Argyroupoli, Rethymno


Argyroupoli is a village in the municipality of Lappa, Rethymno regional unit, Crete, Greece, population 403, altitude 260m. It was previously known as Lappa or Lampa, Stimboli, and Polis.

Name

It is the site of the ancient city of Lappa. In the Middle Ages, it was named Stimpoli by reinterpretation as a single word, later simply Polis. Until 1669, the name Αργυρούπολις 'Silver City' was used. In the seventeenth century, it was also called facetiously Σαμαρόπολις, Γαϊδαρόπολις 'donkey city', or Γαϊδουρόπολις. From 1868-1878, it was called Stambólköj in Turkish. The name Αργυρούπολις or Αργυρόπολις was revived in 1878.
The name of the municipality of Lappa of which it is a part is a revival of the ancient name for the city.

History

Lappa was probably a colony of Tarrha.
It was taken by storm and almost entirely destroyed by the Romans. The emperor Augustus restored it and in consideration of the aid rendered him in his struggle with Marcus Antonius, he bestowed on the citizens their freedom, and with it the right of coinage.

Population

Population of the modern town of Argyroupoli:
192819401951196119711981199120012011
767836704669501453396402403

Ecclesiastical history

Lappa or Lampa was an episcopal see, suffragan of Gortyn.
Le Quien mentions the following bishops:
The episcopal see is mentioned in the Notitiae episcopatuum as late as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
It was re-established by the Orthodox Church about the end of the nineteenth century; the bishop resides in the monastery of Preveli.
It is also a titular see of the Catholic Church under the name Lappa and previously under the name Lampa.