Itanos (Greek: Ίτανος) is a municipal unit (demotike enoteta) of the municipality (demos} Siteia in the Lasithi regional unit, eastern Crete, Greece. A former municipality itself, it was included in Siteia as part of the 2011 local government reform.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 197.406 km2 (76.219 sq mi).[3][ii]
Itanos
Ίτανος
Municipal unit
Toplou Monastery, majority owner of the land in Itanos
Etymology: Unknown, prehistoric
Areas of Itanos (red), Siteia (red and pink), and Lasithi (red, pink, and grey)
This article is about the modern municipal unit of East Crete. For the ancient Greek city of Itanos, see Itanus. For the modern Japanese city of Itano, see Itano, Tokushima.
The population was 2,164 in 2011, the time of the reorganization. The seat of the municipality was in Palaikastro, but now all municipal units are administered from the municipal seat, Siteia. Until 2017 Itanos comprised four local communities (topika koinoteta): Palaikastro, Karydi, Zakros, and Mitato (Μητάτο). Subsequently by Presidential Decree No. 70/207, on recommendation of the Minister of the Interior, and approval by Sitia and Palaikastro, Mitato was abolished, due to its seriously declining population (being a few mountain communities) and its settlements were turned over to Palaikastro.[4]
Unlike most Greek demes (municipalities) Itanos did not have a modern city or town to serve as a namesake to the deme. There was a promontory named Itanos, the base of Cape Sidero, and Itanos Beach on its east side. There had been in fact an ancient city named Itanos. A Doric Greek-speaking city, at least in the classical period, the time of its inscriptions, it was founded in the 7th or 8th century BC and lasted until its abandonment in the 7th or 8th century, well before modern times. At its height its territory was approximately equal to Itanos municipal unit. Whether the promontory was named after the city or the city after the promontory is not known for certain.
It is generally agreed, however, that Itanos is not a Greek word, whatever it should turn out to be; consequently it is more likely that the peninsula already had the name. Although no Minoan city has been found under Itanos, the entire area was discovered in the Itanos Archaeological Survey to have supported Minoan sites. The nearest large Minoan center was in Palaikastro, where a Minoan city has been discovered and excavated. There is no evidence of its name. (Palaikastro is a later name.) The major speculation is that it was named Itanos, and the Greeks who settled later adopted the pre-existing name of its territory.
The modern name of the Minoan city is Roussolakkos, "red pit," named after a preceding quarry of red clay, and the ancient Greek city Itanos is now Erimoupolis. The Minoan settlement may have been called Utana (cf. Linear B U-ta-ni-yo [KN E 749]), but there are no Linear B tablets from the area and there is no evidence that this Linear B name extended as far east as Lasithi. J. Bennet ruled out the possibility that any Linear B tablets found at Knossos referred directly to classical Itanos.[5][iii]
A beach north of Itanos Beach was named Erimoupolis as though there had been a polis. The name, however, means "deserted city.[6] Archaeological investigation discovered a rather large ancient city sprawling over the hills next to the beaches. Scientific studies showed that Itanos Beach was a sedimented harbor. There was no longer a question of the location of Itanos.
GeographyEdit
NotesEdit
^A census is taken every 10 years targeting a few given months of that year. However, the data is not ready for a few years after. The data for the 2021 census will be available in 2024. Over that few years of data preparation the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) corrects the initial data from various surveys conducted after, changing the table of the same name. The exact figures thus depend on the date of the release, the one referenced in this article being 2022. ELSTAT believes the differences are totally minor and have little impact on demographic studies.
^Itanos is now a municipal unit, but the area was not changed.
^Bennet argues that the place names on Crete occur in lists covering localities, which he calls "routes," and that these routes occur mainly in central Crete, with some in western Crete, but none at all in eastern Crete, which he hypothesizes was not under the control of the central Cretans at Knossos. If the name is the same as the ones in the routes, and if east Crete developed independently, then the eastern Minoans must have assigned it earlier than the routes, but so far there is no evidence supporting this hypothesis. There is also a question of whether Itanos would be native Minoan or a borrowed word, and if the latter, from where.
^"ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette. p. 17447.
^ELSTAT 2015, p. 426, Table (Pinakos) 3 under Demos Itanou column 4
^"Συγχώνευση Τοπικών Κοινοτήτων Μητάτου και Παλαικάστρου Ιτάνου Σητείας ("Merger of Local Communities of Mitatos and Palekastro Itanos of Sitia")". Καλλικράτης. 27 July 2017.
^This translation is that of Federico Halbherr, early excavator of Itanus: Halbherr, Federico (1891). "Researches in Crete: I-Itanos (concluded)". The Antiquary. 24 (12): 241.
Reference bibliographyEdit
Bennet, John (2011). "13. The Geography of the Mycenaean Kingdoms" (PDF). A companion to Linear B: Mycenaean Greek Texts and Their World. Vol. 2. Louvain-la-neuve; Walpole, MA: Peeters.
ELSTAT (2015). (PDF) (in Greek). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
ELSTAT (2022). "2011 Population-Housing Census: De Jure (registered) population".
External linksEdit
Media related to Itanos municipal unit at Wikimedia Commons
This Crete location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
itanos, greek, Ίτανος, municipal, unit, demotike, enoteta, municipality, demos, siteia, lasithi, regional, unit, eastern, crete, greece, former, municipality, itself, included, siteia, part, 2011, local, government, reform, municipal, unit, area, Ίτανοςmunicip. Itanos Greek Itanos is a municipal unit demotike enoteta of the municipality demos Siteia in the Lasithi regional unit eastern Crete Greece A former municipality itself it was included in Siteia as part of the 2011 local government reform 2 The municipal unit has an area of 197 406 km2 76 219 sq mi 3 ii Itanos ItanosMunicipal unitToplou Monastery majority owner of the land in ItanosEtymology Unknown prehistoricAreas of Itanos red Siteia red and pink and Lasithi red pink and grey Coordinates General location of the area 35 12 N 26 15 E 35 200 N 26 250 E 35 200 26 250CountryHellenic RepublicRegionCreteRegional unitLasithiMunicipalitySiteiaDHMOTIKH ENOTHTA ITANOY Municipal Unit of Itanos 2011Area Total197 4 km2 76 2 sq mi Population 2011 i Total2 164 1 This article is about the modern municipal unit of East Crete For the ancient Greek city of Itanos see Itanus For the modern Japanese city of Itano see Itano Tokushima The population was 2 164 in 2011 the time of the reorganization The seat of the municipality was in Palaikastro but now all municipal units are administered from the municipal seat Siteia Until 2017 Itanos comprised four local communities topika koinoteta Palaikastro Karydi Zakros and Mitato Mhtato Subsequently by Presidential Decree No 70 207 on recommendation of the Minister of the Interior and approval by Sitia and Palaikastro Mitato was abolished due to its seriously declining population being a few mountain communities and its settlements were turned over to Palaikastro 4 Contents 1 Etymological speculations 2 Geography 3 Notes 4 Citations 5 Reference bibliography 6 External linksEtymological speculations EditUnlike most Greek demes municipalities Itanos did not have a modern city or town to serve as a namesake to the deme There was a promontory named Itanos the base of Cape Sidero and Itanos Beach on its east side There had been in fact an ancient city named Itanos A Doric Greek speaking city at least in the classical period the time of its inscriptions it was founded in the 7th or 8th century BC and lasted until its abandonment in the 7th or 8th century well before modern times At its height its territory was approximately equal to Itanos municipal unit Whether the promontory was named after the city or the city after the promontory is not known for certain It is generally agreed however that Itanos is not a Greek word whatever it should turn out to be consequently it is more likely that the peninsula already had the name Although no Minoan city has been found under Itanos the entire area was discovered in the Itanos Archaeological Survey to have supported Minoan sites The nearest large Minoan center was in Palaikastro where a Minoan city has been discovered and excavated There is no evidence of its name Palaikastro is a later name The major speculation is that it was named Itanos and the Greeks who settled later adopted the pre existing name of its territory The modern name of the Minoan city is Roussolakkos red pit named after a preceding quarry of red clay and the ancient Greek city Itanos is now Erimoupolis The Minoan settlement may have been called Utana cf Linear B U ta ni yo KN E 749 but there are no Linear B tablets from the area and there is no evidence that this Linear B name extended as far east as Lasithi J Bennet ruled out the possibility that any Linear B tablets found at Knossos referred directly to classical Itanos 5 iii A beach north of Itanos Beach was named Erimoupolis as though there had been a polis The name however means deserted city 6 Archaeological investigation discovered a rather large ancient city sprawling over the hills next to the beaches Scientific studies showed that Itanos Beach was a sedimented harbor There was no longer a question of the location of Itanos Geography EditNotes Edit A census is taken every 10 years targeting a few given months of that year However the data is not ready for a few years after The data for the 2021 census will be available in 2024 Over that few years of data preparation the Hellenic Statistical Authority ELSTAT corrects the initial data from various surveys conducted after changing the table of the same name The exact figures thus depend on the date of the release the one referenced in this article being 2022 ELSTAT believes the differences are totally minor and have little impact on demographic studies Itanos is now a municipal unit but the area was not changed Bennet argues that the place names on Crete occur in lists covering localities which he calls routes and that these routes occur mainly in central Crete with some in western Crete but none at all in eastern Crete which he hypothesizes was not under the control of the central Cretans at Knossos If the name is the same as the ones in the routes and if east Crete developed independently then the eastern Minoans must have assigned it earlier than the routes but so far there is no evidence supporting this hypothesis There is also a question of whether Itanos would be native Minoan or a borrowed word and if the latter from where Citations Edit ELSTAT 2022 Line 1303 Geographic Code 720402 FEK B 1292 2010 Kallikratis reform municipalities in Greek Government Gazette p 17447 ELSTAT 2015 p 426 Table Pinakos 3 under Demos Itanou column 4 Sygxwneysh Topikwn Koinothtwn Mhtatoy kai Palaikastroy Itanoy Shteias Merger of Local Communities of Mitatos and Palekastro Itanos of Sitia Kallikraths 27 July 2017 Bennet 2011 pp 139 140 147 This translation is that of Federico Halbherr early excavator of Itanus Halbherr Federico 1891 Researches in Crete I Itanos concluded The Antiquary 24 12 241 Reference bibliography EditBennet John 2011 13 The Geography of the Mycenaean Kingdoms PDF A companion to Linear B Mycenaean Greek Texts and Their World Vol 2 Louvain la neuve Walpole MA Peeters ELSTAT 2015 Population amp housing census 2001 incl area and average elevation PDF in Greek Archived from the original PDF on 2015 09 21 ELSTAT 2022 2011 Population Housing Census De Jure registered population External links Edit nbsp Media related to Itanos municipal unit at Wikimedia Commons nbsp This Crete location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Itanos amp oldid 1161110636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
