Anagyrous was one of the demes of ancient Athens, near modern-day Vari. It belonged in the tribe Erechtheis. A sanctuary of the mother of the gods was situated here according to Pausanias.
The name of the ancient municipality was maintained until 600 AD as mentioned by geographer and historian Stephanus of Byzantium.
Anagyrous is an important archaeological site, (Leake 1835, Amer Journal of Arch -1909, and others) that still remains unexplored at large, with traces of human habitation dating back to 3rd millennium BCE, that mainly include:
The fortification and acropolis of Lathouriza (7th - 3rd century BC), the remains of 25 small houses, a sacred altar, 10 funerary precincts, a major Mycenaean cemetery, a cemetery and palaestra of the Classical period, and the famous Cave of the Nymphs and Pan that was converted to a sanctuary by Archedimus the Nymfoleptus with statues of Cybele, Hermes, Pan, and others.
Etymology:
According to one version the name derives from the mythical Anagyros, whose temple was in the region. According to legend, Anagyros used to make people’s homes near his sacred grove tremble and collapse, who would then try to appease his anger with offerings and sacrifices, further mentioning that he once exterminated an entire family whose founder had cut trees from his sacred grove -- hence the ancient proverb "Anagyrasios Daimon", (said of cruel, hard and inexorable persons).
Another version is from the plant Anagyris (Anagyris foedita) referred to as emetic (the fruit), and as a laxative (the leaves) by Dioscorides (9-79 AD), and as an exorcism of ill fate by the Byzantine Suidas dictionary. The plant, which grows abundantly in the valley, has the property of exuding terrible stench when touched or shaken. Aristophanes (Lysias 68) cites the following humoristic dialogue:
«Πόθεν εισίν; Αναγυρουντόθεν. Νη τον Δία, ο γουν Ανάγυρος μη κεκινήσθαι δοκεί.»
(Pothen eisin? Anagyrountothen. Nee ton Dia, o goun Anagyros me kekinisthai dokei)
(Where are you from? From Anagyron, By Zeus, better not shake the Anagyron.)
According to Aelian, the countryside of Anagyrous was where Aristion and Periktyoni (Plato’s parents) used to lull baby Plato.
«… εν ταις πλησίον μυρρίναις, δασείες ούσες και πυκνές, καθεύδοντι δε εσμός μελισσών εν τοις χείλεσι αυτού καθίσασαι, υπήδον την του Πλάτωνος ευγλωττία μαντευόμεναι.»
(En tais plesion myrrinais, daseies ouses kai pyknes, katheudonti de esmos melisson en tois cheilesi autou kathisasai, upedon ten tou Platonos euglottia mantevomenai).
"... nearby the myrtle plants, dense and leafy as they where, and while he was sleeping, a swarm of bees sat peacefully on his lips, thus surmising the eloquence of Plato."