Amorgos Αμοργός | |
|---|---|
 View of Chora (Amorgos) | |
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  Amorgos | |
| Coordinates:36°51′N25°54′E / 36.850°N 25.900°E /36.850; 25.900 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Geographic region | Cyclades |
| Administrative region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Naxos |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 126.35 km2 (48.78 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 823 m (2,700 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Municipality | 1,961 |
| • Density | 15.52/km2 (40.20/sq mi) |
| • Community | 446 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 840 08 |
| Area code | 22850 |
| Vehicle registration | EM |
Amorgos (Greek:Αμοργός,Amorgós;pronounced[amorˈɣos]) is the easternmost island of theCyclades island group and the nearest island to the neighboringDodecanese island group inGreece. Along with 16 neighbouring islets, the largest of which (by land area) is Nikouria Island, it comprises themunicipality of Amorgos, which has a land area of 126.346 square kilometres (48.782 square miles)[2] and at the 2021 census had a population of 1,961.
Due to its position near the ancientIonian towns, such asMiletus,Halicarnassus andEphesus, Amorgos became one of the first places from which theIonians passed through to theCycladic Islands and onto theGreek mainland.
Throughout history, Amorgos was also known as Yperia, or Platagy, Pagali, Psichia, and Karkisia.[3] Amorgos features many remnants of ancient civilizations. At the time ofArchaic 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 Arkesine (Ancient Greek:Ἀρκεσίνη), the ancient towers whose remains are scattered around the island, ancient tombs, stone tools, inscriptions, vases and by other antiquities. Arcesine or Arkesine was one of the three main settlements on the island in antiquity.[4]
Due to the name Minoa for one of its ancient cities, it is suspected that Amorgos had been colonized by theCretans from ancient times,[3] but no known archeological evidence supports this view.[5]
The island was visited by the British explorersTheodore andMabel Bent in 1883/4.[6]
Excavations and findings, especially burial tombs, prove the intense presence of Amorgos during theprehistoric years, particularly during the first period ofCycladic civilization (3200 to 2000 BC).
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.[8]
'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.[citation needed]
In approximately 630 BC, the poetSemonides led the foundation of aSamian colony on Amorgos. ThePeriplus of Pseudo-Scylax mentions it asTripolis. It was a member of theDelian League.[9] It participated in theSecond Athenian League.[10]
The names of the three cities given byStephanus 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. Minoa was situated at the center of the northern side near the present day village ofKatapola and Arkesini on the present-day location Kastri.
In 322 BC,Athens andMacedonia fought the navalBattle of Amorgos.
Heraclides Lembus wrote that the island produced much wine, as well as olive oil and fruits.[11]
With the passing of time, the island's name changed toAmolgon andAmourgon.
In the 5th century, Bishop Theodore, who attended asynod inConstantinople, signed as Bishop of the Parians, Sifnians, and Amoulgians. After theFourth Crusade it became a dependency of theduchy of Naxos but was later disputed by other Venetians. In 1312, the Hospitaller fleetdefeated a fleet of Menteshe at the island.
It was known asYamurgi duringOttoman rule between 1537 and 1829. It became part of Greece upon independence in 1830.
On 9 July, the1956 Amorgos earthquake occurred, with itsepicentre about 30 km (19 mi) south of the island. The shock had amoment magnitude of 7.7 and had a maximumMercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The earthquake generated a localtsunami of up to 30 m (98 ft) at Amorgos and nearby islands. Fifty-three people were killed and 100 were injured.
The island was featured inLuc Besson's filmThe Big Blue (1988) and "Two tickets to Greece", France, 2023 in which Agia Anna and the monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa can be seen. The island was also featured in Giorgos Kordelas' filmAriadni (2002).[12] Amorgos has been referenced online due to the similarity of its name to that of the video gameAmong Us.[13]
The municipality of Amorgos is subdivided into the following communities (population at 2021 census and constituent villages within brackets):[1]
| Year | Community population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 353 | – |
| 1991 | 330 | 1,632 |
| 2001 | 427 | 1,852 |
| 2011 | 409 | 1,973 |
| 2021 | 446 | 1,961 |
Amorgos has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures all year.
| Climate data for Aigiali, Amorgos (3m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.7 (60.3) | 17.4 (63.3) | 19 (66) | 23.7 (74.7) | 27 (81) | 27.9 (82.2) | 28.3 (82.9) | 26.4 (79.5) | 24.6 (76.3) | 20.9 (69.6) | 17.8 (64.0) | 22.0 (71.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.8 (51.4) | 11.5 (52.7) | 12.9 (55.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 17.6 (63.7) | 22 (72) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.6 (74.5) | 22.2 (72.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 17.3 (63.1) | 14.2 (57.6) | 17.5 (63.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 179.2 (7.06) | 146.6 (5.77) | 79.4 (3.13) | 54 (2.1) | 7 (0.3) | 1 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 8.3 (0.33) | 16.5 (0.65) | 46.6 (1.83) | 86.1 (3.39) | 624.7 (24.56) |
| Source:http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/amorgos/ (2019 - 2020 averages) | |||||||||||||
Themonastery 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 ofwindmills 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.[14]
| Regional unit ofAndros |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofKalymnos | ||
| Regional unit ofKarpathos-Kasos | ||
| Regional unit ofKea-Kythnos | ||
| Regional unit ofKos | ||
| Regional unit ofMilos | ||
| Regional unit ofMykonos | ||
| Regional unit ofNaxos | ||
| Regional unit ofParos | ||
| Regional unit ofRhodes | ||
| Regional unit ofSyros | ||
| Regional unit ofThira | ||
| Regional unit ofTinos | ||
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
