Polydendri

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Polydendri is a community of the Greek prefecture of East Attica.

Polydendri (aka Mazi) =A place with many trees

Polydendri is a multicultural village with no more than 1.000 residents. Polydendri is considered multicultural since it has many cultural unions, such as a youth union, a traditional dance union, an athletic club (the "Black Eagle of Polydendri" playing at the athletic center of Gourezi), a trecking club and a heavy metal society (called "the Obscure" and numbering 1.500 members from all around Greece)

Furthermore, Polydendri is famous for its delicatesen kitchen as this is demonstrated by the several taverns located within the village.

History

Ancient times: During the ancient times, the whole north attica area was called "Affidnes", that was maybe the closest to Athens ancient city.

Middle ages: The first modern inhabitants of the village were Scandinavian shepherds that reached the village at the end of the 9th century. There are many questions concerning the reasons that made those vikings to reach the north of attica, but there are still remains of their civilization, to remind their pass. (For example, a dosen of buildings around the river, at the southeast of the village, that have an original viking architecture).

Modern years: During the years of the Ottoman empire, a clan of Ilirioi condotieres (the so called Arvanites, ex-citizens of today Albania), approached the north of Attika. After a short warfare, they took up the village that had a very important strategic position for the defence of the city of Athens. (The only passage from the north of Greece to Athens, was through the village).

After several years, the Arvanites became shepherds, following the peaceful way of leaving of their scandinavians predecessors. Furthermore, their Christian roots and their cultural mix with the Greek civilians, made them one of the most important factors during the Greek rebellion against the Otoman empire that took place on 1821.

Today: Today's residents of Polydendri are mostly Greek-arvanites, descendants of the old citizens of the village. Since their colour is rather dark, there are not many evidences of connection with their scandinavian predecessors. On the contrary, today's tenants are a very representative sample of the Indo-European race, as this can be found in the mediterranean countries.

Nevertheless, there is still a joke within the village, every time that a blond-hair child is getting birth, since everyone in the village says "Here is a viking", assuming that there are still oddments of scandinavian DNA in the blood of the modern habitants.

Municipalities and communities of the East Attica Prefecture
Acharnes • Agios Stefanos • Artemis • Avlona • Gerakas • Glyka Nera • Kalyvia Thorikou • Keratea • Kropia • Lavreotiki • Marathon • Markopoulo Mesogaias • Nea Makri • Paiania • Pallini • Rafina • Spata • Vari • Voula • Vouliagmeni
Afidnes • Agios Konstantinos • Anavyssos • Anixi • Anthousa • Dionysos • Drosia • Grammatiko • Kalamos • Kapandriti • Kouvaras • Kryoneri • Malakasa • Markopoulo Oropou • Nea Palatia • Oropos • Palaia Fokaia • Pikermi • Polydendri • Rodopoli • Saronida • Skala Oropou • Stamata • Sykamino • Thrakomakedones • Varnava