Amfikleia

Amfikleia (Greek: Αμφίκλεια, before 1915: Δαδί - Dadi[2]) is a town and a former municipality in Phthiotis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Amfikleia-Elateia, of which it is a municipal unit.[3] The municipal unit has an area of 229.366 km2, the community 108.124 km2.[4] At the 2011 census, the population of the municipal unit was 4,186 and of the community 3,191.[1] The town is situated at the northern foot of Mount Parnassus, in the valley of the river Cephissus.[5] It is 11 km northwest of Kato Tithorea and 31 km southeast of Lamia. Greek National Road 3 (Thebes - Lamia) passes through the town. The town is served by a railway station with connections on the Athens–Thessaloniki railway.

Amfikleia
Αμφίκλεια
Amfikleia is located in Greece
Amfikleia
Amfikleia
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°38′N 22°35′E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCentral Greece
Regional unitPhthiotis
MunicipalityAmfikleia-Elateia
 • Municipal unit229.37 km2 (88.56 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipal unit
4,186
 • Municipal unit density18/km2 (47/sq mi)
Community
[1]
 • Population3,191 (2011)
 • Area (km2)108.12
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registrationΜΙ

Subdivisions

The municipal unit Amfikleia consists of the following communities:

  • Amfikleia
  • Bralos
  • Drymaia
  • Palaiochori
  • Tithroni
  • Xylikoi

History

Amfikleia was named after the ancient town Amphicleia (Ancient Greek: Ἀμφίκλεια). Amphicleia was also named Amphicaea (Ἀμφίκαια) and Ophiteia (Ὀφιτεία). It was situated in the north of ancient Phocis.[6] The Persians under Xerxes destroyed the city in 480 BC during the second Persian invasion of Greece.[7] It was rebuilt afterwards, and at the time of Pausanias (2nd century AD), it was known for the worship of Dionysus.[6][8]

During the Middle Ages, a tower was built on the site of the acropolis. Today the site is occupied by the cemetery.[5]

Dadi, which was founded near the site of ancient Amphicleia, became a vibrant town; in early 19th century, William Leake reported 500 families living in the town.[9] Dadi was renamed to Amfikleia in 1915.[2]

Notable people
  • The church of Holy Jerusalem above Amfikleia
    The church of Holy Jerusalem above Amfikleia
  • Memorial to the 11 inhabitants executed by the Germans in 1943 as reprisals for a sabotage attack on Amfikleia railway station
    Memorial to the 11 inhabitants executed by the Germans in 1943 as reprisals for a sabotage attack on Amfikleia railway station
  • Position of Amfiklia municipal unit in Amfiklia-Elatia Municipality, Fthiotida Regional Unit Greece
    Position of Amfiklia municipal unit in Amfiklia-Elatia Municipality, Fthiotida Regional Unit Greece

References
  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. "Πανδέκτης: Dadi -- Amfikleia". Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  3. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  4. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
  5. Koder, Johannes; Hild, Friedrich (1976). Tabula Imperii Byzantini, Band 1: Hellas und Thessalia (in German). Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. p. 122. ISBN 978-3-7001-0182-6.
  6. Public Domain Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Amphicaea". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  7. Herodotus, Histories 8.33
  8. Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.33.9-11
  9. Leake, William Martin (1835). Travels in Northern Greece. Vol. 2. p. 74.
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