geo.wikisort.org - Island

Amorgos (Greek: Αμοργός, Amorgós; pronounced [amorˈɣos]) is the easternmost island of the Cyclades island group and the nearest island to the neighboring Dodecanese island group in Greece. Along with 16 neighboring islets, the largest of which (by land area) is Nikouria Island, it comprises the municipality of Amorgos, which has a land area of 126.346 square kilometres (48.782 square miles)[1] and a population of 1,973 (2011 census).

Amorgos

Αμοργός
Chora (Amorgos)
Amorgos Location in Greece
Geography
Location	Aegean Sea
Coordinates	36°51′N 25°54′E
Archipelago	Cyclades
Highest elevation	823 m (2700 ft)
Administration
Greece
Administrative region	South Aegean
Regional unit	Naxos

Geography

Due to its position near the ancient Ionian towns, such as Miletus, Halicarnassus and Ephesus, Amorgos became one of the first places from which the Ionians passed through to the Cycladic Islands and onto the Greek mainland.

History

Throughout history, Amorgos was also known as Yperia, or Platagy, Pagali, Psichia, and Karkisia.^{[citation needed]} Amorgos features many remnants of ancient civilizations. At the time of Archaic Greece, there were three independent city-states there. They are believed to have featured autonomous constitutions but the same currency. Amorgos is distinguished by the size and quality of the walls surrounding the city of Arkesini, the ancient towers whose remains are scattered around the island, ancient tombs, stone tools, inscriptions, vases and by other antiquities.

Due to the name Minoa, it is suspected that Amorgos had been colonized by the Cretans from ancient times,^{[citation needed]} but there is no archeological evidence supporting this view.[2]

Early Cycladic period

Almost a dozen separate inhabited centres are known in this period. Amorgos is the origin of many famous Cycladic figurines. ‘Dokathismata style’ figurines were originally found here. Cycladic sculptures had been discovered from the cemeteries at Aghia Paraskevi, Aghios Pavlos, Dokathismata, Kapros, Kapsala, Nikouria and Stavros.[3]

'Kapsala Cycladic figurines', dating around 2700 B.C., are named after a find place in Amorgos. This is the earliest of the 'canonical types' – a reclining female with folded arms. They tend to have slender and elongated proportions. At this time, anatomical features such as arms are modeled three-dimensionally. With the later types, sculptors tended to render this feature with incised lines.[4]

'Dokathismata Cycladic figurines' date from a somewhat later period of 2400–2100 BC. Compared to the statuettes of the Spedos type—the most common and renowned type of figurines featuring finely modeled and somewhat rounded shapes—the statuettes of the Dokathismata type tend to have a more slender and sometimes angular silhouette.

Classical period

Part of the island is named Aspis, where the ancient temple of the goddess Aphrodite stood.

In approximately 630 BC, the poet Semonides led the foundation of a Samian colony on Amorgos. The Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax mentions it as Tripolis. It was a member of the Delian League.[5] It participated in the Second Athenian League.[6] In 322 BC, Athens and Macedonia fought the naval Battle of Amorgos.

Heraclides Lembus wrote that the island produced much wine, as well as olive oil and fruits.[7]

With the passing of time, the island's name changed to Amolgon and Amourgon.

Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern

In the 5th century, Bishop Theodore, who attended a synod in Constantinople, signed as Bishop of the Parians, Sifnians, and Amoulgians. It was known as Yamurgi during Ottoman rule between 1566 and 1829.

On 9 July 1956, a large earthquake occurred that generated a local tsunami of up to 30 m (98 ft). The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.7 and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). Fifty-three people were killed and 100 were injured.

Government

The names of the three cities given by Stephanus Byzantinus 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 Kastri.

Excavations and findings, especially burial tombs, prove the intense presence of Amorgos during the prehistoric years, particularly during the first period of Cycladic civilization (3200 to 2000 BC).

Cinema and popular culture

The island was featured in Luc Besson's film The Big Blue (1988), in which Agia Anna and the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa can be seen. The island was also featured in Giorgos Kordelas' film Ariadni (2002).^{[citation needed]} Amorgos has been referenced online due to the similarity of its name to the video game Among Us.[8]

Municipal districts

The municipality of Amorgos is subdivided into the following communities (population at 2011 census and constituent villages within brackets):

• Aigiali (514, Aigiali, Agios Pavlos, Ormos Egialis, Potamos)
• Amorgos (409, Chora, Kastelopetra)
• Arkesini (179, Arkesini, Kalotaritissa, Kalofana, Mavri Myti, Rachoula)
• Katapola (595, Katapola, Lefkes, Nera, Xylokeratidi, Pera Rachidi, Rachidi, Christoulaki)
• Tholaria (189, Tholaria, Paralia Tholarion)
• Vroutsis (87, Vroutsis, Kamari)

Historical population

Year	Village population	Municipality population
1981	353	–
1991	330	1,632
2001	398	1,859
2011	397	1,973

Climate

Amorgos has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures all year.

Landmarks

The monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa is situated on the cliffside, northeast of Chora. It was built early in the second millennium in order to protect a religious icon, dating from the year 812, from intruders. The icon is on public display inside the monastery. 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 in a specific way in order to enter. Men have to wear long trousers and women a skirt or a wrap around shift down to the knee, not trousers. The shift may, however, be worn over trousers. As of July 2012, the monastery is active and houses three practicing monks.

Tourism is increasing slowly, although the island's geographical features prevent mass tourism. It is accessible only by boat. The three main tourist accommodations are located in Katapola, Aegiali and Chora. Hiking paths are relatively well maintained. Other activities include scuba diving, free-diving, and visiting the island's beaches (although this isn't its main attraction, like other Greek islands).

Another landmark in the area is a group of windmills that can be seen on a hill above Chora. A couple of them can be visited, while others are either locked or in ruins. It's easy to reach the location either by car or on foot, going through Chora. There is no admission to enter the area.[9]

See also

• List of settlements in the Cyclades
• List of islands of Greece
• Markiani

References

Sources

• Saint-Guillain, Guillaume (2001). "AMORGOS AU XIVe SIÈCLE. Une seigneurie insulaire entre Cyclades féodales et Crèle vénitienne". Byzantinische Zeitschrift (in French). 94 (1): 62–189. doi:10.1515/byzs.2001.94.1.62. ISSN 0007-7704. S2CID 191576963.

External links

• The official Amorgos web site at Amorgos.gov.gr: Amorgos Portal by the Municipality of Amorgos (in Greek and English)
• Amorgos Island Magazine. (in English)
• "Best Beaches In Amorgos Island". Travel-one-Greece.com. 28 February 2017. (in English)

На других языках

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[de] Amorgos

Amorgos (griechisch Αμοργός [.mw-parser-output .IPA a{text-decoration:none}amɔrˈɣɔs] (f. sg.)) ist eine griechische Kykladen-Insel in der Ägäis. Zusammen mit einigen unbewohnten kleinen Inseln bildet sie eine Gemeinde (δήμος, dímos) in der Region Südliche Ägäis. Im Jahr 2011 hatte die Insel 1973 Einwohner. Verwaltungssitz ist der gleichnamige Hauptort Amorgos, oft auch Chora genannt.

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- [en] Amorgos

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[es] Amorgos

La isla de Amorgos (en griego Αμοργóς) es una isla griega del mar Egeo, la más oriental del grupo de las Cícladas (Kiklades) y la más cercana al archipiélago vecino del Dodecaneso, situada al sudeste de Naxos, a 138 millas marinas del puerto del Pireo. Tiene una superficie de 121 km² y 112 km de costa. Su población era de 1800 habitantes en 1995. Tiene dos puertos, ambos en la costa enfrente de Naxos: Katapola al oeste y Egíali al este. El punto más alto está en el extremo este de la isla, en la cima del Kríkelo (821 m). La capital de la isla es Amorgos, o Jora, situada en el interior, a 320 m por encima de Katapola.

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[fr] Amorgós

Amorgós (grec moderne : Αμοργός) est une île grecque, la plus orientale des Cyclades[1]. Elle dispose de deux ports sur sa côte ouest : Katapola au centre et Órmos Aighiális (ou Aighiali) au nord.

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[ru] Аморгос

Амо́ргос (греч. Αμοργός) — остров в Греции, в южной части Эгейского моря. Самый восточный из островов архипелага Киклады, относительно близко от него архипелаг Додеканес. Связан паромом с Пиреем (расстояние 138 морских миль), остальными островами Киклад и Додеканесом.

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