Once a bustling town named Belbina this island now bears the name Agios Georgios. Herodotus himself mentions Belbina in a historical account. A town of the same name once thrived here. Some believe Agios Georgios is the ancient Psyttaleia. Psyttaleia played a crucial role in the Battle of Salamis. However most scholars disagree. The island known as Lipsokoutali is now accepted as Psyttaleia.
Agios Georgios is a significant part of the Saronic Islands. It’s uninhabited. It holds the distinction of being the largest uninhabited island in the Saronic Islands. Its area is 4.3 square kilometers. Administratively it belongs to the municipality of Hydra. This has been the case since 1834. There was a legal dispute over ownership in recent years. The municipality of Lavreotiki challenged Hydra’s claim. A 2017 court ruling confirmed Hydra’s ownership though.
The island has a remarkable modern history. In 2016 a substantial wind farm was constructed. Terna Energy built this 73 MW facility. It provides Athens with approximately 250 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. This makes Agios Georgios an important contributor to Athens’s energy needs. Think of it a quiet giant quietly providing power to a busy city.
Imagine the wind turbines turning against the backdrop of the serene Saronic Gulf. It’s a juxtaposition of ancient history and modern technology. The island’s history is full of quiet moments and sudden bursts of activity. From the days of Belbina’s bustling town to the energy-generating turbines of today. Agios Georgios stands as a testament to Greece’s enduring connection to the past and its embrace of the future. The island silently embodies the rich history and the modern advances of Greece. Its quiet presence continues to shape the landscape of the nation. It’s a place where history whispers secrets to the wind. The wind in turn delivers those secrets to Athens itself.