, who had been abducted by Zeus. Thassos the island was settled by the Phoenicians who for many years exploited its gold mines, its iron ore and its rich timber resources. The Phoenicians also brought the worship of Hercules.