Kamatero: Difference between revisions
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Although there are no known archaeological finds in Kamatero, the area around it is known to have been inhabited since the [[Bronze Age]], as a [[Mycenaean]] tomb has been found in the neighbouring municipality of [[Acharnes|Acharnai]]. In classical times, the area of modern Kamatero was under the authority of the [[polis]] of Athens. Kamatero is one of two alternative locations suggested for the location of the ancient Athenian [[deme]] of [[Cholargos]] (the other being [[Peristeri]] to the south). If ancient Cholargos was indeed in Kamatero, this would make the ancient statesman, orator and general [[Pericles]] one of the earliest and greatest natives of the area. |
Although there are no known archaeological finds in Kamatero, the area around it is known to have been inhabited since the [[Bronze Age]], as a [[Mycenaean]] tomb has been found in the neighbouring municipality of [[Acharnes|Acharnai]]. In classical times, the area of modern Kamatero was under the authority of the [[polis]] of Athens. Kamatero is one of two alternative locations suggested for the location of the ancient Athenian [[deme]] of [[Cholargos]] (the other being [[Peristeri]] to the south). If ancient Cholargos was indeed in Kamatero, this would make the ancient statesman, orator and general [[Pericles]] one of the earliest and greatest natives of the area. |
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There are no medieval references to Kamatero as separate from the rest of the Athens area, and it can be assumed that the area followed the fate of the rest of Athens. |
There are no medieval references to Kamatero as separate from the rest of the Athens area, and it can be assumed that the area followed the fate of the rest of Athens. There is no known evidence connecting the prominent Byzantine [[Kamateros]] family to the settlement, despite the presence of a Kamateros family in the area today. The Kamateros family is one of the oldest and most prominent in modern Kamatero, but there are no known links between them and their Byzantine namesakes. Furthermore, ''kamateros'' is an old Greek adjective meaning "hard-working", and it was also commonly used to refer to oxen. Thus, the name Kamatero could simply be a reference to the agricultural economy which was then prevalent in the settlement. Alternatively, the family name Kamateros could be derived from the common word ''kamateros'', and, while being a source of the settlement's name, bear no connection to the medieval aristocratic family. |
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===After 1827=== |
===After 1827=== |
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Revision as of 11:18, 14 July 2007
There is also a Kamatero in the island of Salamis, see Kamatero Salaminos and in the community of Anoixi.
Kamatero
Καματερό | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Attica |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nikitas Kamarinopoulos (PASOK; since 2006) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.95 km2 (2.30 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 160 m (520 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 22,234 |
| • Density | 3,700/km2 (9,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 13451 |
| Area code(s) | 210 |
| Vehicle registration | Zxx |
Kamatero, (Greek, official: Καματερόν (Katharevousa); common: Καματερó (Demotic), (officially Kamateron), is a suburb northwest of Athens, Greece. It is located about 10 kilometres northwest of Athens and north of Piraeus.
History
Before 1827
Although there are no known archaeological finds in Kamatero, the area around it is known to have been inhabited since the Bronze Age, as a Mycenaean tomb has been found in the neighbouring municipality of Acharnai. In classical times, the area of modern Kamatero was under the authority of the polis of Athens. Kamatero is one of two alternative locations suggested for the location of the ancient Athenian deme of Cholargos (the other being Peristeri to the south). If ancient Cholargos was indeed in Kamatero, this would make the ancient statesman, orator and general Pericles one of the earliest and greatest natives of the area.
There are no medieval references to Kamatero as separate from the rest of the Athens area, and it can be assumed that the area followed the fate of the rest of Athens. There is no known evidence connecting the prominent Byzantine Kamateros family to the settlement, despite the presence of a Kamateros family in the area today. The Kamateros family is one of the oldest and most prominent in modern Kamatero, but there are no known links between them and their Byzantine namesakes. Furthermore, kamateros is an old Greek adjective meaning "hard-working", and it was also commonly used to refer to oxen. Thus, the name Kamatero could simply be a reference to the agricultural economy which was then prevalent in the settlement. Alternatively, the family name Kamateros could be derived from the common word kamateros, and, while being a source of the settlement's name, bear no connection to the medieval aristocratic family.
After 1827
The first known reference to the settlement, using the name Kamatero, is from the Memoirs of General Makrygiannis, written in the 19th century. The settlement is mentioned in connection to the Battle of Kamatero, during the Greek War of Independence. The battle ended in a Turkish victory, largely due to a poor choice of terrain by one of the Greek commanders, Vasos Mavrovouniotis. It was also the first and only engagement in the war of Colonel Denis Bourbaki, who was beheaded by the Turks after the engagement. The outcome of the battle had considerable impact on the course of the siege of the Acropolis then ongoing by the Turks.
By the early 20th century the population of the settlement was largely made up of Arvanites, Albanian-speaking populations with a Greek ethnic identity. Arvanitic presence used to be predominant in Ottoman-age Athens, and it is possible that the first modern settlement was founded by them, especially since the neighbouring towns of Ano Liossia and Nea Liossia (Ilion) were named after an Arvaniot landholder.
Up to the mid-20th century, the area was made up of farmlands and some forests dominated its northern part. After that point, urban development replaced much of the farmlands. Today, about two-thirds of the land are residential areas. Empty space today can be found in the western part, on the Poikilo range, which consists of rocks and pines. The last patches of forests can also be found here, as well as in the southeastern part of the municipality, in the Pyrgos Vassilissis (Queen's Tower) park area.
Geography
Government and Politics
Administration
Kamatero is a part of the Athens prefecture, itself a part of the Athens-Peiraeus hyperprefecture. The current hyperprefect is Foteini Gennimata, elected with the support of the socialist PASOK party. Administratively, it is part of the western sector of the Athens prefecture, with the administrative headquarters located in Aigaleo to the south. Furthermore, like the rest of the hyperprefecture, it is also part of the Attica periphery.
Kamatero itself is not further subdivided into smaller administrative sectors. While there are some traditional neighbourhoods in the municipality, they have no administrative function. Besides, the deliniation between the various neighbourhoods has become somewhat blurred, as what were essentially separate settlements up to a few decades ago have now been merged into a single building complex, itself part of the larger Athens metropolitan complex.
Voting trends
Kamatero voters exhibit a long trend of supporting leftist and centre-leftist parties to a greater extent than the national average. After the military dictatorship of 1967-1974, Kamatero has almost exclusively elected left-wing mayors, with the exception of the 1974-1978 period, right after the junta. Kamatero was one of the few Greek municipalities to elect a communist mayor in 1978, who remained in office until 1990 (although he later switched from the Communist Party to the radical leftist Synaspismos). Following 1990, and up to 2007, mayors supported by the socialist PASOK party have consistently been elected: Panagiotis Trakas (1990-1998), Nikolaos Stenos [2002-2005 (resigned)], Nikitas Kamarinopoulos (replacing Mr. Stenos 2005-2006 and in his own right 2006-present). The only brake from PASOK domination came during the 1998-2002 period, when Christoforos Danakos was elected under the auspices of the center-leftist DIKKI party (itself a PASOK splinter).
Leftist parties also generally pole better in Kamatero than their national average. This is especially true of the Communist Party, which in the latest legislative elections (2004) polled 11,14% of the vote in Kamatero, as opposed to its national average of 5,90%. PASOK polled 41,94% in Kamatero, as opposed to its national average of 40,55%, while Synaspismos and DIKKI also polled better than their national average (3,69% and 2,94% respectively, as opposed to their national averages of 3,26% and 1,79% respectively). By contrast, the centre-right New Democracy party, that won the national election, came in a distant second in Kamatero, polling 35,24% as opposed to its national average of 45,26%. However, it is noteworthy that the far-right LAOS party also polled better in Kamatero, gaining 3,68% of the vote as opposed to its national average of 2,19%.
Demographics
The area is mainly made up of urban areas to the west and east (residential areas account for about two-thirds of the municipality). Kamatero is divided in five districts: the Centre, Attalos, Aghios Trifonas, Gerovouno and Kato Tatoi. Except for the centre, all the other districts have strict construction regulations and most houses are up to two floors. The Pyrgos Vassilissis park, one of the largest in Greece, lies to the southeast, on the border with Ilio and Agioi Anargyroi municipalities.
Population
| Year | Municipal population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 15,593 | - | 2,598.83/km² |
| 1991 | 17,410 | 1,817/11.6% | 2,901.6/km² |
Economy
Aside from small family businesses, Kamatero houses four banks, a sports centre, a post office and a few small factories. One of these was destroyed in a major fire on 10 October, 2003. However, there is a considerable growth of small-scale businesses, such as stores and restaurants, mostly focused around the town squares (plateies).
Culture
Education
Kamatero has 8 elementary schools, 3 lower-level secondary schools, and 2 upper-level secondary schools (high schools), as well as a technical school. Most high school graduates enroll in the universities and technical colleges of Athens or other Greek cities.
Sport
Earthquake
Athens was struck by a major earthquake on September 7, 1999. Kamatero was very close to the epicentre, and several houses were heavily damaged. There were no casualties, but the homeless were in the hundreds range.
See also
External links
- Mapquest - Kamatero
- A Directory of Companies Based in Kamatero
- Local News and Information for Kamatero
| Northwest: Ano Liossia | North: Ano Liossia, Zefyri and Acharnai | Northeast: Acharnai |
| West: Ilio and Petroupoli | Kamatero | East: Agioi Anargyroi and Acharnai |
| Southwest:Ilio and Petroupoli | South: Ilio | Southeast: Agioi Anargyroi |