Afidnes

Afidnes Αφίδνες
Afidnes
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°12′N 23°50′E / 38.200°N 23.833°ECoordinates: 38°12′N 23°50′E / 38.200°N 23.833°E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Attica
Regional unit	East Attica
Municipality	Oropos
• Municipal unit	34.638 km^2 (13.374 sq mi)
Elevation	361 m (1,184 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Municipal unit	3,642
• Municipal unit density	110/km^2 (270/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	190 14
Area code(s)	22920
Vehicle registration	Z

Afidnes (Greek: Αφίδνες, Ancient Greek: Ἄφιδνα or Ἀφίδναι, from the Middle Ages until 1919: Κιούρκα - Kiourka^[2]) is a small town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos, of which it is a municipal unit.^[3] The municipal unit has an area of 34.638 km².^[4] It is situated in the eastern foothills of the Parnitha mountains, 3 km southwest of Polydendri, 5 km southeast of Malakasa and 27 km north of Athens city centre. Afidnes has a station on the railway from Athens to Thessaloniki. The Motorway 1 (Athens - Lamia - Thessaloniki) passes east of the town.

Ancient Aphidna was one of the twelve ancient towns of Attica. In Greek mythology, Aphidna was the place where Theseus left Helen after he had abducted her.^[5] The archaeological site of Aphidnae is small. It was excavated in the 19th century. 13 Middle Helladic tumuli have been found.

Settlements

The municipal unit Afidnes consists of the following settlements:

• Afidnes (2011 census pop. 1,908)
• Agía Triada (959)
• Drosopigi (156)
• Kokkinovrachos (195)
• Kosmothea (131)
• Stathmos Afidnon (293)

Historical population

Beletsi Lake

Year	Village population	Community population
1981	-	1,301
1991	1,079	1,504
2001	1,736	2,543
2011	1,908	3,642

Places of interest

Monastery of Holy Angels in Afidnes

• Beletsi Lake, a small lake on the east slopes of Parnitha, near Afidnes. It is important place for migratory birds.^[6]
• Monastery of Holy Angels, modern monastery near Afidnes

Persons

• Callistratus of Aphidnae, an ancient Archon of Athens.
• Callimachus, the Athenian Polemarch at the Battle of Marathon. ^[7]

See also

• List of municipalities of Attica

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Name changes of settlements in Greece
3. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
4. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
5.  Smith, William, ed. (1854). "Aphidna". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. 1. London: John Murray. p. 157.
6. "Beletsi, the beautiful accidental lake of Mt. Parnitha". protothema.gr. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
7. Herodotus Book 6: Erato, 109 "the polemarch was Callimachos of the deme of Aphidnai"

External links

• http://plato-dialogues.org/tools/loc/aphidnae.htm
• http://www.geocities.com/ts_john_2000/, in Greek (Archived 2009-10-24)