In Greek mythology, Symi is reputed to be the birthplace of the Charites and to take its name from the nymph Syme (in antiquity the island was known as Aigli and Metapontis), though Pliny the Elder and some later writers claimed that the name was derived from scimmia "a monkey".
The island has become a haven for tourists from abroad, especially British and Italians,[REF] and is now the permanent home of about 120 non-Greek residents,[REF] some 50 of whom are British [REF].