Irakleio ( el, Ηράκλειο) is a suburb in the northeastern part of the

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...

agglomeration,

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 a municipality of the

Attica Attica ( el, Αττική, Ancient Greek ''Attikḗ'' or , or ), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the city of Athens, the capital of Greece and its countryside. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean ...

region.

Geography

Irakleio is located about 8 km northeast of Athens city centre. The municipality has an area of 4.638 km². Its built-up area is continuous with those of the neighbouring suburbs Kalogreza, Nea Ionia,

Metamorfosi Metamorfosi ( el, Μεταμόρφωση, Metamórfosi, transfiguration; before 1957: Koukouvaounes ( el, link=no, Κουκουβάουνες, Koukouváounes) is a suburb in the northern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece, and a municipali ...

, Lykovrysi, Pefki and

Marousi Marousi or Maroussi ( el, Μαρούσι, also Αμαρούσιο ''Amarousio'') is a suburb in the northeastern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece. Marousi dates back to the era of the ancient Athenian Republic; its ancient name was Athmon ...

. Irakleio is subdivided into several quarters, including Palaio Irakleio, Neo Irakleio, Ano Irakleio and Prasinos Lofos. The main thoroughfare is Irakleiou Avenue, which connects it with central Athens. The northern beltway of Athens, Motorway 6, passes through Irakleio. Irakleio is served by a metro station ( Irakleio metro station) and by a commuter railway station ( Irakleio railway station).

History

Irakleio was named after a sanctuary of

Heracles Heracles ( ; grc-gre, Ἡρακλῆς, , glory/fame of Hera), born Alcaeus (, ''Alkaios'') or Alcides (, ''Alkeidēs''), was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.By his adoptiv ...

that was located in the area in classical antiquity. Before the Greek War of Independence the village was known as Arakli. Irakleio was refounded as a military colony for the

Bavarian Auxiliary Corps The Royal Bavarian Auxiliary Corps ( el, Βασιλικὸν Βαυαρικὸν Ἐπικουρικὸν Σῶμα, german: Königlich Bayerisches Hilfskorps) was a military force formed in 1832 to accompany the Bavarian prince Otto to the newly ...

by King Otto. Due to the divide between the Catholic Bavarians and the Orthodox Greeks, the local Catholic pastor had to function as match-maker, bringing in a boatload of Catholic girls from Syros to secure the colony's continued existence. The colony nevertheless quickly assimilated into Greek society, so that by the 1860s, German was almost no longer known. During World War II, Heinrich Himmler, who learned of the German origin of many Irakleiotes, came in person to the area and took measures to ensure their comfort amidst the Great Famine. About a hundred Irakleiotes were even persuaded to move to Germany as ''

Volksdeutsche In Nazi German terminology, ''Volksdeutsche'' () were "people whose language and culture had German origins but who did not hold German citizenship". The term is the nominalised plural of ''volksdeutsch'', with ''Volksdeutsche'' denoting a sing ...

'' and join the German war effort, but once in Bavaria they found a hostile welcome; and when they returned home in 1945, they found their properties confiscated by the Greek government. Irakleio was part of the municipality of

until 1925, when it became a separate community, elevated to municipality in 1948. The earthquake of September 7, 1999, affected the area but caused minor damages. Princess Alice of Battenberg (1885-1969), founded the Orthodox religious order of Martha and Mary here after World War II.

Historical population

References

External links

* {{Kallikratis-Attica Municipalities of Attica Populated places in North Athens (regional unit)

Geography

History

Historical population

See also

References

External links