Heraklion - Revision history

Irlandos at 10:05, January 6, 2009

2009-01-06T10:05:08Z

Irlandos: /* Sporting teams */

2008-12-30T09:52:26Z

Sporting teams

Irlandos at 13:07, November 10, 2008

2008-11-10T13:07:39Z

Irlandos: /* History */

2008-11-10T13:04:34Z

History

Irlandos at 18:21, June 3, 2006

2006-06-03T18:21:59Z

Irlandos: /* History */

2005-10-26T20:20:00Z

History

Irlandos at 20:18, October 26, 2005

2005-10-26T20:18:13Z

Irlandos at 20:17, October 26, 2005

2005-10-26T20:17:40Z

Lazarus at 14:56, October 26, 2005

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Lazarus at 14:55, October 26, 2005

2005-10-26T14:55:06Z

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:''For the village in Corinthia, see [[Heraklion, Corinthia]].''

'''Heraklion''' or '''Iraklion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ηράκλειο''), [[Greece]] is the largest city and the [[capital city|capital]] of [[Crete]]. Its name is also spelled ''Herakleion'' (transliteration of ancient/Katharevousa name), or ''Iraklio'', with other variants. For centuries, it was called ''Candia''.

Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklion Prefecture]]. It has an international [[airport]] named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.

==History==

Heraklion is close to the ruins of the palace of [[Knossos]], which in [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] times was the biggest centre of population on [[Crete]]. So it is very likely that there was a port here as long ago as [[2000 BC]]. There is however no archaeological evidence for such a port. Other very important Minoan era ruins are found in or around [http://www.cretetravel.com/Features/Archanes_visit/Archanes.htm Archanes] village (a few km after [[Knossos]]), in Anemospilia, Fourni and Vathipetro.

The present city of Heraklion was founded in [[824]] AD by the [[Saracen|Saracens]] (an [[Arab|Arabic]] [[Muslim]] people). They built a giant ditch around the city for protection. They named the city ''Khandak'', meaning 'moat', after the ditch. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates, much to the annoyance of the nearby [[Byzantine Empire]].

In [[961]], the Byzantines attacked and defeated the city, slaughtered all the Saracens, looted the city and burned it to the ground. They remained in control of the rebuilt Khandak for the next 243 years.

In [[1204]], the city was bought by the [[Venetians]] as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the [[Crusaders]] of the [[Fourth Crusade]] restoring the deposed [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Isaac II Angelus]] to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick, with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became ''Candia'' in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result.

After the Venetians came the [[Turks]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. They [[siege|besieged]] the city for [[Siege of Candia|22 years]] in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in [[1669]]. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (Big Castle). During their occupation, the [[harbour]] silted up, so they moved most of their business to [[Hania]] in the west of the [[island]].

The city became independent with the withdrawal of the Ottomans in [[1898]], then part of the [[1908]] [[Cretan state]], and then it was incorporated into the [[Kingdom of Greece]] in [[1913]]. Upon its independence it was renamed to 'Heraklion', meaning City of [[Heracles]] ([[Hercules]]), after the port of Heracleum which had existed somewhere in the locality in [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times.

The biggest monument of the city is the Venetian medieval fortress ''Rocca al Mare'' (also known as ''Koules'') located on the port.

==Sporting teams==

*[[OFI FC]] - top Soccer team in Crete. Plays on the first division.
*[http://www.ergotelis.gr Ergotelis] - Second best soccer team of Crete. During the period 2004-2005 used to play on the first division but now plays on the second. The team uses the Pancretan Stadium ( [http://www.stadia.gr/pankritio/pankritio.html Pankritio]) which was built for the Athens Summer Olympics 2004 games.
*[[Atsalenios FC|Atsalenios (P.O.A)]] - Soccer team of Heraklion which plays on the third division.

== External links ==

*[http://www.interkriti.org/iraklion/map Heraklion city map and virtual tour] An interactive map with streets, sights, travel info and pictures
*[http://www.heraklion-city.gr/english/main.htm Municipality of Heraklion]
*[http://www.teiher.gr/tei/en/gen_plhrof/hrakleio/index.htm Heraklion] Information about the city of Heraklion by the [http://www.teiher.gr/ Technological Educational Institute of Crete]
*[http://www.cretetravel.com/Features/1_day_in_Heraklion/1_day_in_Heraklion.htm One day in Heraklion - guide]

[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Crete]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]

[[el:Ηράκλειο]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:05, January 6, 2009
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	The biggest monument of the city is the Venetian medieval fortress ''Rocca al Mare'' (also known as ''Koules'') located on the port.		The biggest monument of the city is the Venetian medieval fortress ''Rocca al Mare'' (also known as ''Koules'') located on the port.
		+
		+	==Population==
		+	According to the [[2001]] census, the city of Heraklion boasts a population of 133,012 inhabitants, making it the fourth largest city in Greece.
		+	The population of the entire municipality is 137,711.

	==Sporting teams==		==Sporting teams==

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 '''Heraklion''' or '''Iraklion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ηράκλειο''), [[Greece]] is the largest city of [[Crete]].  Its name is also spelled ''Herakleion'' (transliteration of ancient/Katharevousa name), or ''Iraklio'', with other variants.  For centuries, it was called ''Candia''.
-Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklio prefecture]]. It has an international airport named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.
+Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklio prefecture]]. It has an [[Heraklion International Airport|international airport]] named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.
 ==History==

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 In [[1204]], the city was bought by the Venetians as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the [[Fourth Crusade]] restoring the deposed [[Byzantine Emperors|Byzantine emperor]] [[Isaac II Angelus]] to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick,  with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became ''Candia'' in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result.
-After the Venetians came the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. They besieged the city for [[Siege of Candia|22 years]] in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in [[1669]]. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (Big Castle). During their occupation, the harbour silted up, so they moved most of their business to [[Hania]] in the west of the [[island]].
+After the Venetians came the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. They besieged the city for [[Siege of Candia|22 years]] in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in [[1669]]. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (Big Castle). During their occupation, the harbour silted up, so they moved most of their business to [[Hania]] in the west of the island.
 The city became independent with the withdrawal of the Ottomans in [[1898]], then part of the [[1908]] [[Cretan state]], and then it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece in [[1913]]. Upon its independence it was renamed to 'Heraklion', meaning City of [[Heracles]] ([[Hercules]]), after the port of Heracleum which had existed somewhere in the locality in Roman times.

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 In [[961]], the Byzantines attacked and defeated the city, slaughtered all the Saracens, looted the city and burned it to the ground. They remained in control of the rebuilt Khandak for the next 243 years.
-In [[1204]], the city was bought by the Venetians as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the [[Fourth Crusade]] restoring the deposed [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Isaac II Angelus]] to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick,  with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became ''Candia'' in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result.
+In [[1204]], the city was bought by the Venetians as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the [[Fourth Crusade]] restoring the deposed [[Byzantine Emperors|Byzantine emperor]] [[Isaac II Angelus]] to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick,  with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became ''Candia'' in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result.
 After the Venetians came the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. They besieged the city for [[Siege of Candia|22 years]] in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in [[1669]]. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (Big Castle). During their occupation, the harbour silted up, so they moved most of their business to [[Hania]] in the west of the [[island]].

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 '''Heraklion''' or '''Iraklion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ηράκλειο''), [[Greece]] is the largest city of [[Crete]].  Its name is also spelled ''Herakleion'' (transliteration of ancient/Katharevousa name), or ''Iraklio'', with other variants.  For centuries, it was called ''Candia''.
-Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklion prefecture]]. It has an international airport named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.
+Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklio prefecture]]. It has an international airport named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.
 ==History==

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 *[[OFI FC]] - top Soccer team in Crete. Plays on the first division.
-*[http://www.ergotelis.gr Ergotelis] - Second best soccer team of Crete. During the period 2004-2005 used to play on the first division  but now plays on the second. The team uses the Pancretan Stadium ( [http://www.stadia.gr/pankritio/pankritio.html Pankritio]) which was built for the Athens Summer Olympics 2004 games.
+*[http://www.ergotelis.gr Ergotelis] - Second best soccer team of Crete. The team uses the Pancretan Stadium ( [http://www.stadia.gr/pankritio/pankritio.html Pankritio]) which was built for the Athens Summer Olympics 2004 games.
 *[[Atsalenios FC|Atsalenios (P.O.A)]] - Soccer team of Heraklion which plays on the third division.

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 [[Category:Crete]]
 [[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
+[[Category:Heraklio prefecture]]
 [[el:Ηράκλειο]]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
-'''Heraklion''' or '''Iraklion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ηράκλειο''), [[Greece]] is the largest city and the [[capital city|capital]] of [[Crete]].  Its name is also spelled ''Herakleion'' (transliteration of ancient/Katharevousa name), or ''Iraklio'', with other variants.  For centuries, it was called ''Candia''.
+'''Heraklion''' or '''Iraklion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Ηράκλειο''), [[Greece]] is the largest city of [[Crete]].  Its name is also spelled ''Herakleion'' (transliteration of ancient/Katharevousa name), or ''Iraklio'', with other variants.  For centuries, it was called ''Candia''.
-Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklion Prefecture]]. It has an international [[airport]] named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.
+Heraklion is the capital of [[Heraklion prefecture]]. It has an international airport named after the writer [[Nikos Kazantzakis]]. The ruins of [[Knossos]], which were excavated and restored by [[Arthur Evans]], are nearby.
 ==History==
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 Heraklion is close to the ruins of the palace of [[Knossos]], which in [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] times was the biggest centre of population on [[Crete]]. So it is very likely that there was a port here as long ago as [[2000 BC]]. There is however no archaeological evidence for such a port. Other very important Minoan era ruins are found in or around [http://www.cretetravel.com/Features/Archanes_visit/Archanes.htm Archanes] village (a few km after [[Knossos]]), in Anemospilia, Fourni and Vathipetro.
-The present city of Heraklion was founded in [[824]] AD by the [[Saracen|Saracens]] (an Arabic [[Muslim]] people). They built a giant ditch around the city for protection. They named the city ''Khandak'', meaning 'moat', after the ditch. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates, much to the annoyance of the nearby [[Byzantine Empire]].
+The present city of Heraklion was founded in [[824]] AD by the Saracens (an Arabic Muslim people). They built a giant ditch around the city for protection. They named the city ''Khandak'', meaning 'moat', after the ditch. The Saracens allowed the port to be used as a safe haven for pirates, much to the annoyance of the nearby [[Byzantine Empire]].
 In [[961]], the Byzantines attacked and defeated the city, slaughtered all the Saracens, looted the city and burned it to the ground. They remained in control of the rebuilt Khandak for the next 243 years.
-In [[1204]], the city was bought by the [[Venetians]] as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the [[Crusaders]] of the [[Fourth Crusade]] restoring the deposed [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Isaac II Angelus]] to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick,  with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became ''Candia'' in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result.
+In [[1204]], the city was bought by the Venetians as part of a complicated political deal which involved among other things, the Crusaders of the [[Fourth Crusade]] restoring the deposed [[Byzantine emperor]] [[Isaac II Angelus]] to his throne. The Venetians improved on the ditch by building enormous fortifications, most of which are still in place, including a giant wall, in places up to 40m thick,  with 7 bastions, and a fortress in the harbour. The name Khandak became ''Candia'' in Italian. The city retained the name of Candia for centuries, and the whole island of Crete was often called Candia as a result.
-After the Venetians came the [[Turks]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. They besieged the city for [[Siege of Candia|22 years]] in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in [[1669]]. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (Big Castle). During their occupation, the [[harbour]] silted up, so they moved most of their business to [[Hania]] in the west of the [[island]].
+After the Venetians came the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. They besieged the city for [[Siege of Candia|22 years]] in a bloody war in which 30,000 Cretans and 120,000 Turks died. The Venetians eventually handed it over in [[1669]]. The city was renamed during the Turkish occupation to Megalo Kastro (Big Castle). During their occupation, the harbour silted up, so they moved most of their business to [[Hania]] in the west of the [[island]].
-The city became independent with the withdrawal of the Ottomans in [[1898]], then part of the [[1908]] [[Cretan state]], and then it was incorporated into the [[Kingdom of Greece]] in [[1913]]. Upon its independence it was renamed to 'Heraklion', meaning City of [[Heracles]] ([[Hercules]]), after the port of Heracleum which had existed somewhere in the locality in [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times.
+The city became independent with the withdrawal of the Ottomans in [[1898]], then part of the [[1908]] [[Cretan state]], and then it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece in [[1913]]. Upon its independence it was renamed to 'Heraklion', meaning City of [[Heracles]] ([[Hercules]]), after the port of Heracleum which had existed somewhere in the locality in Roman times.
 The biggest monument of the city is the Venetian medieval fortress ''Rocca al Mare'' (also known as ''Koules'') located on the port.