Country Greece Postal code 734 00 Website Kissamos Website Local time Wednesday 10:30 PM Area code 28220 Regional unit Chania | Time zone EET (UTC+2) Vehicle registration ΧΝ, XB Area 334.2 km² Prefecture Chania Administrative region Crete | |
Weather 11°C, Wind NE at 10 km/h, 80% Humidity | ||
Kissamos (Greek: Κίσσαμος) is a town and municipality, multiple (former) bishopric and Latin titular see in the west of the island of Crete, Greece. It is part of the Chania regional unit and of the former Kissamos Province which covers the northwest corner of the island. The city of Kissamos is also known as Kastelli Kissamou and often known simply as Kastelli after the Venetian castle that was there. It is now a port and fishing harbour, with a regular ferry from the Peloponnese via Kythira. A town museum is located in the old Venetian governor's palace and there have been important archaeological finds in the town, including fine mosaics, dating from the Roman city of Kisamos (Κίσαμος, Latinized as Cisamus). The head town of the municipality (Greek: Δήμος Κισσάμου) is Kastelli-Kissamos itself.
Contents
- Map of Kissamos 734 00 Greece
- History
- Ecclesiastical History
- Orthodox bishopric
- Latin diocese
- Titular see
- Municipality
- Former Province
- Notable locals
- References
Map of Kissamos 734 00, Greece
History
Strabo said that ancient Cisamus was dependent on Aptera and was its naval arsenal. The Peutinger Table distinguishes two port towns in Crete called Cisamus, Modern Kissamos (at 35°29′38″N 23°39′25″E) is much further west than where Aptera is now placed (at 35°27′46″N 24°8′31″E). It was excluded already by Pashley in 1837 as being, of the two ancient maritime Cretan cities named Kisamos, the one associated with Aptera. In the past, when the port of Aptera was thought to be present-day Kissamos, some supposed Aptera to be identical with Polyrrhenia, and Kissamos to be the port of Polyrrhenia. However, Strabo and other ancient sources say that Polyrrhenia's port was at Phalasarna on the west coast.
Ecclesiastical History
Ancient Cisamus became a Christian bishopric, a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Gortyna, the capital of the Roman province of Crete.
Only two of its first-millennium bishops are named in extant contemporary documents: Theopemptus (according to 18th-century Lequien), Nicetas (according to 20th-century Janin) at the Trullan Council in 692, and Leo at the Second Council of Nicaea in 787.
Orthodox bishopric
The bishopric is still a residential see of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Crete.
Latin diocese
After the Venetian conquest of Crete in 1212, Cisamus became a Latin Church diocese. The names of more than 20 residential Latin bishops from then until the end of the 16th century are known, including :
(incomplete)
Titular see
No longer a residential bishopric, Cisamus is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular bishopric, (Curiate Italian Cisamo) since it was suppressed as residential see around 1600 AD.
It has been vacant since decades, having had the following (often not consecutive) incumbents, all of the lowest (episcopal) rank :
Municipality
The municipality Kissamos was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of three former municipalities, which became municipal units:
The municipality has an area of 341.018 km2 (131.668 sq mi), the municipal unit 149.034 km2 (57.542 sq mi). The municipal unit Kissamos includes the Gramvousa peninsula (Chernisos Gramvousas Χερσόνησος Γραμβούσας) in the northwest and the adjacent Gramvousa islets, as well as the islet of Pontikonisi, and the villages of Sfinari, Koukounaras, Polirinia, Platanos, Lousakia, Sirikari, Kallergiania and Kalathena. It forms the extreme western part of the region, and of Crete. It is bordered by Platanias to the East, and by Kantanos-Selino to the south.
Former Province
The province of Kissamos (Greek: Επαρχία Κισσάμου) was one of the provinces of the Chania Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Kissamos, and the municipal units Kolymvari and Voukolies (partly). It was abolished in 2006.