Afidnes (, or Ἀφίδναι, from the Middle Ages until 1919: Κιούρκα - Kiourka) is a small town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 34.638km2. It is situated in the eastern foothills of the Parnitha mountains, 3km southwest of Polydendri, 5km southeast of Malakasa and 27km north of Athens city centre. Afidnes has a station on the railway from Athens to Thessaloniki. The A1 motorway (Athens - Lamia - Thessaloniki) passes east of the town. It is part of Athens metropolitan area.

Ancient Aphidna was one of the twelve ancient towns of Attica. In Greek mythology, Aphidna was the place where Theseus left Helen after he had abducted her. The archaeological site of Aphidnae is small. It was excavated in the 19th century. 13 Middle Helladic tumuli have been found.

Settlements

The municipal unit Afidnes consists of the following settlements:

• Afidnes (2021 census pop. 2,422)

• Agía Triada (995)

• Drosopigi (164)

• Kosmothea (158)

Historical population

Markopoulou has historically been an Arvanite settlement.

Places of interest

• Beletsi Lake, a small lake on the east slopes of Parnitha, near Afidnes. It is important place for migratory birds.

• Monastery of Holy Angels, modern monastery near Afidnes

Persons

• Callistratus of Aphidnae, an ancient Archon of Athens.

• Callimachus, the Athenian Polemarch at the Battle of Marathon.

See also

• List of municipalities of Attica

References

External links

• http://plato-dialogues.org/tools/loc/aphidnae.htm

• https://web.archive.org/web/20050517170833/http://www.geocities.com/ts_john_2000/, in Greek (Archived 2009-10-24)