Apeiranthos
Encyclopedia
Apeiranthos or Aperathos (in Greek
: Απείρανθος or Απέραθος; local dialect: Απεράθου, Aperathou) is a mountainous village in the island of Naxos (Greece
). It is located 28 km (17 mi) north-east of the capital of the island, built on the foothill of mountain Fanari, on an altitude between 550 and 650 m. It is a village with a very rich history and folkloric tradition. The similarities of the local dialect and traditions to the mountainous Crete
villages has led some historians to the conclusion that Apeiranthos was built by Cretans during the 10th century. The first historical evidence regarding the existence of the village goes back to 1420, on a reference by the Italian traveler Cristoforo Buondelmonti
on his book Liber insularum archipelagi (The Book of the Islands of the Archipelago).
Nowadays, the village has four museums: the Archaeological Museum of Apeiranthos, the Museum of Folk Art, the Geological Museum, and the
Museum of Natural History. With a population of 1,078 (2001 census), the village is one of the biggest in the island; it is considered by many visitors the most beautiful and picturesque village of the island.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Απείρανθος or Απέραθος; local dialect: Απεράθου, Aperathou) is a mountainous village in the island of Naxos (Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
). It is located 28 km (17 mi) north-east of the capital of the island, built on the foothill of mountain Fanari, on an altitude between 550 and 650 m. It is a village with a very rich history and folkloric tradition. The similarities of the local dialect and traditions to the mountainous Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
villages has led some historians to the conclusion that Apeiranthos was built by Cretans during the 10th century. The first historical evidence regarding the existence of the village goes back to 1420, on a reference by the Italian traveler Cristoforo Buondelmonti
Cristoforo Buondelmonti
Cristoforo Buondelmonti was an Italian monk and traveler, and a pioneer in promoting first-hand knowledge of Greece and its antiquities throughout the Western world....
on his book Liber insularum archipelagi (The Book of the Islands of the Archipelago).
Nowadays, the village has four museums: the Archaeological Museum of Apeiranthos, the Museum of Folk Art, the Geological Museum, and the
Museum of Natural History. With a population of 1,078 (2001 census), the village is one of the biggest in the island; it is considered by many visitors the most beautiful and picturesque village of the island.
Notable people
- Manolis GlezosManolis GlezosManolis Glezos is a Greek left wing politician and writer, worldwide known especially for his participation in the World War II resistance.- 1939 - 1945 :...
(1922), politician and writer - Petros ProtopapadakisPetros Protopapadakis-Life and work:Born in 1854 in Apeiranthos, Naxos, Protopapadakis studied mathematics and engineering in Paris but was keenly interested in politics. He was a professor at the Scholi Evelpidon, the military academy of Greece....
(1854–1922), former Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of GreeceThe Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...