Rizoma
Rizoma Ρίζωμα | |
|---|---|
  Rizoma | |
| Coordinates: 39°39′54″N 21°44′02″E / 39.665°N 21.734°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Thessaly |
| Regional unit | Trikala |
| Municipality | Trikala |
| Municipal unit | Paralithaioi |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Community | 790 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Rizoma (Greek: Ρίζωμα, before 1927: Σκλάταινα - Sklataina[2]) is a village in the Trikala regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. In the 2021 census it reported 790 residents.[1] It lies at 160 meters above sea level, 12 km north of the city of Trikala. It has an agricultural economy with tobacco being the main product.
The village is the seat of the Paralithaioi municipal unit and it is inhabited by Karagounides, the most commonly used name for the residents of the Thessalian plain. According to local legend this name was given to them by Alexander the Great when he passed through the region in 335 BC on his way to Thebes. A more likely etymology, based on the prevalence of Slavic toponyms in the area, would be from slatina, meaning "marsh", with the /k/ added to break up the /sl/ consonant cluster, which is not native to the Greek language. See Σκλάβος
The most prominent figure that was born there was the priest-monk Saint Theophilus (mid-16th century) who is recorded as the founder of the Saint Stephen Monastery in Meteora.
To the north of the town, there is a low hill called Tzougza, where trenches dug in WW2 can still be seen.
Rizoma in May 2008 showing its main church St Paraskevi.
St Paraskevi
View of Rizoma looking North West from Bordovoullo hill. Tzougza hill visible at right of photo; Theopetra visible in the background; Meteora in the distance.
References
- ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ Name changes of settlements in Greece