Argyroupoli (Rethymno)

Argyroupoli (Greek: Αργυρούπολη) is a village in the municipality of Lappa, Rethymno regional unit, Crete, Greece, population 403 (2011 census), altitude 260m. It was previously known as Lappa or Lampa, Stimboli, and Polis.

It is the site of the ancient city (polis) of Lappa. In the Middle Ages, it was named Stimpoli(s) by reinterpretation as a single word ("in the city"), 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 (that is, 'Stambol village'). 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.

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.

Lappa or Lampa is an episcopal see, suffragan of Gortyn.

Lequien (Oriens Christianus, II, 268) mentions of its bishops:

The episcopal see is mentioned in the Notitiae episcopatuum as late as the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

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