Polydendri
Encyclopedia
Polydendri is a town and former community
of East Attica
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos
, of which it is a municipal unit.
It is located north of Athens
. The town contains no more than 1,179 residents (2001 census) and it has many cultural unions, such as a youth union, a traditional dance union, an athletic club (the "Black Eagle of Polydendri" playing at the athletic center of Gourezi), a tracking club and a heavy metal society (called "the Obscure" and numbering 1.500 members from all around Greece). Furthermore, Polydendri is known for its taverns. The municipal unit has a land area of 13.881 km² and also includes the villages of Taxiárches (pop. 101), Irakleideís (98), and Ágios Geórgios (60). Its total population was 1,438 at the 2001 census.
, the inhabitants of the village were Scandinavia
n shepherds that reached the village at the end of the 9th century. There are many questions concerning the reasons that made those Vikings reach the north of Attica, but there are still remains of their civilization (a dozen buildings around the river, at the southeast of the village, have Viking architecture). During the years of the Ottoman Empire
, a clan of Arvanites
approached the north of Attica and after brief combat, they controlled the village, which had a very important strategic position for the defense of the city of Athens
. Today's residents of Polydendri are mostly Greek-Arvanites.
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 East Attica
East Attica
East Attica is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Attica. The capital of the regional unit is the town of Pallini. The regional unit covers the eastern part of the agglomeration of Athens, and also the rural area to its east....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos
Oropos
Oropos is a small town and a municipality in East Attica, Greece.-Geography:It is situated on the southern Euboean Gulf, opposite Eretria. Oropos is located N of Avlona and Athens, E of Thebes and SE of Chalcis. Oropos is linked with the road linking Nea Palatia and Sikamino...
, of which it is a municipal unit.
It is located north of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. The town contains no more than 1,179 residents (2001 census) and it has many cultural unions, such as a youth union, a traditional dance union, an athletic club (the "Black Eagle of Polydendri" playing at the athletic center of Gourezi), a tracking club and a heavy metal society (called "the Obscure" and numbering 1.500 members from all around Greece). Furthermore, Polydendri is known for its taverns. The municipal unit has a land area of 13.881 km² and also includes the villages of Taxiárches (pop. 101), Irakleideís (98), and Ágios Geórgios (60). Its total population was 1,438 at the 2001 census.
History
During ancient times, the entire north Attica area was called Afidnes. During the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the inhabitants of the village were Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n shepherds that reached the village at the end of the 9th century. There are many questions concerning the reasons that made those Vikings reach the north of Attica, but there are still remains of their civilization (a dozen buildings around the river, at the southeast of the village, have Viking architecture). During the years of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, a clan of Arvanites
Arvanites
Arvanites are a population group in Greece who traditionally speak Arvanitika, a dialect of the Albanian language. They settled in Greece during the late Middle Ages and were the dominant population element of some regions of the Peloponnese and Attica until the 19th century...
approached the north of Attica and after brief combat, they controlled the village, which had a very important strategic position for the defense of the city of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Today's residents of Polydendri are mostly Greek-Arvanites.