Astypalea travelled through the centuries with the same name and is also presented as Astoypalia, Astropalia, Stypalia. At the mythology Astypalea and Europe were daughters of Foinikos and Perimidis. By the union of Astypalaia with Neptune, Argonaytis the Agkaios and the king of Kos Eyrypylos were born. The first citizents Kares named Astypalaia "Pyrra" for its red colour and "Gods' Bank" , for its great variety of nice smelling flowers and fruits.
Since then, honey was very popular. It's strange enough though, that there aren't any snakes on the island. Aristotle wrote "εχθράν είναι τοις όφεσιν η των Aστυπαλαίων γη" meaning that the land of Astypalea is a hostile terrain for snakes. One of the first things that Romans appreciated in each place, was its foods and because of that, they used to call Astypalea "ichthyoessan" because it had lots of good fishes. Plinios attributes therapeutic properties to the island's snails . Astypalea passed from the possession of Crete to the season of Minoas and later hellenized from settlers that came from Megara.

In the Byzantine years the elation of piracy changed the built-up structure of islands, with the decline of onshore settlements, the locomotion of populations in the interior and the construction of castles for protection. Approximately in that season, the castle of Saint Ioannis was built in the south-western coast of Astypalea, a relic of which exist there up to the present time. However, the period with the more intense mark that was rescued up to our days - the Castle - is that of Venetian domination.
		After the catalysis of Byzantine state from the Franks,in 1204, and the creation of Duchy of Naxos, its Venetian founder Markos Sanoydos, assigned property of Astypalea to the also Venetian noble, Ioannis Koyirinis. This was the founder and first householder of a residence that constituted the core of current settlement. Venetians remained in Astypalea from 1207 until 1269, the year that Byzantines recaptured the island. However in 1310, Ioannis Koyirinis the second, sovereign of Tinos and Mykonos, captured again Astypalea with the help of Mark Grimanis. The Koyirinis remained gentlemen of island for almost 300 years. Each one of them refurbished and enlarged the Castle. Plates with the blazons of noble Venetians that built it and lived in, built-in in various points, speak for their passed greatnesses. One of them reached up to our days built-in at a point of Castle where it can been seen by the visitor. They placed it in March 1413, the day which was dedicated in their protector Saint Koyirinis, Ioannis D. Koyirinis earl of Astynea" and his woman Issabeta. The Venetians lost Astypalea in 1537 when the horrible Barbarosas appeared in the islands.
During the turkish occupation Astypalea had granted privilegdes and lived self-governmented. It also participated in the Greek revolution of 1821, but as the remaining Dodecanese it didn't count in the new range of the free greek state. I t remained under turkish occupation until 1912, when the italian occupation started. Astypalea along with the rest Dodecanese was finally officially integrated with Greece on March 7, 1948.
http://www.astypalaia.gr/