Amfilochia Explained

Amfilochia
Name Local:Αμφιλοχία
Type:municipality
Periph:West Greece
Periphunit:Aetolia-Acarnania
Pop Municipality:14979
Area Municipality:1091.0
Pop Municunit:9154
Area Municunit:397.9
Pop Community:4241
Population As Of:2021
Coordinates:38.85°N 31°W
Postal Code:305 00
Area Code:26420

Amfilochia (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Αμφιλοχία) is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvasaras (Καρβασαράς; from caravanserai).

Amfilochia is situated by the Ambracian Gulf and features an amphitheatre. Amfilochia dates back to the ancient times and also features the ancient cities of Amphilochian Argos and Limnaia (or Limnaea).

History

According to Pausanias, the settlement is named after king Amphilochos, son of Amphiaraus. After the fall of Troy, Amphilochos settled in the area, which consequently was called Amphilochoi until the time of Pausanias.[1]

Under the Ottoman Empire, Ali Pasha of Ioannina, forcibly relocated residents of another village to the current location of the town and established a motel (serai in Turkish) to serve passing caravans. This was how the name Karvasaras came up.[2]

In July 1944 a battle took place in the town between ELAS of the Greek Resistance against the occupation forces and their local collaborators, that resulted in victory for the Resistance.[3]

Municipality

The municipality Amfilochia was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[4]

The municipality has an area of 1090.991 km2, the municipal unit 397.879 km2.[5]

Subdivisions

The municipal unit of Amfilochia is divided into the following communities:[4]

Population

Year Town Community Municipal unit Municipality
1981 - 6,637 - -
1991 4,392 - 13,711 -
2001 4,119 4,681 12,834 -
2011 3,827 4,325 10,264 17,056
2021 3,791 4,241 9,154 14,979

Transportation

Amfilochia has a port which is sometimes used for the import of grain. It is linked with the GR-5 (E55 and E951, Antirrio - Messolonghi - Ioannina) and is also traversed by the GR-42 that serves Vonitsa, Preveza and the island of Lefkada. Amfilochia is linked with the Ionia Odos, a toll road that bypasses the town itself. Amfilochia is not linked with a railway.

Notable people

See also

A part of this article is translated from the German Wikipedia

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Παυσανιασ . Κορινθιακα . Ι. Ζαχαρόπουλος . 114–115.
  2. Web site: 2019-11-19 . Ηλεκτρονική Πλοήγηση Μνημείων Αιτωλοακαρνανίας και Αχαϊας - Χώροι . https://web.archive.org/web/20191119104539/http://monuments.hpclab.ceid.upatras.gr/places.php?place=87 . 2019-11-19 . 2022-10-20 .
  3. Web site: 2022-07-11 . "Φυσέκι στους φασίστες". H μάχη της Αμφιλοχίας όπου οι αντάρτες εξολόθρευσαν τους Γερμανούς. Διέφυγαν στήνοντας οδοφράγματα από πτώματα γερμανών στρατιωτών . 2022-10-20 . ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ . el.
  4. Web site: ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities. el. Government Gazette.
  5. Web site: Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) . National Statistical Service of Greece . el . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf . 2015-09-21 .