Fanari, Karditsa

Fanari (Greek: Φανάρι) or Fanarion (Φανάριον) is a village in Karditsa, Greece, with a population of 433 (2011 census).[1] Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mouzaki, whereas before that it was the seat of the municipality of Ithomi.[2] Fanari occupies the site of the ancient town of Ithome.

Fanari Φανάρι
Fanari
Coordinates: 39°24.57′N 21°48.06′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Greece
Regional unit	Karditsa
Municipality	Mouzaki
Municipal unit	Ithomi
Community [1]
• Population	580 (2011)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

History

The village is located on the end of a series of hills extending into the Thessalian plain northwest of Karditsa, and commands a broad view of the surrounding area.[3] The current settlement dates to the later Middle Ages, but is located on the ruins of the ancient city of Ithome, which survived until early Byzantine times.[3]

Fanari is mentioned for the first time in 1304, when it was briefly occupied by the forces of the regent of Epirus, Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene. It then came under the control of the autonomous Thessalian magnate Stephen Gabrielopoulos, and on his death in 1333 it passed to the ruler of Epirus, John II Orsini, who fortified it.[3] The castle, a plain structure on a circular plateau some 100 m across, is well preserved to this day. It features five square towers, and a strong gate-tower on its western side, while a cistern and remains of a barracks survive in the interior.[3] The archontes (local elders) of Fanari are mentioned in several documents: in 1342 Michael Gabrielopoulos assured them that no Albanians would be settled in their area, and confirmed their possession of the monasteries of Lykousada and Porta Panagia, while in 1382 the archontes are mentioned in a local Church synod.[3] In 1444, when the Despot of the Morea and future Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, briefly expanded into Central Greece, he installed a governor of his own in Fanari.[3]

Interior of the castle

A local bishopric is attested from 1382–88 on, initially in combination with Kappoua (modern Kappas), but after the Ottoman conquest of Thessaly it became a separate see and was even raised to an archbishopric.[3] Today the see is a titular bishopric within the Church of Greece, held since 2003 by Agathangelos (Vasileios) Haramantidis.

Population

Year	1881	1889	1896	1907	1920	1928	1940	1951	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011
Population	1.704[4]	2.032[5]	1.837[6]	1.962[7]	2.307[8]	2.420[9]	2.219[9]	1.928[9]	1.753[9]	1.310[9]	1.033[9]	871[9]	722	433[1]

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
3. Koder & Hild 1976, p. 237.
4. Thessaly–Arta census 1881, p. 34
5. 1889 Greek census: Στατιστική της Ελλάδος. Πληθυσμός. Απογραφή της 15-16 Απριλίου 1889 (PDF). Athens: Ministry of the Interior, Public Economy and Statistics Section. 1890. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-15. (in Greek and French), p. 156
6. 1896 Greek census: Στατιστικά αποτελέσματα της απογραφής του πληθυσμού κατά την 5-6 Οκτωβρίου 1896 (PDF). Athens: Ministry of the Interior, Public Economy and Statistics Section. 1897. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-16. (in Greek and French), p. 164
7. 1907 Greek census: Στατιστικά αποτελέσματα της γενικής απογραφής του πληθυσμού κατά την 27 Οκτωβρίου 1907 (PDF). Ministry of the Interior, Census Service. 1909. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-08. (in Greek and French), p. 425
8. , p. 28, Table XII]
9. Michail Stamatelatios, Foteini Vamva-Stamatelatou, Επίτομο Γεωγραφικό Λεξικό της Ελλάδος [Concise Geographic Dictionary of Greece], Ermis, Athens 2001, p. 774

Sources

• Koder, Johannes; Hild, Friedrich (1976). Tabula Imperii Byzantini, Band 1: Hellas und Thessalia (in German). Vienna: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ISBN 978-3-7001-0182-6.