Amnatos is a local community of the Rethymno Municipality in the Rethymno (regional unit) of the region of Crete established by Kallikratis reform. Previously, it was part of the municipal district of Municipality of Arkadi. Amnatos is a traditional settlement and is classified in Class II, that is of "average cultural value" (Government Gazette 728/21-9-1995).[2] Buildings with Venetian architectural elements are scattered throughout the village. In 2005 Amnatos received an award of the "cleaner and organized traditional community".[3]

Amnatos
Αμνάτος
Amnatos is located in Greece
Amnatos
Amnatos
Coordinates: 35°20′N 24°37′E / 35.333°N 24.617°E / 35.333; 24.617
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCrete
Regional unitRethymno
MunicipalityRethymno
Municipal unitArkadi
Area
 • Community23.537 km2 (9.088 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community191
 • Density8.1/km2 (21/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
74100
Area code(s)28310
Vehicle registrationΡΕ
House in Amnatos, with the portal of Sanguinazzo mansion

Geography

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It is located on the northeastern edges of the Gargano mountain, 17 km (10.6 miles) southeast of Rethymno, on the way to Arkadi, at an altitude of 320 m.[4] It has a view of the North Sea and the Cretan mountain Psiloreitis.

Origin of name and history

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The location of the village appears to have been inhabited since ancient times and it is believed that the name Amnatos has Minoan origin.[5] Ancient Greeks used to call amnion all those vessels used at their time to collect the blood of sacrificed animals.

The area was occupied by the Venetians and the Ottomans.[6]

Nowadays, the local community of Amnatos consists of four settlements: Amnatos, Kapsaliana (Καψαλιανά), Pikris (Πίκρης) and the Arkadi Monastery.

Population of Amnatos[7]
Settlement 1940 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
Amnatos 372 328 276 213 193 196 147 156 134
Kapsaliana 58 31 27 16 12 4 2 1 7
Arkadi Monastery 40 60 32 23 18 13 9 6 3
Pikris 183 205 151 111 121 77 64 55 47
Total 653 624 486 363 344 290 222 218 191

Attractions: monuments, temples, and important buildings

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Among the many Venetian buildings in the village of Amnatos, there is a house with a particularly impressive doorframe. The crown of the gable has the inscription: "INITIUM SAPIENTE TIMOR DOMINI" (in English: "The Beginning of Wisdom is Fear of the Lord").[8]

There is also a folk museum and a Municipal Museum of the History of Greek Education.[3]

Amnatos is the home village of Harikleia Daskalaki, a heroine of the Arkadi holocaust. A statue of her is found in the square of the village.[9]

Transportation

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There is bus service (KTEL) from and to Rethymnon in this area (route for Arkadi Monastery, which has three services on weekdays and two on weekends).[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ Antonogiannakis Michael, The Vrisinas, The Mount Rethemnous, topographic, geographic, historical, social and folkloric perspective, Athens 2010 (in Greek), p 382
  3. ^ a b "The rewarded settlements in Rethymno, Amnatos 2005". Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  4. ^ Left. Kryovrysanakis, Rethymniotikos Digest, Typospoudi versions, Rethymnon 1993, pp. 89
  5. ^ Papyrus Larousse Britannica, Athens, 1996, Volume 7
  6. ^ "Ottoman Settlements". Institute for Mediterranean Studies, Digital Crete. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  7. ^ Hellenic Statistical Authority, Digital Library (ELSAT), Census (Greek and English) Archived 2013-05-18 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Private Buildings, The doorframe in the village of Amnatos". Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  9. ^ "ΡΕΘΥΜΝΟ ΔΙΑΚΟΠΕΣ ΞΕΝΟΔΟΧΕΙΑ ΕΝΟΙΚΙΑΖΟΜΕΝΑ ΔΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΒΙΛΕΣ ΚΡΗΤΗ. ΡΕΘΥΜΝΟ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΣ ΦΥΣΗ ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΗ | Ελληνικά | Καλωσορίσατε στον δικτυακό τόπο του Ρεθύμνου - Τουριστική Προβολή" [Itinerary: Rethymno - Platanias - Adele - Amnatos - Arkadi - Eleftherna - Ancient Eleftherna - Margarites - Hani Alexandrou - Rethymno]. Tourism Promotion Committee of Rethymno Prefecture. Archived from the original on 2013-12-26. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  10. ^ ΚΤΕΛ Χανίων - Ρεθύμνου - Αρχική Archived 2013-03-21 at the Wayback Machine (Bus timetables, Chromonastiri (in German)]), retrieved 2016-07-09
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