So initially, the explorers didn't bother with the island, presumably because it was so inhospitable. For more information on Cape Drepanum though, see the links to Related Blogs below.

Incidentally, the concept of explorers making stuff up is not unusual. It doesn't stop at explorers either. I remember reading about a Victorian explorer who had a big problem with the Mukhtars of various villages inventing historical items to lure Archaeologists to their village, so that they would avail themselves of whatever hospitality the village would offer them, at the right price.

The first published account of a visit to Yeronisos is in Rupert Gunnis’s 1936 guidebook, Historic Cyprus: A guide to its towns and villages, monasteries and castles. Gunnis observed Neolithic flints and pottery along the southern edge of the island, the foundations of a Roman building (possibly a lighthouse, he says) at the most western point on the island, and the remains of defensive walls, a cistern, a millstone and other materials of the “Roman period.”

Now, I've actually got a facsimile reprint of his guide to Cyprus, and it is a real page-turner. It isn't, as he claims, a list of all the villages though. Also, for most villages he just tells you what churches they have. However, the book does have some interesting information. If you want to order a copy, you can find it on Amazon.

Here is a link: Historic Cyprus - Rupert Gunnis.

If you use that link to buy the book I will get a commission of about 4 pence. Ok, not that bad, but that's not the reason I am mentioning the book!

This is what Gunnis had to say about the island. If you have the book, it is on Page 381.

Opposite the Cape of Drepano is the small Island of St George rising sheer from the sea and distant about three hundred yards from the shore. It is about two hundred yards long and sixty across in the broadest part; the cliffs are about a hundred feet high. On the southern side are considerable remains of a neolithic settlement, and flints and fragments of pottery lie scattered about. At the west point of the island is the base of a Roman building, possibly a lighthouse, and the remains of defensive walls, a cistern, millstones, etc, all dating from the Roman time. The north cliff has been supported at some period by a sea wall, formed of well-cut stones. The island is the haunt of innumerable wild pigeons, but it is difficult of access except in calm weather.

Fortunately, when I was flying the drone about, most of the pigeons were elsewhere. Anyway, let's continue the history from the Island's website:

In December, 1981, The Ulysses Island Tourist Enterprises requested from the Cypriot Council of Ministers the lease of 26,000 sq. meters atop Yeronisos for development as a casino resort hotel, to be connected to the mainland by a causeway. As part of a feasibility study for this initiative, G. Petrides and M. Haralambous prepared a Geronisos Island Geotechnical Report, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Geological Survey Department (Nicosia 1981).

In April 1982, a meeting of all interested parties with the ministerial committee failed to reach a consensus on the issue of leasing. Funding was allocated for trial excavations on Yeronisos under the direction of Dr. Sophocles Hadjisavvas of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus. Twenty-three days of excavations were conducted on the island by Hadjisavvas’ team during the period October 11-November 19, 1982. Among the finds recovered were Chalcolithic stone tools, quantities of late Hellenistic imported fine wares, the only Ptolemaic ostraka found to date in all of Cyprus, a bronze blade, and Byzantine sgraffito ware bowl. Extensive architectural remains of cisterns, walls, kitchens, and other buildings were exposed. The island was expropriated by the Republic of Cyprus as a national heritage site of great cultural significance.