Amorgos
Encyclopedia
Amorgos is the easternmost island of the Greek
Cyclades
island group, and the nearest island to the neighboring Dodecanese
island group. Along with several neighboring islets, the largest of which is Nikouria Island, it comprises the municipality
of Amorgos, which has a land area of 126.346 km², and a population of 1,859 (2001 census).
n towns, such as Militos, Alikarnassos and Ephesos, it became one of the first places from which the Ionians
passed through to the Cyclades Islands and onto the Greek
mainland. The existence of three independent cities, preserved to this day, with autonomous constitution and the same currency, the size and artistic works of the walls surrounding the city of Arkesini, the ancient towers whose remains are scattered all over the island, the ancient tombs, the stone tools, the inscriptions, the vases and other antiquities are all powerful proof of the size of Amorgos' ancient civilization.
stood. Due to the name Minoa we suspect that Amorgos had been colonised by the Cretans
from ancient times, but there are no archeological remains supporting this view. In approximately 630 BC, the poet Semonides led the foundation of a Samian
colony on Amorgos. With the passing of time, the island's name changed to Amolgon, Amourgon, Amorgian, and Amourgian. After the 5th century one can also find the name Amoulgos from Bishop Theodore who signed a Synod
in Constantinople
, as Theodore the Bishop of Parion, Sifnion, and Amoulgion. Skilax mentions it as Tripoli (the circumnavigation of the Cyclades
Islands). It was known as "Yamurgi" during Ottoman rule between 1566-1829.
A very powerful earthquake (7,5 on the Richter scale) on 9 July 1953 resulted in the death of 53 people.
Aigiali was on the north East Side of the island close to the present day locations of Tholaria and Stroumvos and to this day can still be found there. Minoa is situated at the center of the northern side near the present day village of Katapola and Arkesini close to the present day lowland location Castri.
Excavations and findings, especially burial tombs, prove the intense presence of Amorgos during the prehistoric years, particularly during the first period of Cycladic civilisation (3200 to 2000 BC).
's film The Big Blue
.
The island was also featured in Giorgos Kordelas's film Ariadni of 2002.
of Panagia Hozoviotissa is situated on the cliff side, northeast of Chora. Opening time for visitors every day from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visitors have to be dressed decently in order to enter. Men have to wear long trousers and women a skirt or some long pants and covered arms.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Cyclades
Cyclades
The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos...
island group, and the nearest island to the neighboring Dodecanese
Dodecanese
The Dodecanese are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, of which 26 are inhabited. Τhis island group generally defines the eastern limit of the Sea of Crete. They belong to the Southern Sporades island group...
island group. Along with several neighboring islets, the largest of which is Nikouria Island, it comprises the municipality
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
of Amorgos, which has a land area of 126.346 km², and a population of 1,859 (2001 census).
Geography
Due to Amorgos' position opposite the ancient beaches of IoniaIonia
Ionia is an ancient region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey, the region nearest İzmir, which was historically Smyrna. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements...
n towns, such as Militos, Alikarnassos and Ephesos, it became one of the first places from which the Ionians
Ionians
The Ionians were one of the four major tribes into which the Classical Greeks considered the population of Hellenes to have been divided...
passed through to the Cyclades Islands and onto the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
mainland. The existence of three independent cities, preserved to this day, with autonomous constitution and the same currency, the size and artistic works of the walls surrounding the city of Arkesini, the ancient towers whose remains are scattered all over the island, the ancient tombs, the stone tools, the inscriptions, the vases and other antiquities are all powerful proof of the size of Amorgos' ancient civilization.
History
Amorgos is also known as Yperia, Patagy, or Platagy, Pagali, Psichia and Karkisia. Part of the island is named Aspis, where the ancient temple of the goddess AphroditeAphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
stood. Due to the name Minoa we suspect that Amorgos had been colonised by the Cretans
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
from ancient times, but there are no archeological remains supporting this view. In approximately 630 BC, the poet Semonides led the foundation of a Samian
Samoš
Samoš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kovačica municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,247 people .-See also:...
colony on Amorgos. With the passing of time, the island's name changed to Amolgon, Amourgon, Amorgian, and Amourgian. After the 5th century one can also find the name Amoulgos from Bishop Theodore who signed a Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, as Theodore the Bishop of Parion, Sifnion, and Amoulgion. Skilax mentions it as Tripoli (the circumnavigation of the Cyclades
Cyclades
The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos...
Islands). It was known as "Yamurgi" during Ottoman rule between 1566-1829.
A very powerful earthquake (7,5 on the Richter scale) on 9 July 1953 resulted in the death of 53 people.
Government
The names of the three cities given by Stefanos Vizantios are Arkesini, Minoa, Aigiali or Melania which, according to inscriptions, are the most correct. The three towns are on the island's west coast because that is where bays and natural ports that could provide the proper positioning for seaside towns and forts exist.Aigiali was on the north East Side of the island close to the present day locations of Tholaria and Stroumvos and to this day can still be found there. Minoa is situated at the center of the northern side near the present day village of Katapola and Arkesini close to the present day lowland location Castri.
Excavations and findings, especially burial tombs, prove the intense presence of Amorgos during the prehistoric years, particularly during the first period of Cycladic civilisation (3200 to 2000 BC).
Amorgos in popular culture
The island was featured in Luc BessonLuc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
's film The Big Blue
The Big Blue
The Big Blue is a 1988 English-language film made by French director Luc Besson. The film stars Jean-Marc Barr, Rosanna Arquette, Jean Reno and depicts a fictionalized account of the sporting rivalry between two famed free divers.-Background:...
.
The island was also featured in Giorgos Kordelas's film Ariadni of 2002.
Municipal districts
The municipality of Amorgos is subdivided into the following communities (population at 2001 census and constituent villages within brackets):- Aigiali (487, Aigiali, Agios Pavlos, Ormos EgialisOrmos EgialisOrmos Egialis is also called Aegiali and is the second port of Amorgos. It is set in a large sweeping bay, providing a view from Tholaria and the Aegialis Hotel above. There are frequent ferries to and from Piraeus, as well as a daily ferry to Naxos....
, Potamos) - Amorgos (414, Chora, Kastelopetra)
- Arkesini (218, Arkesini, Kalotaritissa, Kalofana, Mavri Myti, Rachoula)
- Katapola (485, Katapola, Lefkes, Nera, Xylokeratidi, Pera Rachidi, Rachidi, Christoulaki)
- TholariaTholariaTholaria is a small village on the Greek island of Amorgos situated on the hill 3,5 KM north of the port of Aigiali.thumb|Village of Tholaria , [[Amorgos]], Greece...
(173, Tholaria, Paralia Tholarion) - Vroutsis (82, Vroutsis, Kamari)
Historical population
| Year | Village population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 353 | - |
| 1991 | 330 | 1,632 |
| 2001 | 398 | 1,859 |
Landmarks
The spectacular monasteryMonastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Panagia Hozoviotissa is situated on the cliff side, northeast of Chora. Opening time for visitors every day from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Visitors have to be dressed decently in order to enter. Men have to wear long trousers and women a skirt or some long pants and covered arms.
External links
- The official Amorgos web site: Amorgos Portal by the Municipality of Amorgos ,
- Amorgos Island Magazine