Echte

Echte is a village in the Gemeinde Kalefeld in northern Germany with about 1,380 inhabitants.

The earliest known archival reference to the community is in the Fuldaer Tradition 826, where it is referred to as Eti. In the Middle Ages, it served as a trade node on the east-west road between Einbeck and Osterode and the north-south road from Northeim to Seesen.

Skilled craftsmen were a significant part of the village's population as early as the 17th century. In 1657, of 362 residents, 16 were classified as craftsmen. About a century later (in 1779), the census showed 35 out of 479 residents. Most numerous were linen weavers, followed by cobblers and then carpenters.

Echte took part in the great immigration from Germany to the New World in 1845-1846.

In 1936, Echte's population exceeded 1,000.

There are sixteen social, cultural or service associations in the community.

References

Coordinates: 51°47′N 10°04′E / 51.783°N 10.067°E / 51.783; 10.067

Pella

Pella (Greek: Πέλλα), is best known as the ancient and wealthy capital of the kingdom of Macedon in the time of Alexander the Great. On the site of the ancient city is the Archaeological Museum of Pella.

Etymology

A common folk etymology is traditionally given for the name Pella, deriving it from the Ancient Macedonian word pélla (πέλλα), "stone" and forming with the prefix a- the Doric apella, meaning in this case fence, enclosure of stone. The word apella originally meant fold, fence for animals, and then assembly of people. However, the local form of Greek was not Doric, and the word exactly matches standard Greek pélla "stone", possibly referring to a famous landmark from the time of its foundation. Another proposed etymology is that Pella originally meant "defensible citadel on a cliff", and this etymology is backed by the numerous ancient cities throughout Greece with similar name i.e. Pellana, Pallene, Palle, Pelle, Pelion, Palamede, Pellene, etc.

History

Pella is first mentioned by Herodotus of Halicarnassus (VII, 123) in relation to Xerxes' campaign and by Thucydides (II, 99,4 and 100,4) in relation to Macedonian expansion and the war against Sitalces, the king of the Thracians. According to Xenophon, in the beginning of the 4th century BC it was the largest Macedonian city. It was probably built as the capital of the kingdom by Archelaus I, replacing the older palace-city of Aigai although there appears to be some possibility that it may have been created by Amyntas. In antiquity, Pella was a strategic port connected to the Thermaic Gulf by a navigable inlet, but the harbour and gulf have since silted up, leaving the site landlocked.