Agrinio (
Greek: Αγρίνιο, ,
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
: ''Agrinium'') is the largest city of the
Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit
The 74 regional units of Greece ( el, περιφερειακές ενότητες, ; sing. , ) are the country's Seventy-four second-level administrative units. They are divisions of the country's 13 regions, and are further divided into munici ...
of
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...
and its largest municipality, with 106,053 inhabitants. It is the economical center of
Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capital is the town of
Mesolonghi. The settlement dates back to ancient times. Ancient Agrinion was northeast of the present city; some walls and foundations of which have been excavated. In medieval times and until 1836, the city was known as Vrachori (Βραχώρι).
The majority of the local population was occupied for an important period of time in the
tobacco
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
industry, from the last decades of 19th till the end of the 20th century. Big tobacco companies were founded in the city, including the famous
Papastratos, alongside Panagopoulos and Papapetrou. Agrinion is also agriculturally known for its production of Agrinion
olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ' ...
s.
History
Antiquity
According to mythology, the ancient city of Agrinio (situated in the area of
Megali Chora) was built by king
Agrios, son of
Portheus[Gerasimos Papatrehas, "The history of Agrinion", Municipality of Agrinion, 1991] and a great grandson of
Aetolos (king of
Plevron and
Calydon
Calydon (; grc, Καλυδών, ) was a Greek city in ancient Aetolia, situated on the west bank of the river Evenus, 7.5 Roman miles (approx. 11 km) from the sea.
Its name is most famous today for the Calydonian boar that had to be o ...
) around 1600-1100 BC.
The town, built near the banks of river
Achelous (the natural border between
Aetolia
Aetolia ( el, Αἰτωλία, Aἰtōlía) is a mountainous region of Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, forming the eastern part of the modern regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania.
Geography
The Achelous River separates Aetoli ...
and
Acarnania
Acarnania ( el, Ἀκαρνανία) is a region of west-central Greece that lies along the Ionian Sea, west of Aetolia, with the Achelous River for a boundary, and north of the gulf of Calydon, which is the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. Today i ...
), was claimed by both states during ancient times. Agrinio became member of the
Aetolian League and it was later destroyed by
Cassander in 314 BC during the League's wars against the
Kingdom of Macedonia
Macedonia (; grc-gre, Μακεδονία), also called Macedon (), was an ancient kingdom on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, and later the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. The kingdom was founded and initially ruled by ...
.
Ottoman era
The city reappears during the
Ottoman period with the name Vrachori and apart from its Greek population it was also inhabited by many Turks (Muslims). In 1585 it was deserted during the revolt of
Theodoros Migas. At the beginning of the 18th century it became the administrative centre of
Aetolia-Acarnania (then as the
sanjak
Sanjaks (liwāʾ) (plural form: alwiyāʾ)
* Armenian: նահանգ (''nahang''; meaning "province")
* Bulgarian: окръг (''okrǔg''; meaning "county", "province", or "region")
* el, Διοίκησις (''dioikēsis'', meaning "province" ...
of
Karleli), depended on the imperial harems. Vrachori participated in the
Greek Revolution and was temporarily liberated, by an army group led by
Alexakis Vlachopoulos, on June 11, 1821. In August 1822, while
Reşid Mehmed Pasha's (Kütahi) troops were marching towards Vrachori, its citizens decided to burn and evacuate their city, following the strategy of
scorched earth
A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, commun ...
. The deserted city was recaptured by the Turks. The city was finally included in the borders of the newborn Greek state permanently in 1832 with the
Treaty of Constantinople (July 9, 1832) and was renamed after its ancient name, Agrinion.
Modern era
In the years following the liberation, Agrinio went through an important growth and development, especially at the end of the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th. After the
Greco-Turkish War and the Asia Minor Catastrophe, many refugees from
Asia Minor
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
(western
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...
) arrived in the city and settled in the district of Agios Konstantinos. At the same period there was an important internal immigration to Agrinio from the whole
Aetolia-Acarnania region, along with immigration from the areas of
Epirus and
Evrytania.
During the
Interwar period
In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second World War. The interwar period was relative ...
, in spite of economical crisis, works of infrastructure took place in the city, like the paving of streets and the installation of electricity, and a water tower was installed in 1930. At the same time excavations revealed the ancient city of Agrinion. Growth and prosperity returned after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
and the
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος �όλεμος}, ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom and ...
. This growth was boosted by the building of two major hydroelectric dam installations at
Kremasta and
Kastraki, on the north of the city. The tobacco industry and olive tree cultivation became the main income sources of the city.
Climate
The climate of Agrinio is Mediterranean (
Csa), with a large amount of rainfall during the short winter, and high temperatures in the summer, sometimes over .
On April 10, 2007 the city was struck by several earthquakes, with their epicenter located in the nearby
Lake Trichonis
Lake Trichonida ( el, Λίμνη Τριχωνίδα ''Limni Trichonida'', Ancient Greek: Τριχωνίς ''Trichonis'') is the largest natural lake in Greece. It is situated in the eastern part of Aetolia-Acarnania, southeast of the city of Agri ...
on the southeast of the city. The first earthquake rumbled at around 2:20 AM, the second around 6:15 AM, three earthquakes shook at 10:13, 10:14 and 10:15 AM, and the last one at around 13:45 PM, they measured between 5.0 and 5.7 on the
Richter scale
The Richter scale —also called the Richter magnitude scale, Richter's magnitude scale, and the Gutenberg–Richter scale—is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by Charles Francis Richter and presented in his landmark 1935 ...
. Residents reported that the buildings and its glasses were shaking and rumbling. Minor damages were reported without any victims.
On June 7, 2007 a low-pressure system, including heavy torrential rains, arrived from Southern and Central
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
stranding several people, and caused flooding in several buildings.
Transportation
The main roads passing through Agrinio are the
Greek National Road 5/
E55 (
Arta – Agrinio –
Missolonghi) and the
Greek National Road 38/
E952 (
Thermo – Agrinio –
Karpenisi
Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis (Καρπενησιώτης), a tributary of the Megdovas, in ...
). Since 2009 the new
Motorway 5 bypasses Agrinio to the west.
Agrinio's airport is located near the city, in the area of Dokimi. IATA code: AGQ, ICAO: LGAG. The airport hosts the Agrinion aeroclu
Agrinion Aeroclub
Municipality
The extended municipality Agrinio was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 10 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
*Agrinio
*
Angelokastro
*
Arakynthos
Arakynthos (Greek: Αράκυνθος) is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio
Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, , Latin: ''Agrinium'') is th ...
*
Makryneia
*
Neapoli
*
Panaitoliko
*
Parakampylia
Parakampylia (Greek: Παρακαμπύλια) is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio
Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, , Latin: ''Agrinium'' ...
*
Paravola
Paravola (Greek: Παραβόλα) is a village and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio
Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, , Latin: ''Agrinium ...
*
Stratos
Stratos may refer to:
People As surname
*Andreas Stratos (1905–1981), Greek politician and historian
*Demetrio Stratos (1945–1979), Italian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and music researcher
* Nikolaos Stratos (1872–1922), Greek politici ...
*
Thestieis
Thestieis (Greek: Θεστιείς) is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area ...
The municipality has an area of 1229.330 km
2, the municipal unit 162.728 km
2.
Subdivisions
The municipal unit (former municipality) of Agrinio consists of the following communities:
*Agios Konstantinos
*Agios Nikolaos Trichonidos
*Agrinio
*Dokimi
*Kalyvia
*Kamaroula
*Skoutesiada
The city of Agrinio consists of the main city and the outlying villages Agios Ioannis Riganas, Akropotamos, Bouzi, Giannouzi, Diamanteika, Eleftheria, Lefka, Liagkaiika, Pyrgi, Schinos and Strongylaiika.
City Seal
The city's official seal includes a characteristic moment of the ancient Greek mythology. More specifically, the seal depicts
Hercules
Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the ...
fighting the river-god
Achelous. According to the myth, Hercules fought against the river-god for the sake of Diianira, the princess of
Calydon
Calydon (; grc, Καλυδών, ) was a Greek city in ancient Aetolia, situated on the west bank of the river Evenus, 7.5 Roman miles (approx. 11 km) from the sea.
Its name is most famous today for the Calydonian boar that had to be o ...
, which both of them wanted as a wife. Despite Achelous' transformations, Hercules managed to win the battle and married the princess. According to
Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called " Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could s ...
, the myth symbolises the struggle of ancient Aetolians to control the river's power with embankments, by which the river was confined to its bed and thus the area gained large tracts of land for cultivation.
Historical population
Landmarks
*The
Archaeological Museum of Agrinion, located in the city center, at 1-2 Diamantis Street
website*The
neoclassical buildings of the tobacco storehouses
Papastratos and Papapetrou, which date from the early 20th century.
*The Papastrateio Municipal Park.
*The Papastratios Municipal Library.
*The
Dimokratias Square, the main square of the city.
*The remains of the Church of the Holy Trinity of Mavrika (8th-9th century), situated at the banks of
lake Lysimachia
Lysimachia ( el, Λυσιμαχία) is a lake in Aetolia-Acarnania, western Greece. Its area is 13.2 km², its depth is around 9 m. It is fed by the small river Ermitsa, and by a canal that connects the lake with the larger Lake Trichonida t ...
.
*Lakes
Trichonida and
Lysimachia.
*The ancient city of
Stratos
Stratos may refer to:
People As surname
*Andreas Stratos (1905–1981), Greek politician and historian
*Demetrio Stratos (1945–1979), Italian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and music researcher
* Nikolaos Stratos (1872–1922), Greek politici ...
.
*The gorge of Kleisoura, on the old national road, south of the city.
*The hydroelectric dams of
Kremasta,
Kastraki and
Stratos
Stratos may refer to:
People As surname
*Andreas Stratos (1905–1981), Greek politician and historian
*Demetrio Stratos (1945–1979), Italian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and music researcher
* Nikolaos Stratos (1872–1922), Greek politici ...
.
Mayors
* Georgios Baibas (1899–1907)
*
Andreas Panagopoulos (1925–1934 and 1951–1952)
* Dimitrios Votsis (1934–1941)
* Anastasios Panagopoulos (1964–1967)
* Stelios Tsitsimelis (1975–1986)
* Giannis Vainas (1986–1994)
* Thimios Sokos (1994–2006)
* Pavlos Moscholios (2006–2014)
* Georgios Papanastasiou (2014–present)
Famous citizens
*
Stratos Apostolakis (1964) – footballer
*
Petros Michos (1959) – footballer
*
Kostas Chatzopoulos (1868–1920) – poet
*
Christos Garoufalis (1959) – writer
*
Katia Gerou – actress
*
Panagiotis Danglis
Panagiotis Danglis ( el, Παναγιώτης Δαγκλής; – 9 March 1924) was a Greek Army general and politician. He is particularly notable for his invention of the Schneider-Danglis mountain gun, his service as chief of staff in the Balk ...
(1853–1924) – general and politician
*
Filipos Darlas
Filippos Darlas ( el, Φίλιππος Δάρλας; born 23 October 1983) is a Greek professional Association football, footballer who plays as a left-back for Apollon Dokimiou.
Club career
Superleague Greece
Born in Agrinio, Kenourgio, Greec ...
(1983) – footballer
*
Maria Dimadi (1907–1944) – resistance fighter
*
Petros Fyssoun (1933) – actor
*
Panos Kaponis (Caponis) (1947) – poet & writer
*
Christos Kapralos (1909–1993) – artist
*
Michalis Kousis
Michalis Koussis (Greek: Μιχάλης Κούσης; 10 October 1953 – 24 May 2005) was a Greek Olympian Marathon and long-distance runner.
Koussis was born in 1953 in Agrinio in Aetolia-Acarnania, western Greece. He was an athlete of the Agri ...
(1953–2005) – Marathon runner
*
Aristidis Moschos
Aristeidis Moschos (Greek: Αριστείδης Μόσχος; 1930 – 8 November 2001) was a Greek player and teacher of the santouri.
Biography
Moschos was born in Agrinio, a city in the Aitoloakarnania district. He was fifth in a family of t ...
(1930–2001) – musician
*
Pythagoras Papastamatiou (1930–1979) – writer
*
Thodoros (1931–2018) – sculptor
*
Evangelos Papastratos (1910–1988) – industrialist and benefactor of Agrinio
*
Loukia Pistiola – actress
*
Yiannis Yfantis (1949) – poet
*
Kostis Maraveyas
Kostis Maraveyas or Kostis Maravegias ( el, Κωστής Μαραβέγιας), also known by his stage name Maraveyas ilegál or just Maraveyas, is a Greek singer-songwriter, composer, performer, director, TV presenter and writer. He plays the ...
(1974) – singer and composer
*Spiros and Eleni Tsiknia – Benefactors of Agrinio
Sporting teams
*
Panetolikos
Panetolikos Football Club ( el, ΠΑΕ Παναιτωλικός), or with its full name Panetolikós Yimnastikós Filekpedeftikós Síllogos ( el, Παναιτωλικός Γυμναστικός Φιλεκπαιδευτικός Σύλλογος'' ...
FC –
Super League Greece
The Super League Greece 1 ( el, Ελληνική Σούπερ Λιγκ 1), or Super League 1, is the highest professional association football league in Greece. The league was formed on 16 July 2006 and replaced ''Alpha Ethniki'' at the top of ...
*Gymnastiki Etairia Agriniou (G.E.A.)
*A.O. Agriniou
*Ionikos 80 Volleyball
*Nautikos Omilos
*Asteras Agriniou
*PAO Agriniou
*Panagriniakos
Gallery
File:Kalydon Aetolias 01.JPG, The ancient theatre of Calydon
Calydon (; grc, Καλυδών, ) was a Greek city in ancient Aetolia, situated on the west bank of the river Evenus, 7.5 Roman miles (approx. 11 km) from the sea.
Its name is most famous today for the Calydonian boar that had to be o ...
near Evinochori
File:Agiatriada.JPG, Agia Triada Mavrika Byzantine church
File:Agrinio-city-view.jpg, Central square, Κεντρική Πλατεία Αγρινίου (Dimokratias square)
File:Agioschristoforosagrinio.jpg, Agios Christoforos church
File:Agr mouseio.jpg, Agrinio Archaeological museum
File:Agrinio railway station.jpg, Old railway station
File:AGRINIO REGION.jpg, Rural area in the municipality of Agrinio
File:Trichonida lake.jpg, Trichonida Lake
File:Ruins of Voukatio castle.jpg, Voukatio castle, Paravola
Paravola (Greek: Παραβόλα) is a village and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio
Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, , Latin: ''Agrinium ...
See also
*
List of settlements in Aetolia-Acarnania
*
List of ancient Greek cities
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...
References
External links
Official siteRichard Stillwell, ed. ''Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'', 1976:"Agrinion Greece"
www.agriniovoice.gr local news
Agrinio City Guide
{{Authority control
Cities in ancient Greece
Aetolia
Populated places in Aetolia-Acarnania