Argyroupoli (Greek: Αργυρούπολη) is a village in the municipality of Rethymno, Rethymno regional unit, Crete, Greece, with a population of 313 (2021 census) and an altitude of 260 m. It was previously known as Lappa or Lampa, Stimboli, and Polis.

Argyroupoli
Αργυρούπολη
Argyroupoli is located in Greece
Argyroupoli
Argyroupoli
Coordinates: 35°17′9″N 24°20′6″E / 35.28583°N 24.33500°E / 35.28583; 24.33500
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCrete
Regional unitRethymno
MunicipalityRethymno
Municipal unitLappa
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community313
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Name

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It is the site of the ancient city (polis) of Lappa. In the Middle Ages, it was named Stimpoli(s) by reinterpretation as a single word ("in the city"), later simply Polis.[2] Until 1669, the name Αργυρούπολις 'Silver City' was used. In the seventeenth century, it was also called facetiously Σαμαρόπολις, Γαϊδαρόπολις 'donkey city', or Γαϊδουρόπολις. From 1868-1878, it was called Stambolköy in Turkish (that is, 'Stambol village'). The name Αργυρούπολις or Αργυρόπολις was revived in 1878.[3]

The name of the municipality of Lappa of which it is a part is a revival of the ancient name for the city.

History

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Lappa was probably a colony of Tarrha.

It was taken by storm and almost entirely destroyed by the Romans. The emperor Augustus restored it and in consideration of the aid rendered him in his struggle with Marcus Antonius, he bestowed on the citizens their freedom, and with it the right of coinage.

Population

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Population of the modern town of Argyroupoli:[4]

1928 1940 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
767 836 704 669 501 453 396 402 403 313

Ecclesiastical history

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Lappa or Lampa was an episcopal see, suffragan of Gortyn.

Le Quien (Oriens Christianus, II, 268) mentions the following bishops:

The episcopal see is mentioned in the Notitiae episcopatuum as late as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.[5]

It was re-established by the Orthodox Church about the end of the nineteenth century; the bishop resides in the monastery of Preveli.

It is also a titular see of the Catholic Church under the name Lappa[6][7] and previously under the name Lampa.[5]

Notes

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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. ^ cf. Names of Istanbul#Stamboul
  3. ^ Demetrius John Georgacas, "The Names of Constantinople", Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 78:347-367 (1947) JSTOR 283503, p. 360, footnote 80
  4. ^ Hellenic Statistical Authority, Digital Library (ELSAT), Census (Greek and English) Archived 2013-05-18 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Lampa" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  6. ^ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), "Sedi titolari", p. 913
  7. ^ The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church, s.v. Lappa
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  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainPétridès, Sophron (1910). "Lampa". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company.