Avgonyma, Chios

Avgonyma is a small village in the Regional Unit of Chios in the North Aegean Region, on the island of Chios, in its western part, with a population of 14 inhabitants (2011 census) [1]. They are built at an altitude of 475 meters above sea level (average of the local community 460 meters), at a road distance of 16 or 17 kilometers west of the city of Chios.

Geography-demography

The geographical coordinates of Avgonymon are 38 ° 23 πλά north and 26 ° 01 μή east longitude. Nearest settlements are Anavatos in the north (2.8 km in a straight line) and Lithi in the south. From the sea Avgonyma is 2.3 km in a straight line, but 8 by road (great downhill) and the deepest bay Elinda, which traditionally belonged to the village, a little more. East of the village are the monastery of the Holy Fathers and the most important monastery of Chios, the New Monastery (3.1 km in a straight line, but over 8.5 by road). Avgonyma is a mountain village, with small agricultural production and beekeeping. It is surrounded by dense pine forest despite the fires of 2012. To the visitor the west side of the village, as well as Elinda offer a magnificent sunset. There are all kinds of accommodation for tourists and good food in both taverns and cafes.

Administratively, Avgonyma belongs to the Municipality of Chios, of the North Aegean Region. Formerly, quite similarly, it was the seat of a homonymous community. The postal code of the village is 82100. In 2020 the permanent residents were less than ten

The evolution of the population of Avgonymi in the official censuses is shown in the table below but it is not real since on the day of the census the Avgonymousi spend the night and are recorded in the village.
Population of the Racing Census Year Residents
1951 178
1961 144
1971 64
1981 21
1991 110
2001 83
2011 14

Toponymic-historical

The etymology of the name is uncertain, but two are the most likely interpretations. The first of the eunuchs (cf. the ancient municipality of Evonymon or "the Evonymia" of Attica). The second, of Amantos, which is based on the type Avgonymata (location between Avgonymos and Anavatou), to give the etymology of the well-known, well-kept estates, ie the estates that are easily sold, and consequently the cheap estates. Zolotas prefers a third etymology, from the euonymus plant and its plural according to the Chian idiom: "eulogies". Whatever is true above, it is certain that the name does not come from the egg, and therefore it is written with "a" even if the egg must be written with "b". The inhabitants of Avgonymi are called Avgonymousoi in the local linguistic idiom, while according to Zolotas the inhabitants of the village of Pitios called them Merousous, from di-merizo = I tear wood with a saw, something for which the inhabitants of Anavatos were mainly known.

The village, like the neighboring Anavatos, is a very old, pre-medieval castle village, while according to local legend it was created by the workers who built the majestic Nea Moni in the 11th century AD. and then remained in Chios. The houses are built of stone and with small windows, to protect themselves from pirate raids during the Middle Ages. According to tradition, the village was once destroyed by pirates, as was Anavatos. The neighborhoods of the village are basically Kato and Epano Avgonyma, and separately Pyrgos, Paliopyrgos, Exoporta, Chorostasi, Poulias and Vlavaika. Locations in the area of ​​the village are Kefales, Davlomytos, Faraggi, Lagougia, Kampi, Achusheses, Chori, Prinari, Xerokambi, Plaka, Halasontas, Stenochoni, Ro (d) the Selles, the Kastamonite, the Volakoi, the Kritharistra, the Limata, the Panokklisia and the Libdos.

Avgonyma belongs ecclesiastically to the hierarchical committee of Vrontadou of the Holy Metropolis of Chios, Psara and Oinousses. The parish church (the "village church") of Avgonymon is honored in the name of Agios Georgios. Old Christian churches-chapels in the area of ​​Avgonymi are Panagia and Agios Isidoros in the location Avgonymous).


References

Census of Population - Houses 2011. PERMANENT Population. Greek statistical authority.

Sources

Hellas: road-tourist maps, published by N. & I. Fotis, 33rd edition, Athens 2005/6
The corresponding entry in the Modern Greek Encyclopedia "Haris Patsis", volume 7, p. 334
Georgiou I. Zolotas: History of Chios, volume A ("Historical Topography and Genealogy"). Types of P.D. Sakellariou, Athens 1921, pp. 577-578.

External links

Avgonyma at explorechios.gr with photos
Short description with image
Tour in Avgonyma

See also: Chios (island)