Charaki (officially: Charakion) is a village and seat of the namesake community in the Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia in the Heraklion Regional Unit of Crete. It is part of the former province of Monofatsi. The distance from Heraklion is 36.8 km. It is the northernmost village of the Municipality. The church of Agios Georgios is located in the settlement. The main occupations of the residents are olive growing and viticulture. It celebrates on November 3, the day of Agios Georgios “Methystes” (the Drunkard). There is a kindergarten and a primary school.
Etymology and History
The village took its name from the huge “charaki” (rock), which is located in the middle of the settlement. The current residents throughout the municipal district come from Anogia, Mylopotamos. In the Kastrofylakas (census of 1583) Charaki is listed as Carachi with 65 inhabitants. The first mention of Charaki is in a document of 1374. The settlement of Made had 63 inhabitants during the same period and in 1881 it was inhabited only by Turkish families, as were the other two settlements. The name, according to Nikolaos Platonas, is pre-Hellenic, from Ma Da = Mother Earth. In the Basilicata census, we find Voria with the name Vorú and in the Ottoman census of 1671 with 19 enslaved Christian families who were subject to tax.
During the Ottoman rule, only Turks lived in Charaki, as in the other two settlements.
The Village Today
Charaki is a small village with a population of 233. The main occupations of the residents are olive growing and viticulture. The origin of the inhabitants of the area is either from Anogia or they are refugees from Asia Minor.
Culture and Traditions
The church of Agios Georgios is located in Charaki and celebrates on November 3, the day of Agios Georgios “Methystes” (the Drunkard).
Family and Social Life
There is a kindergarten and a primary school in the village.
Settlement: Key Points
- Historical References: Documents from 1374, 1583, 1671, 1881.
- Location: 36.8 km from Heraklion.
- Historical Significance: The village was inhabited only by Turks during the Ottoman rule.
- Population Data:
Year |
Population |
|---|---|
1583 |
65 |
1881 |
63 |
1900 |
16 |
1920 |
57 |
1928 |
97 |
1940 |
151 |
1951 |
186 |
1961 |
224 |
1971 |
208 |
1981 |
236 |
1991 |
254 |
2001 |
233 |
2011 |
233 |
2021 |
266 |
- Current Status: A small village with an economy based on olive growing and viticulture.
References
Access
Charaki is 12.5 kilometers away from the Arkalochori and 3.4 kilometers away from Tefeli
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