The region of Amari Emmanuela Bagouraki Translation: Giannis Zouridis The region of Amari lays at the southeast of the village Prasies, next to the picturesque valley of Potamoi, to a larger highland that is 25 km long, at the height of 400-500 m. It spreads between mount Psiloreitis (2.456 m) and Kedros (1777 m). In the middle of the region stands mount Samitos or Samithos that divides it in two separate valleys. The one at the east side is called Asomathianos Kampos, name taken from the monastery of Aswmathianoi, and the smaller one, at the west side, is called Smilianos Kampos. The waters from the springs of the region are divided at Agia Fotini and then form two rivers, Stauromanas at north that ends at the Cretan sea next to Rethymno, and Platus, known in antiquity as Helektra, at south, that ends at Lybian Sea next to Agia Galini. The region of Amari stands between the regions of Mulopotamos, Rethymni and Agios Vasilios that belong to the territory of Rethymno, and the region of Pyrgiotissa of the territory of Herakleio. It is the smallest region of Rethymno (272 sq. Km, 82 of which are fields and the rest wastelands and forests. Due to its plenty springs, mainly from Mount Kedros, Amari is full of trees, and produces a big quantity of well- known fruit, such as the famous cherries of Geraki, the big olives of Abadia. The yellow cheese of Kedros, the red wine of Amari. The production of olive oil is of big importance and the olive trees cover 32% of the exploited earth. Amari is one of the most beautiful corners of Crete. History Regarding the roots of the name "Amari": it is believed that the origin of the name comes from the word amara = day or Amarios Zeus, a god worshipped the time that Crete was a colony of the Greek tribe of Achaioi. Others believe that it comes from the Homeric word of amari = little river, aqueduct. The region was referred to as Amari at the time of the venetian occupation. Before that time, it was known as Syvritos. It is possible that a venetian duce who stayed at the village of Amari named the whole region after it. Syvritos was known in antiquity as Panakron or Panakra, and it was a main town at that time, one of the 100 towns of minoian Crete. Its ruins stand next to Thronos village. The town was fortified and placed at the top of a hill and had conquests at the regions of Amari and Agios Vasilios. It had a port named Soulia (today's Agia Galini). It had its own currency (silver coins with the head of Hermes and the word syvritos). The town flourished at the first Byzantine period. It had a bishop who was referred to at the fourth Synod (451 AD). It existed until the beginning of the ninth century, then was destroyed by the Saracens. Important ruins of the middle minoian age were also found near the villages of Apodoulos, Monastiraki and Patsos. Excavations may bring to light valuable historic information. At the Byzantine time the holders of Amari belonged to the clan of Varouhas and their feuds were the villages of Monastilaki and Smiles. The center of the region was the village of Amari. At the time of the Turkish occupation the region of Amari was occupied by some extremely vicious Turks, and the Greek citizens suffered greatly and revolted many times against the conquerors. From the fog of war came famous leaders of the revolution of 1866, such as Anagnostis Katsantonis. At the time of the German occupation the region of Amari was the center of many partisans. Their sabotages caused the execution of 165 citizens and the destruction of 6 villages of the region (Ano Meros, Smiles, Vrises, Kardaki, Gourgouthoi, Gerakari and Kria Vrisi of Agios Vasilios), all of which were leveled to the ground. The region of Amari had at 1920 8.243 citizens, at 1981 6.048 citizens, at 1991 5.826 citizens and at 2001 6.185 citizens who stay at 40 villages that form 2 districts: Kourites with the town of Fourfoura as Capital and Syvritos with the town of Agia Fotini as capital.