Katapola, Amorgos

Katapola (Κατάπολα) Amorgos

Katapola is the main port of Amorgos. Katapola has been characterized as a traditional settlement, with traditional Cycladic architecture. According to the 2011 census, Katapola has 134 inhabitants. Katapola is located at the bottom of a bay, which forms a natural harbor. In ancient times, on the hill south of Katapola was Ancient Minoa, one of the three cities of ancient Amorgos. Katapola has hotels, rooms to let and taverns.

History

The bay where Katapola is located seems according to archeological findings that it played an important role in the inhabitation of the island and its cultural prosperity from the Late Stone Age to the end of the 4th millennium BC. and then, especially in the Early Bronze Age, in the 3rd millennium BC. On the hill south of Katapola there are traces of habitation from the 4th millennium BC, but in the Mycenaean years the inhabitants moved to Xylokeratidi. The first traces of habitation in this area date from the 2nd millennium BC, as tombs carved in the rock have been found in Xylokeratidi, while after excavations the remains of a settlement of the Late Bronze Age have been found. [1]

Katapola in 1919.

At the beginning of historical times, the hill south of Katapola began to be inhabited again, forming the core of ancient Minoa. The name of the city probably comes from the cult of the mythical king Minos. According to tradition, the settlement was made by Ionians in the 11th century BC. The habitation in the city was continuous. In the 8th century BC. A wall was built from the citadel at the top of the hill to the port of Katapola to fortify the city. The city continued to be inhabited continuously during the archaic and classical times, but very few remains of the settlement have been discovered. Buildings that survive from Hellenistic times are the High School and a marble temple with a standing statue, probably of Apollo. [2] [3] The inhabitants gradually moved to the Lower Town and the port during the Hellenistic and Roman times. [4] From the Roman period, the Tholaria, which were tombs, are preserved, while residential remains are found in Katapola and the surrounding fields. More remains are preserved from the Early Christian period, such as members of a basilica that had been built on the site of an ancient Greek temple, such as columns, capitals and statue bases, which were used to build Panagia Katapoliani. From that period until today, small churches are preserved, such as the small church of Evangelismos, in which frescoes from the time of the Iconoclasm survive. However, coastal settlements were abandoned due to the unrest in the 7th-9th century AD. and their inhabitants settled inland. [5]

The modern settlement was created after the integration of Amorgos in Greece in the 19th century and since then it has been constantly developing. [5] Katapola joined the municipality of Amorgos in 1897 and was the seat of the community of Katapola of Amorgos from 1912 to 1997, when they rejoined the municipality of Amorgos. [6]

Geography

Katapola is located approximately in the center of the island, at the bottom of a closed bay, which forms a port protected from the winds. Katapola is located to the south of the bay, while to the north is Xylokeratidi (156 km) and between them is Rachidi (172 km). [7] The port is surrounded by hills and has a fertile plain. The bays Kat 'Akrotiri and Agios Panteleimon-Maltezi are also in the bay. [1] Behind Katapola is a 255-meter-high hill on which the citadel of Ancient Minoa was located. [2] Beaches near Katapola are the homonymous beach and Finikes beach. Katapola is located 5 km southwest of Amorgos Town. [8]

References

Katapola Amorgou - Description Ministry of Culture and Sports
Minoa of Amorgos - Historical Ministry of Culture and Sports
Kiosse, Joy (May 31, 1998). "Minoa, which was not Minoan." The step.
Minoa Amorgou - Description Ministry of Culture and Sports
Katapola Amorgou - Historical Ministry of Culture and Sports
"Katapola N. Cyclades". Administrative changes of Local Government Settlements. ΕΕΤΑΑ. Retrieved January 22, 2014. [dead link]
Katapola Amorgos Archived 2014-01-12 at Wayback Machine. www.amorgos-island.gr
Katapola www.holiday.gr

See also: Amorgos (island)

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