Kallithiro, Karditsa

Kallithiro (Καλλίθηρον) Karditsa

Kallithiro (until 1957 Sekliza [1]) is a village in the municipality of Karditsa, in the regional unit (former prefecture) of Karditsa, Thessaly. According to the 2011 census it has 928 inhabitants. It is 10 km from Karditsa.

History
Ancient times

At the "Ragazi" and "Vrisi" sites, rescue excavations brought to light prefabricated architectural structures and ceramic objects, dating to the Middle Bronze Age. [2] An ancient settlement has been excavated at the site of the village, which has not been identified by inscription. [3] Traces of ancient fortifications were discovered by the 19th century traveler William Martin Leek. Heinrich Kippert identified them as the ancient city of Kallithera, a theory agreed upon by Friedrich Stalin. However, the archaeological data from the archeological excavations have disputed this identification. Kallithera was founded in the last quarter of the 4th c. BC and belonged to ancient Thessaly. [4]

The citadel of the city was located on the hill of Agios Athanasios and the city was located in the plain north-northwest. The city was surrounded by a fortified enclosure which has been partially excavated. Two-lane sections have also been uncovered and most likely the city was built with a rectangular urban plan. I have from the city walls were the cemeteries, in which vessels, jewelry, weapons, coins of the 4th-1st century BC have been found. and other. According to archeological findings, the city was destroyed by fire in 230-220 BC, probably after a hostile invasion. The settlement continued to be inhabited until the 1st c. BC X. A tomb located near the village of Rahoula is probably related to the settlement in Kallithero. [5]

In the place "Xinovrisi", southeast of the village, a Roman tomb of the 3rd c. AD. It has a square floor plan and was vaulted. Its roof appears to have collapsed before it was used. [5]

Byzantine era

The ancient citadel continued to be used in the Byzantine era, until the 10th century AD. In the time of Justinian, a small castle was built on the top of the hill from the materials of the previous fortification. The castle controlled the passage from the plain of Thessaly to Pindos. [6] [7] The village in Byzantine times was called Sekliza.
Contemporary history

On February 9-11, 1878, a battle was fought in Sekliza as part of the Thessalian Revolution of 1878. Greek divisions attempted to occupy the hill of Ai Thanasis, where 150-200 well-equipped Albanians had been fortified. The attack of the Greeks began on February 9, but the surprise failed, but they continued to besiege the hill. On February 10, the Greek revolutionaries repulsed a Turkish cavalry regiment that arrived to reinforce the besieged. They tried to occupy the hill with an attack but failed. Later that day, Turkish reinforcements, consisting of 1,000 infantry and 150 cavalry, fled. The besieged eventually left the hill in the middle of the night. On February 11, a powerful Turkish force of 2,500 infantry, many cavalry and two machine guns arrived. After fierce fighting, the Turks were forced to retreat at the end of the day, counting about 250 dead. [8]

Population

The following is the course of the population according to the censuses:
Census 1881 1889 1896 1907 1920 1928 1940 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 1991 2001 2011
Population 443 [9] 485 [10] 427 [11] 518 [12] 577 [13] 755 [14] 967 [14] 886 [14] 1,053 [14] 1,074 [14] 1,007 [14] 1,152 [14] 1,114 928

Administrative changes

After the annexation of Kallitheros (then Sekliza) to Greece together with the rest of Thessaly in 1881, it was defined in 1883 and became part of the municipality of Itamos, in the prefecture of Trikala. With the Government Gazette 136A (08/07/1899) the settlement belongs to the prefecture of Karditsa, until 1909, when with the Government Gazette 282A - 04/12/1909, it belongs again to the prefecture of Trikala. The municipality of Itamos was abolished in 1912 and Sekliza was designated the seat of a homonymous community in the province of Karditsa. In 1944, with the Government Gazette 82A, it belongs to the prefecture of Karditsa. The village was renamed from Sekliza to Kallithiro in 1957. With the Kapodistrias program, the community of Kallithiro was abolished in 1997 and Kallithiro was designated the seat of the municipality of Itamos. With the Kallikratis program, the municipality of Itamos was abolished and joined the municipality of Karditsa. [15]

Sights

Inside the settlement are visible and visitable parts of the fortifications of the ancient settlement. [5]

Castle

At the top of the hill of Agios Athanasios are the remains of a Byzantine castle which was built in the 6th century AD. using materials from the ancient citadel and continued to be used until the 10th century. It has a perimeter of 437 m., A width of 1.90 m and an area of ​​11.1 acres. The castle had towers at the four corners, as well as an intermediate tower on the north, east and west sides. On the east and west sides, where the slope of the ground is large, there are rainwater pipes. Today, only the lower parts of the wall are in good condition. There is a walk that runs along the entire length of the walls. [6] [7]

Arched bridge

At the site "Xiropotamos", about 1 km south of the village, there is a stone arched bridge, which bridges a tributary of Kalentzi. It is two-arched, with arches of different sizes. The right bow has an opening of 8 meters. The total length of the deck of the bridge is 38.5 meters. It was built in the early 20th century and is in very good condition. It has been designated a historic monument with the ministerial decision of the Ministry of Culture / DILAP / C / 2869/2128 / 28-11-95. [16]
Cultural events

In Kallithiro, the "Agricultural" are organized every year at the end of July. This is a three-day music and dance event organized in parallel with an exhibition of organic agricultural products. Also, on February 9-13, the anniversary celebration of the Battle of Sekliza takes place every year. [17]

References

"Sekliza - Kallithiron". Receiver. National Documentation Center. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa. "Kallithera - Description". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa. "Kallithirou Castle - Historical". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa. "Kallithera - History". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa. "Kallithira - description". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa. "Kallithirou Castle - Space Description". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa. "Kallithirou Castle - Monument Description". Ministry of Culture. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
"The Battle of Sekliza (9-11 February 1878)". karditsa.org. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
Greek census of Thessaly-Arta 1881, p. 38
Greek census 1889, p. 159
Greek census 1896, p. 166
Greek census 1907, p. 425
Greek census 1920, p. 27 'Table IV
Michael Stamatelatos - Fotini Vamba-Stamatelatou, Abbreviated Geographical Dictionary of Greece, Hermes, Athens 2001, p. 291.
"Kallithiron (Karditsis)". Residential Changes - Detailed. ΕΕΤΑΑ. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
"Bridge in Kallithero". petrinagefiria.com. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
"Local Community of Kallithiro". Municipality of Karditsa. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.

Municipal unit Itamos
Community Amarantos
Amarantos (Αμάραντος, ο)
Κούτσουρον, το
Community Ampeliko
Ampeliko (Αμπελικόν, το)
Community Kallithiro
Kallithiro (Καλλίθηρον, το)
Community Karoplesi
Agia Agathi (Αγία Αγάθη, η)
Anthiro (Ανθηρόν, το)
Giannousaiika (Γιαννουσαίικα, τα)
Karoplesi (Καροπλέσιον, το
Koukkaika (Κουκκαίικα, τα)
Community Kastanea
Kastania (Καστανέα, η)
Koutsopapoulos (Κουτσοπάπουλος, ο)
Moucha (Μούχα, η)
Community Katafygio
Katafygio (Καταφύγιον, το)
Community Neraida
Megas Lakkos (Μέγας Λάκκος, ο)
Neraida (Νεράιδα, η)
Sarantaporo (Σαραντάπορον, το)
Community Rachoula
Zogri (Ζωγρί, το)
Itamos (Ίταμος, ο)
Palaiozoglopi (Παλαιοζογλόπι, το)
Rachoula (Ραχούλα, η)

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