Agioi Theodoroi (islands)

Agioi Theodoroi (Greek: Άγιοι Θεόδωροι) are two uninhabited islets off the coast of western Crete. One is named Agios Theodoros, also called Thodorou, and the islet a few metres further north is called Mikros Agios Theodoros ("Little Agios Theodoros").^[1] Administratively, they are part of the municipality of Platanias, in Chania regional unit. Kri-kri inhabit Agios Theodoros.^[1] Anciently, the islands were known as Coete or Koite (Ancient Greek: Κοίτη) and Akytos.^[2][3][4]

Agioi Theodoroi

Native name: Άγιοι Θεόδωροι
The islet of Agios Theodoros.
Agioi Theodoroi
Geography
Coordinates	35.537°N 23.931°E / 35.537; 23.931
Archipelago	Cretan Islands
Highest elevation	165 m (541 ft)
Administration
Greece
Region	Crete
Regional unit	Chania
Demographics
Population	0 (2001)

History

The islands are mentioned in antiquity (2nd half of the third century) in the Stadiasmus Maris Magni, which states that they have potable water.^[3]

In 1583 the Venetians built two small fortresses on Agios Theodoros in part to prevent pirates from using the islands and in part to defend the coast of Crete.^[5]

Environment

Birds

The islets have been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support a breeding population of 50 – 65 pairs of Eleonora's falcons.^[6]

Goats

In 1930 the municipality of Agia Marina with the cooperation of the hunting association of Chania decided to make the islands a nature reserve. It was in 1935 that Theodoros Viglis caught one male and two female kri-kri, or Cretan goats, in Samariá Gorge and released them on Agios Theodoros so that they could breed with integrity since no other goats inhabited the island. This initial small community of kri-kri was too small to prevent inbreeding and more kri-kri were introduced to the community.^[1] The isolated community of kri-kri at Agios Theodoros has been used to provide kri-kri to zoos around the world.^[5]

See also

• List of islands of Greece

References

1. Thodorou Islands off Platanias ExploreCrete.com
2. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 60, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
3. Stadiasmus Maris Magni § 342.
4. Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
5. Agii Theodori KretaKultur.dk
6. "Agioi Theodoroi islet, Crete". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.