Lagou, Lasithi plateau

Lagou is a village in the Lasithi regional unit on the island of Crete, Greece. It is located within the Lasithi Plateau at an altitude of 830 meters, 46 kilometers from Agios Nikolaos and 57 kilometers from Heraklion. The village has a population of 45 residents (2021 census).

History

• Archaeological Finds:

  • Kefali Hill: Pottery shards from the Late Minoan to the Roman period have been found on the slopes of Kefali hill.
  • Donadis: Remains of a house from the Archaic period (circa 8th-6th centuries BC) were excavated in 1937.
  • Kolona: Two buildings from the Archaic period, along with pottery shards from the Classical and Hellenistic periods, were excavated at this site 5 kilometers east of the village.
  • Kerasa: A cemetery from the Archaic and Hellenistic periods has been found east of the village.

• Venetian and Ottoman Periods:

  • Venetian Resettlement (1465): After a period of depopulation and abandonment in the 14th century due to rebellions against Venetian rule, the Lasithi Plateau was resettled in the 15th century. Lagou originated as one of the “metochia” (hamlets) established during this resettlement.
  • 1583 Census: The 1583 census of Castrophylacas mentions Lagou as “Mettochio di Lago” but does not record its population.
  • Origin of the Name: The name “Lagou” is believed to be derived from the first settler, whose surname “Lagos” is mentioned in documents from that time.
  • 1630 Census: The 1630 census by Francesco Basilicata lists Lagou as “metochio Lagu” with 10 houses.
  • 1671 Census: The 1671 Ottoman census records Lagou as having 29 “haratsia” (tax-paying households).
  • 1834 Census: The Egyptian census of 1834 lists Lagou together with Pinakiano, with a total of 20 Christian families living in the two villages.

• 20th Century:

  • Administrative Changes: In 1881, Lagou was part of the municipality of Tzermiado. In 1920, it became the seat of a rural municipality. In 1925, it was annexed to the community of Tzermiado. In 1948, it became the seat of its own community, which lasted until the administrative reform of 1997, when it was incorporated into the Municipality of Oropedio Lasithiou.

Architecture

The village of Lagou exhibits traditional architecture typical of the Lasithi Plateau, with stone-built houses, low roofs, and small courtyards. The church of Agios Panteleimon stands on the main road of the village.

Village Key Points

• Historical References:
  • 1583 census of Castrophylacas as “Mettochio di Lago.”
  • 1630 census as “metochio Lagu” with 10 houses.
  • 1671 Ottoman census as “Lagu” with 29 “haratsia.”
• Location: Lasithi Plateau, Lasithi regional unit, Crete, Greece. 46 km from Agios Nikolaos, 57 km from Heraklion.
• Altitude: 830 meters
• Historical Significance: Originated as a Venetian “metochi” (hamlet).
• Population:

  Year	Population
  1900	96
  1920	119
  1928	158
  1940	167
  1951	197
  1961	189
  1971	135
  1981	104
  1991	142
  2001	77
  2011	46
  2021	45

References

• Wikipedia