Phantis - User contributions [en]

Megalopolis

2006-09-28T22:34:43Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right"

! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Arcadia]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || Megalopoli
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: || {{coor dms|37|24|7|N|22|8|18|E|region:GR}}
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Area: -Total -Water -Rank|| km² 

|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[1991]])  - Total  - Density¹  - Rank||  -8,888  -/km² 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Communes: || 29
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:  -highest:|| about 400 m 430 m(centre) about 1,600 m ([[Lykaio]])
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 222 00
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || 11-30-[[Greece dialing code 27910|27910]]-2 (030-279120-2)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Municipal codes in Greece|Municipal code]]: || 0516
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>TP</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Megalopolitan ''sing.'' -s ''pl.''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 3-letter abbreviation || MGL
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Address of administration: || 30 Papanastasiou St. Megalopoli 222 00
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www..gr www..gr] (in Greek and English)

|}

Ancient '''Megalopolis''', or now '''Megalopoli''' (Μεγαλόπολη) is a town in the western part of the prefecture of [[Arcadia]]. "Megalopolis" is a Greek word for ''Great city''. In ancient times, the town was indeed very large. It was famous for its amphitheater, known to have a capacity for 20 thousand people - the largest known. 

The population in [[2001]] reached over 5,000. It is the only growing community in western Arcadia. Other villages towns reported a loss in population in 2001. Distance from [[Tripolis]] is 30 km from 33, SE of [[Andritsaina]] and from [[Kalamata]] is 55 km NE on [[Greece Interstate 7|Interstate 7]], and [[E65]]. The city has a square in the heart of the city. Its [[List of dialing codes in Greece alphabetically|area code]] is 27410 with 5 digits. The mountains surrounding Megalopolis are [[Taygetus]], and [[Tsiberou]]. Its nearest television and communications tower are on top of mount [[Tsiberou]]. Much of the area is isolated, and the forested valley contains about 10,000. It is one of the most underpopulated areas in the [[Peloponnese]]. It is situated between the [[Alfeios River|Alfeios]] and the [[Elisson]] rivers.

It is famous for its ancient ruins founded northwest which features an ancient theatre which used to hold up to 20,000 people and was 30 m tall. Other landmarks include the Thersileon with 67 pillars and the temple (11.5 m × 5 m).

Megalopoli has three schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, hotels, a post office and squares (''plateia''). It also has a train station which is also has a freight yard 1 km from downtown. The track is not through to Tripoliσ, the line for Kalamata – Tripoliσ – [[Argos]] – [[Corinth]] is 4 km S.

It was founded in [[371 BC]] by the [[Thebes|Theban]] general [[Epaminondas]] in an attempt to form a political counterweight to [[Sparta]]. It was one of the 40 places that were megale pólis (great city). Megalopolis became the seat of the [[Arcadian League]] in [[370 BC]] which in the [[3rd century BC]] became the [[Achaean League]] It used to be one of the about 20,000 places that have an ancient theatre. In [[331 BC]], Megalopolis was invaded by the [[Sparta]]ns and had a battle with the [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonians]] which the Macedonians made it to help Megalopolis. The Macedonians defeated the Spartans. In [[223 BC]], the Spartan king [[Cleomenes]] destroyed and burnt the city down but the inhabutants were saved by [[Philopoemen]]. In [[208 BC]], Philipoemen as soldier of the [[Achaean League]] The city fell during the Middle Ages and was refounded after the [[War of Independence|Greek Independence]].

It was known as Sinanou (Σινάνο) until the [[19th century]].

In the mid-[[1960s]], the [[Public Power Organization]] (DEI) and the government started construction on a power plant which took several years to opened two towers? in order to increase power consumption throughout Greece. The power plant is approximately 8 km NW of downtown. It was first opened in [[1969]]. The area is about 0.2 to 0.3 km². It serves hydro to the southern portion of Greece. A [[lignite]] mining area is situated around the plant. The power lines are near the plant. It is connected with GR-76 (Krestena – Andritsaina – Megalopolis). A part of the population are employees of this plant.

A wider highway southwest first opened in around the 1980s. Megalopolis is now bypassed by a new freeway connecting from [[Kalamata]] and [[Athens]]. Construction began in 1999 in the southwest and headad northeast in 2001 and was opened to traffic in 2002. The freeway now runs between the little villages Perivolia and Routsi, and there lies the Alfeios River.

In [[1993]], a brush fire burned much of eastern [[Megalopolis]] and the [[Tsiberou]] area. It burnt approximately 50 to 60 square kilometres of land.
__NOTOC__

==Nearest places==
*[[Psari (Arcadia), Greece|Psari]] (west)
*[[Makrisi]] (east)
*[[Perivolia]] (ESE)
*[[Vrysoules]] (SE)

==Subdivisions==
*[[Oresteio]]
==Communes==
*[[Anthochori (Arcadia), Greece|Anthochori]]
*[[Ano Karyes]]
*[[Chirades]]
*[[Choremi]]
*[[Apiditsa]]
*[[Chranes]]
*[[Gefyra (Arcadia), Greece|Gefyra]]
*[[Isari]]
*[[Petrovouni]]
*[[Chrysa (Megalopolis), Greece|Chrysa]]
*[[Isoma Karyon]]
*[[Karatoula (Arcadia), Greece|Karatoula]]
*[[Kastanochori (Arcadia), Greece|Kastanochori]]
*Kato [[Karyes]]
*[[Lykaio]]
*[[Lykosoura]]
*[[Makrysi]]
*Kato Makrysi (pop: 119)
*[[Mallota]]
*[[Marathoussa (Arcadia), Greece|Marathoussa]]
*'''Megalopoli'''
*[[Nea Ekklisoula]]
*[[Neochori (Lykosoura), Greece|Neochori]]
*[[Paradeisia]]
**[[Fanaiti]]
*[[Perivolia (Arcadia), Greece|Perivolia]]
*[[Vrysoules (Arcadia), Greece|Vrysoules]]
*[[Plaka (Arcadia), Greece|Plaka]]
*[[Rapsommati]]
*[[Souli (Arcadia), Greece|Souli]]
**[[Derveni (Arcadia), Greece|Derveni]]
*[[Thoknia]]
*[[Trilofos]]
**[[Palaiomoiri]]
*[[Tripotamia (Megalopolis), Greece|Tripotamia]]
*[[Vangos]]
*[[Vasta]]

==Population==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Communal population !! Change !! Municipal population !! Change
|-
| [[1920]] || 1,776 || - || - || -
|-
| [[1961]] || 2,235 || 1,059/59.63% || - || -
|-
| [[1981]] || 4,875 || 2,640/113.06% || - || - || -
|-
| [[1991]] || 4,646 || -229/-4.7% || 8,888 || -
|-
| [[2001]] || 5,114 || 468/1.01% || - || -
|}

----

[[Megalopolis]] is also a province. It contains the communities of:

*[[Amenodouri]]
*[[Ano Anavrito]]
*[[Issari]]
*[[Kato Anavrito]]
*[[Makrinisi]]?
*[[Perivolia]]
*[[Rapsommati]]
*[[Routsi]]
*[[Tripotamia]]
*[[Vasta]]
*[[Vrysoules]]
*[[Zoni (Arcadia), Greece|Zoni]]

It also contains the municipalities of:

{| border="1" cellpading="5" cellspacing="0"
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="220" | '''Name of municipality'''
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="140" | '''Municipal code'''
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="110" | '''Seat'''
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="110" | '''Postal code'''
|-
| [[Falaisia]] || 0522 || [[Leontari]] || 220 21
|-
| [[Gortynia]] || 0505 || [[Karytaina]] || 220 22
|-
| Megalopoli || 0516 || [[Megalopolis, Greece|Megalopoli]] || 222 00
|}

== External links ==

*[http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1211140/megalopolis.htm traveljournals.net – Megalopoli]
*[http://3dim-megal.ark.sch.gr/megalopoli.htm 3rd Megalopolis Public School] (in Greek)
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=8891 GTP – Municipality of Megalopoli]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html: Information to help you plan your vacation in Malibu.]
<table width = 75% border = 2 align="center">
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''North:''' [[Karitaina|Gortynia]]</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td width = 10% align="center">'''West:''' [[Figaleia]] </td>
<td width = 35% align="center">'''Megalopoli'''</td>
<td width = 30% align="center">'''East:''' [[Kato Asea|Valtesi]]</td>
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''South:''' [[Leontari|Falaisia]]</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</table>

==See also:==

*[[Communities of Arcadia]]

[[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]
[[Category:Arcadia prefecture]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]

Thasos

2006-09-28T22:27:50Z

Sunfire32: /* See also */

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

|-----
! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Kavala prefecture]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Provinces]]: || none, (''Thasos'')
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: Latitude: Longitude:|| 40.7115/40°42'39" N lat.24.775/24°46'34" E long
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[1991]])  - Total  - Density¹  - Rank|| 13,527  
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:  -highest:|| [[Thracian Sea]] 5 m (centre) Ypsario (1,045 m)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Number of communities: || -
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 640 04
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || 11-(00)30-[[Greece dialing code 25930]]-2 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[YPES|Municipal code]]: || 3506
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>KB</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 3-letter abbreviation: || THA '''Tha'''sos
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www.thassos.gr www.thassos.gr]
|}

'''Thasos''' or '''Thassos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Θάσος) is an island in the northern [[Aegean Sea]], close to the coast of [[Thrace]] and the plain of the river [[Nestos]].

==History==

The island was colonized at an early date by Phoenicians, attracted probably by its gold mines; they founded a temple of [[Heracles]], which still existed in the time of [[Herodotus]]. Thasus, son of Phoenix, is said to have been the leader of the Phoenicians, and to have given his name to the island.

In [[720 BC]] or [[708 BC]] Thasos received a Greek colony from [[Paros]]. In a war which the Parian colonists waged with the Saians, a Thracian tribe, the poet [[Archilochus of Paros|Archilochus]] threw away his shield. The Greeks extended their power to the mainland, where they owned gold mines which were even more valuable than those on the island. From these sources the Thasians drew great wealth, their annual revenues amounting to 200 or even 300 talents. Herodotus, who visited Thasos, says that the best mines on the island were those which had been opened by the Phoenicians on the east side of the island facing [[Samothrace]].

The place was important during the [[Ionian Revolt]] against Persia. After the capture of [[Miletus]] ([[494 BC]]) [[Histiaeus of Miletus|Histiaeus]], the [[Ionia]]n leader, laid siege to Thasos. The attack failed, but, warned by the danger, the Thasians employed their revenues to build war ships and strengthen their fortifications. This excited the suspicions of the Persians, and [[Darius I of Persia|Darius]] compelled them to surrender their ships and pull down their walls. After the defeat of [[Xerxes I|Xerxes]] the Thasians joined the Delian confederacy; but afterwards, on account of a difference about the mines and marts on the mainland, they revolted.

The Athenians defeated them by sea, and, after a siege that lasted more than two years, took the capital, Thasos, probably in [[463 BC]], and compelled the Thasians to destroy their walls, surrender their ships, pay an indemnity and an annual contribution (in [[449 BC]] this was 21 talents, from [[445 BC]] about 30 talents), and resign their possessions on the mainland. In [[411 BC]], at the time of the oligarchical revolution at Athens, Thasos again revolted from Athens and received a Lacedaemonian governor; but in [[407 BC]] the partisans of Lacedaemon were expelled, and the Athenians under [[Thrasybulus]] were admitted.

After the [[Battle of Aegospotami]] ([[405 BC]]), Thasos again fell into the hands of the [[Lacedaemon]]ians under [[Lysander]] who formed a decarchy there; but the Athenians must have recovered it, for it formed one of the subjects of dispute between them and [[Philip II of Macedon]]ia. In the embroilment between [[Philip III of Macedon]]ia and the Romans, Thasos submitted to Philip, but received its freedom at the hands of the Romans after the [[battle of Cynoscephalae]] ([[197 BC]]), and it was still a "free" state in the time of [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]].

After a period of Latin occupation, it was captured by the Turks in [[1462]]; it was given by the Sultan [[Mahmud II]] to [[Mehmet Ali]] of Egypt. In [[1913]] during the [[Balkan Wars]], Thasos became part of [[Greece]]. Thasos, the capital, stood on the north side of the island, and had two harbours, one of which was closed. Archilochus described Thasos as "an ass's backbone crowned with wild wood," and the description still suits the mountainous island with its forests of fir. The highest mountain, [[Ipsario]] or Ypsario, is [[1 E3 m|1045 m]] (3428 ft) high. Besides its gold mines, the wine, nuts and marble of Thasos were well known in antiquity.

Today, Thasos is a part of the [[Kavala prefecture]] and is the southernmost and the easternmost points in the prefecture. Thasos serves ferry routes to and from [[Kavala]] and a port at the eastern portion of the prefecture.

==Information==

The main agricultural production on the island are honey and olive oil as well as wine, sheep, goat herding and fishing. Other industries includes lumber and tourism. Mining industry including lead, zinc and marble especially in the Panagia area where one of the mountain near the Thracian Sea has a large marble quarry. A marble quarry in the south has been mined during the ancient times.

==Communities==

*[[Aliki (Thasos)|Aliki]]
*[[Astris]]
*[[Kallirachi (Thasos)|Kallirachi]],
*[[Kalyves (Thasos)|Kalyves]]
*[[Kastro (Thasos)|Kastro]]
*[[Kinira]]
*[[Krini (Thasos)|Krini]]
*[[Limenaria (Thasos)|Limenaria]]
*[[Maries]]
*[[Panagia (Thasos)|Panagia]]
*[[Potamia (Thasos)|Potamia]]
*[[Potos]]
*[[Prinos (Thasos)|Prinos]]
*[[Rachoni]]
*[[Skala Kallirachis]]
*[[Skala Maries]]
*[[Skala Rachinou]]
*[[Skala Sotiros]]
*[[Sotiri (Thasos), |Sotiris]]
*[[Theologos (Thasos) |Theologos]]

==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class=prettytable
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Population !! Change !! Municipal population !! Change 
|-
| [[1981]] || 2,312 || - || - || - 
|-
| [[1991]] || 2,600 || - || 288/12.46% || 13,527 
|}

==Other==

Thasos has a few schools, a lyceum, a gymnasia, a church and a square (''[[plateia]]'').

==References==

*|Antje and Günther Schwab: Thassos - Samothraki, [[1999]], [[ISBN 3-932410-30-0]].

== External links ==

* [http://www.thassos-island.gr/ '''Thassos Island'''.] A new portal about Thassos Island. Virtual travel around Thassos, tourist info, history, hotels. A completed guide for your vacation, [http://www.thassos-island.de in German]
* [http://www.mavromatis.de/urlaub1.html Greece: Thasos Island] (in German)
* [http://www.thassos-map.de/ Thassos Online Map] - Homepage of Peter Collenbusch in English with a map of the entire island featuring photos and information about each places], also in German
* [http://www.gothassos.com/index.html Thassos Island, Greece] - with actual information
*[http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Thasos&country=GR Mapquest - Thasos], street map not yet available

==See also==

*[[Communities of the Kavala prefecture]], including Thasos
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html: Information to help you plan your vacation in Malibu.]

[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]

Milos

2006-09-28T22:21:17Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

|-----
! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Cyclades]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || [[Milos Province|Milos]] (capital)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Seat: || '''Milos'''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: Latitude: Longitude:|| 37.738/37°44'20" N lat.24.435/24°25'11" E long
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[2001]])  - Total  - Density  - Rank|| 4,771 about 32/km² - 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:  -highest:|| [[Aegean Sea]] 2 m (centre) 748 m
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Number of towns, villages and settlements: || >10
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 84800; 84801
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || +30-[[Greece dialing codes beginning with 228|22870]]-
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[YPES|Municipal code]]: || -
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>EP</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 3-letter abbreviation: || MIL ('''Mil'''os)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Milian; Melian ''sing.'' -s ''pl.''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www.milos.gr www.milos.gr]
|}

'''Milos''' (also '''[[Melos]]''', and before the Athenian genocide '''Malos''' Greek: Μήλος, not related to the Modern Greek word "μήλο" = "milo" for apple which has the same spelling except for the trailing sigma) is a volcanic island in the [[Aegean Sea]].

==Geography==
Milos is the southwesternmost island in the [[Cyclades]] group, 120 km (75 miles) due east from the coast of [[Laconia]]. From east to west it measures about 23 km (14 mi), from north to south 13 km, and its area is estimated at 151 sq. km. (52 square miles). The greater portion is rugged and hilly, culminating in Mount Profitis Elias 748 m (2454 ft) in the west. Like the rest of the cluster, the island is of volcanic origin, with tuff, trachyte and obsidian among its ordinary rocks. The natural harbour, which, with a depth diminishing from 70 to 30 fathoms (130 to 55 m), strikes in from the north west so as to cut the island into two fairly equal portions, with an isthmus not more than 18 km (11 miles) broad, is the hollow of the principal crater. In one of the caves on the south coast the heat is still great, and on the eastern shore of the harbour there are hot sulphurous springs.

'''Antimelos''' or '''Antimilos''', 13 miles (20 km) north-west of Milos, is an uninhabited mass of trachyte, often called Erimomilos (Desert Milos). [[Kimolos]], or '''Argentiera''', 1.6 km (1 mi) to the north-east, was famous in antiquity for its [[fig]]s and fuller's earth, and contained a considerable city, the remains of which cover the cliff of St. Andrew's. Polinos, Polybos or Polivo (anc. Polyaegos) lies 2 km south-east of Kimolos. It was the subject of dispute between the Milians and Kimolians. It has long been almost uninhabited.

==Natural resources==
Bentonite, perlite, pozzolan and minor quantities of kaolin are mined in Milos and sold all over the world.
In the past, baryte, sulfur, millstones and gypsum were also mined. In ancient times the alum of Milos was reckoned next to that of [[Egypt]] (Pliny xxxv. 15 [52]). The Melian earth was employed as a pigment by ancient artists. Milos was a source of [[obsidian]] during the neolithic ages for the Aegean and Mediterranean. Orange, olive, cypress and arbutus trees grow throughout the island, which, however, is too dry to have any profusion of vegetation. The vine, the cotton plant and barley are the main objects of cultivation.

==Villages, towns and notable landmarks==

The harbour town is [[Adamas]]; from this there is an ascent to the plateau above the harbour, on which are situated [[Plaka]], the chief town, and [[Kastro (Milos)|Kastro]], rising on a hill above it, and other villages. The ancient town of Melos was nearer to the entrance of the harbour than [[Adamas]], and occupied the slope between the village of [[Tripiti]] and the landing-place at [[Klima]]. Here is a theatre of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] date and some remains of town walls and other buildings, one with a fine [[mosaic]] excavated by the [[United Kingdom|British]] school at [[Athens]] in [[1896]]. Numerous fine works of art have been found on this site, notably the [[Venus de Milo]] in the [[Louvre]], the [[Asclepius]] in the British Museum, and the [[Poseidon]] and an archaic [[Apollo]] in Athens. Other villages includes [[Triovasalos]], [[Pera Triovasalos]], [[Plakes]], [[Pollonia]] and [[Zefyria]].

==History==
The position of Milos, between Greece and Crete, and its possession of obsidian, made it an important centre of early Aegean civilization. At the well-known Bronze Age site of Phylakopi, the chief settlement, on the north-east coast. Excavations of the British school revealed a [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] palace and a town wall. Part of the site has been washed away by the sea. The antiquities found were of three main periods, all preceding the Mycenean age of Greece. Much pottery was found, including examples of a peculiar style, with decorative designs, mostly floral, and also considerable deposits of obsidian. There are some traditions of a Phoenician occupation of Milos.

In historical times the island was occupied by [[Dorian]]s from [[Laconia]]. In the [[6th century BC]] it again produced a remarkable series of vases, of large size, with mythological subjects and orientalizing ornamentation, and also a series of terra-cotta reliefs.

Though Milos inhabitants sent a contingent to the Greek fleet at [[Salamis Island]], it held aloof from the [[Delian League]], and sought to remain neutral during the [[Peloponnesian War]]. But in [[415 BC]] the Athenians, having attacked the island and compelled the Milians to surrender, slew all the men capable of bearing arms, made slaves of the women and children, and introduced 500 Athenian colonists. [[Lysander]] restored the island to its Dorian possessors, but it never recovered its former prosperity.

There were many Jewish settlers in Milos in the beginning of the Christian era, and Christianity was introduced early. During the "Frankish" period the island formed part of the duchy of [[Naxos]], except for the few years ([[1341]]-[[1383]]) when it was a separate lordship under Marco Sanudo and his daughter.

Today's population, about 4700, is considerably less than it was in [[1907]] (then 4,864 in the commune, 12,774 in the province).

==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Island population !! Change !! Density
|-
| [[1907]] || 17,638 || - || -/km²
|-
| [[1981]] || - || - || -/km²
|-
| [[1991]] || 4,390 || - || about 27/km²
|-
| [[2001]] || 4,771 || - ||32/km²
|}

==References==

See Leycester, "The Volcanic Group of Milo, Anti-Milo, &c.," in ''Jour. Roy. Geog. Soc.'' (1852); [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort|Tournefort]], ''Voyage''; Leake, ''Northern Greece'', iii.; [[Prokesch von Osten]], ''Denkwiirdigkeiten'', &c.; Bursian, ''Geog. von Griechenland'', ii.; ''Journ. Hell. Stud'', xvi., xviL, xviii.; ''Excavations at Phylakopi''; ''Inscr. grace'', xii. iii. 197 sqq.; on coins found in [[1909]], see Jameson in ''Rev. Num.'' 1909; 188 sqq.

==External links==
*[http://www.milos-island.com www.milos-island.com: Information to help you plan your vacation in Milos.]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html: Information to help you plan your vacation in Malibu.]
*[http://www.milosisforlovers.com Μilos is for lovers: A series of photo album about the Greek island of Milos, an idyllic vacation travel destination. Ad and banner-free!]
*[http://www.milos-island.gr Complete tourist guide hotels, restaurants, maps, history, geology, villages, beaches, museums sightseeing,weather updates and many photos]
*[http://www.travel-to-milos.com Milos guide.]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html Malibu Hotels.]00000
*'''Map and aerial photos''':
**Street map: [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=24.435&longitude=36.738&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://maps.msn.com/map.aspx?&lats1=24.435&lons1=36.738&alts1=35 MapPoint] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=36.738,24.435 Google]

[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:The Cyclades]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Provinces of Greece]]

Milos

2006-09-28T22:17:59Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

|-----
! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Cyclades]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || [[Milos Province|Milos]] (capital)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Seat: || '''Milos'''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: Latitude: Longitude:|| 37.738/37°44'20" N lat.24.435/24°25'11" E long
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[2001]])  - Total  - Density  - Rank|| 4,771 about 32/km² - 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:  -highest:|| [[Aegean Sea]] 2 m (centre) 748 m
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Number of towns, villages and settlements: || >10
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 84800; 84801
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || +30-[[Greece dialing codes beginning with 228|22870]]-
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[YPES|Municipal code]]: || -
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>EP</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 3-letter abbreviation: || MIL ('''Mil'''os)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Milian; Melian ''sing.'' -s ''pl.''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www.milos.gr www.milos.gr]
|}

'''Milos''' (also '''[[Melos]]''', and before the Athenian genocide '''Malos''' Greek: Μήλος, not related to the Modern Greek word "μήλο" = "milo" for apple which has the same spelling except for the trailing sigma) is a volcanic island in the [[Aegean Sea]].

==Geography==
Milos is the southwesternmost island in the [[Cyclades]] group, 120 km (75 miles) due east from the coast of [[Laconia]]. From east to west it measures about 23 km (14 mi), from north to south 13 km, and its area is estimated at 151 sq. km. (52 square miles). The greater portion is rugged and hilly, culminating in Mount Profitis Elias 748 m (2454 ft) in the west. Like the rest of the cluster, the island is of volcanic origin, with tuff, trachyte and obsidian among its ordinary rocks. The natural harbour, which, with a depth diminishing from 70 to 30 fathoms (130 to 55 m), strikes in from the north west so as to cut the island into two fairly equal portions, with an isthmus not more than 18 km (11 miles) broad, is the hollow of the principal crater. In one of the caves on the south coast the heat is still great, and on the eastern shore of the harbour there are hot sulphurous springs.

'''Antimelos''' or '''Antimilos''', 13 miles (20 km) north-west of Milos, is an uninhabited mass of trachyte, often called Erimomilos (Desert Milos). [[Kimolos]], or '''Argentiera''', 1.6 km (1 mi) to the north-east, was famous in antiquity for its [[fig]]s and fuller's earth, and contained a considerable city, the remains of which cover the cliff of St. Andrew's. Polinos, Polybos or Polivo (anc. Polyaegos) lies 2 km south-east of Kimolos. It was the subject of dispute between the Milians and Kimolians. It has long been almost uninhabited.

==Natural resources==
Bentonite, perlite, pozzolan and minor quantities of kaolin are mined in Milos and sold all over the world.
In the past, baryte, sulfur, millstones and gypsum were also mined. In ancient times the alum of Milos was reckoned next to that of [[Egypt]] (Pliny xxxv. 15 [52]). The Melian earth was employed as a pigment by ancient artists. Milos was a source of [[obsidian]] during the neolithic ages for the Aegean and Mediterranean. Orange, olive, cypress and arbutus trees grow throughout the island, which, however, is too dry to have any profusion of vegetation. The vine, the cotton plant and barley are the main objects of cultivation.

==Villages, towns and notable landmarks==

The harbour town is [[Adamas]]; from this there is an ascent to the plateau above the harbour, on which are situated [[Plaka]], the chief town, and [[Kastro (Milos)|Kastro]], rising on a hill above it, and other villages. The ancient town of Melos was nearer to the entrance of the harbour than [[Adamas]], and occupied the slope between the village of [[Tripiti]] and the landing-place at [[Klima]]. Here is a theatre of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] date and some remains of town walls and other buildings, one with a fine [[mosaic]] excavated by the [[United Kingdom|British]] school at [[Athens]] in [[1896]]. Numerous fine works of art have been found on this site, notably the [[Venus de Milo]] in the [[Louvre]], the [[Asclepius]] in the British Museum, and the [[Poseidon]] and an archaic [[Apollo]] in Athens. Other villages includes [[Triovasalos]], [[Pera Triovasalos]], [[Plakes]], [[Pollonia]] and [[Zefyria]].

==History==
The position of Milos, between Greece and Crete, and its possession of obsidian, made it an important centre of early Aegean civilization. At the well-known Bronze Age site of Phylakopi, the chief settlement, on the north-east coast. Excavations of the British school revealed a [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] palace and a town wall. Part of the site has been washed away by the sea. The antiquities found were of three main periods, all preceding the Mycenean age of Greece. Much pottery was found, including examples of a peculiar style, with decorative designs, mostly floral, and also considerable deposits of obsidian. There are some traditions of a Phoenician occupation of Milos.

In historical times the island was occupied by [[Dorian]]s from [[Laconia]]. In the [[6th century BC]] it again produced a remarkable series of vases, of large size, with mythological subjects and orientalizing ornamentation, and also a series of terra-cotta reliefs.

Though Milos inhabitants sent a contingent to the Greek fleet at [[Salamis Island]], it held aloof from the [[Delian League]], and sought to remain neutral during the [[Peloponnesian War]]. But in [[415 BC]] the Athenians, having attacked the island and compelled the Milians to surrender, slew all the men capable of bearing arms, made slaves of the women and children, and introduced 500 Athenian colonists. [[Lysander]] restored the island to its Dorian possessors, but it never recovered its former prosperity.

There were many Jewish settlers in Milos in the beginning of the Christian era, and Christianity was introduced early. During the "Frankish" period the island formed part of the duchy of [[Naxos]], except for the few years ([[1341]]-[[1383]]) when it was a separate lordship under Marco Sanudo and his daughter.

Today's population, about 4700, is considerably less than it was in [[1907]] (then 4,864 in the commune, 12,774 in the province).

==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Island population !! Change !! Density
|-
| [[1907]] || 17,638 || - || -/km²
|-
| [[1981]] || - || - || -/km²
|-
| [[1991]] || 4,390 || - || about 27/km²
|-
| [[2001]] || 4,771 || - ||32/km²
|}

==References==

See Leycester, "The Volcanic Group of Milo, Anti-Milo, &c.," in ''Jour. Roy. Geog. Soc.'' (1852); [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort|Tournefort]], ''Voyage''; Leake, ''Northern Greece'', iii.; [[Prokesch von Osten]], ''Denkwiirdigkeiten'', &c.; Bursian, ''Geog. von Griechenland'', ii.; ''Journ. Hell. Stud'', xvi., xviL, xviii.; ''Excavations at Phylakopi''; ''Inscr. grace'', xii. iii. 197 sqq.; on coins found in [[1909]], see Jameson in ''Rev. Num.'' 1909; 188 sqq.

==External links==
*[http://www.milos-island.com www.milos-island.com: Information to help you plan your vacation in Milos.]
*[http://www.milosisforlovers.com Μilos is for lovers: A series of photo album about the Greek island of Milos, an idyllic vacation travel destination. Ad and banner-free!]
*[http://www.milos-island.gr Complete tourist guide hotels, restaurants, maps, history, geology, villages, beaches, museums sightseeing,weather updates and many photos]
*[http://www.travel-to-milos.com Milos guide.]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html Malibu Hotels.]00000
*'''Map and aerial photos''':
**Street map: [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=24.435&longitude=36.738&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://maps.msn.com/map.aspx?&lats1=24.435&lons1=36.738&alts1=35 MapPoint] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=36.738,24.435 Google]

[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:The Cyclades]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Provinces of Greece]]

Milos

2006-09-28T22:09:19Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

|-----
! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Cyclades]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || [[Milos Province|Milos]] (capital)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Seat: || '''Milos'''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: Latitude: Longitude:|| 37.738/37°44'20" N lat.24.435/24°25'11" E long
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[2001]])  - Total  - Density  - Rank|| 4,771 about 32/km² - 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:  -highest:|| [[Aegean Sea]] 2 m (centre) 748 m
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Number of towns, villages and settlements: || >10
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 84800; 84801
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || +30-[[Greece dialing codes beginning with 228|22870]]-
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[YPES|Municipal code]]: || -
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>EP</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| 3-letter abbreviation: || MIL ('''Mil'''os)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Milian; Melian ''sing.'' -s ''pl.''
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www.milos.gr www.milos.gr]
|}

'''Milos''' (also '''[[Melos]]''', and before the Athenian genocide '''Malos''' Greek: Μήλος, not related to the Modern Greek word "μήλο" = "milo" for apple which has the same spelling except for the trailing sigma) is a volcanic island in the [[Aegean Sea]].

==Geography==
Milos is the southwesternmost island in the [[Cyclades]] group, 120 km (75 miles) due east from the coast of [[Laconia]]. From east to west it measures about 23 km (14 mi), from north to south 13 km, and its area is estimated at 151 sq. km. (52 square miles). The greater portion is rugged and hilly, culminating in Mount Profitis Elias 748 m (2454 ft) in the west. Like the rest of the cluster, the island is of volcanic origin, with tuff, trachyte and obsidian among its ordinary rocks. The natural harbour, which, with a depth diminishing from 70 to 30 fathoms (130 to 55 m), strikes in from the north west so as to cut the island into two fairly equal portions, with an isthmus not more than 18 km (11 miles) broad, is the hollow of the principal crater. In one of the caves on the south coast the heat is still great, and on the eastern shore of the harbour there are hot sulphurous springs.

'''Antimelos''' or '''Antimilos''', 13 miles (20 km) north-west of Milos, is an uninhabited mass of trachyte, often called Erimomilos (Desert Milos). [[Kimolos]], or '''Argentiera''', 1.6 km (1 mi) to the north-east, was famous in antiquity for its [[fig]]s and fuller's earth, and contained a considerable city, the remains of which cover the cliff of St. Andrew's. Polinos, Polybos or Polivo (anc. Polyaegos) lies 2 km south-east of Kimolos. It was the subject of dispute between the Milians and Kimolians. It has long been almost uninhabited.

==Natural resources==
Bentonite, perlite, pozzolan and minor quantities of kaolin are mined in Milos and sold all over the world.
In the past, baryte, sulfur, millstones and gypsum were also mined. In ancient times the alum of Milos was reckoned next to that of [[Egypt]] (Pliny xxxv. 15 [52]). The Melian earth was employed as a pigment by ancient artists. Milos was a source of [[obsidian]] during the neolithic ages for the Aegean and Mediterranean. Orange, olive, cypress and arbutus trees grow throughout the island, which, however, is too dry to have any profusion of vegetation. The vine, the cotton plant and barley are the main objects of cultivation.

==Villages, towns and notable landmarks==

The harbour town is [[Adamas]]; from this there is an ascent to the plateau above the harbour, on which are situated [[Plaka]], the chief town, and [[Kastro (Milos)|Kastro]], rising on a hill above it, and other villages. The ancient town of Melos was nearer to the entrance of the harbour than [[Adamas]], and occupied the slope between the village of [[Tripiti]] and the landing-place at [[Klima]]. Here is a theatre of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] date and some remains of town walls and other buildings, one with a fine [[mosaic]] excavated by the [[United Kingdom|British]] school at [[Athens]] in [[1896]]. Numerous fine works of art have been found on this site, notably the [[Venus de Milo]] in the [[Louvre]], the [[Asclepius]] in the British Museum, and the [[Poseidon]] and an archaic [[Apollo]] in Athens. Other villages includes [[Triovasalos]], [[Pera Triovasalos]], [[Plakes]], [[Pollonia]] and [[Zefyria]].

==History==
The position of Milos, between Greece and Crete, and its possession of obsidian, made it an important centre of early Aegean civilization. At the well-known Bronze Age site of Phylakopi, the chief settlement, on the north-east coast. Excavations of the British school revealed a [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] palace and a town wall. Part of the site has been washed away by the sea. The antiquities found were of three main periods, all preceding the Mycenean age of Greece. Much pottery was found, including examples of a peculiar style, with decorative designs, mostly floral, and also considerable deposits of obsidian. There are some traditions of a Phoenician occupation of Milos.

In historical times the island was occupied by [[Dorian]]s from [[Laconia]]. In the [[6th century BC]] it again produced a remarkable series of vases, of large size, with mythological subjects and orientalizing ornamentation, and also a series of terra-cotta reliefs.

Though Milos inhabitants sent a contingent to the Greek fleet at [[Salamis Island]], it held aloof from the [[Delian League]], and sought to remain neutral during the [[Peloponnesian War]]. But in [[415 BC]] the Athenians, having attacked the island and compelled the Milians to surrender, slew all the men capable of bearing arms, made slaves of the women and children, and introduced 500 Athenian colonists. [[Lysander]] restored the island to its Dorian possessors, but it never recovered its former prosperity.

There were many Jewish settlers in Milos in the beginning of the Christian era, and Christianity was introduced early. During the "Frankish" period the island formed part of the duchy of [[Naxos]], except for the few years ([[1341]]-[[1383]]) when it was a separate lordship under Marco Sanudo and his daughter.

Today's population, about 4700, is considerably less than it was in [[1907]] (then 4,864 in the commune, 12,774 in the province).

==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Island population !! Change !! Density
|-
| [[1907]] || 17,638 || - || -/km²
|-
| [[1981]] || - || - || -/km²
|-
| [[1991]] || 4,390 || - || about 27/km²
|-
| [[2001]] || 4,771 || - ||32/km²
|}

==References==

See Leycester, "The Volcanic Group of Milo, Anti-Milo, &c.," in ''Jour. Roy. Geog. Soc.'' (1852); [[Joseph Pitton de Tournefort|Tournefort]], ''Voyage''; Leake, ''Northern Greece'', iii.; [[Prokesch von Osten]], ''Denkwiirdigkeiten'', &c.; Bursian, ''Geog. von Griechenland'', ii.; ''Journ. Hell. Stud'', xvi., xviL, xviii.; ''Excavations at Phylakopi''; ''Inscr. grace'', xii. iii. 197 sqq.; on coins found in [[1909]], see Jameson in ''Rev. Num.'' 1909; 188 sqq.

==External links==
*[http://www.milos-island.com www.milos-island.com: Information to help you plan your vacation in Milos.]
*[http://www.milosisforlovers.com Μilos is for lovers: A series of photo album about the Greek island of Milos, an idyllic vacation travel destination. Ad and banner-free!]
*[http://www.milos-island.gr Complete tourist guide hotels, restaurants, maps, history, geology, villages, beaches, museums sightseeing,weather updates and many photos]
*[http://www.travel-to-milos.com Milos guide.]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html Malibu Hotels.]
*'''Map and aerial photos''':
**Street map: [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=24.435&longitude=36.738&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest], [http://maps.msn.com/map.aspx?&lats1=24.435&lons1=36.738&alts1=35 MapPoint] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=36.738,24.435 Google]

[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:The Cyclades]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Provinces of Greece]]

Nea Artaki

2006-09-28T22:06:03Z

Sunfire32: /* See also: */

Nea Artaki

2006-09-28T22:03:38Z

Sunfire32: /* Historical population */

Pyrgos

2006-09-28T22:03:26Z

Sunfire32: /* See also: */

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

! colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Elis]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Province of Greece|Province]]: || [[Province of Ilia]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: || 37.6883/37°40'1' N lat. 21.441/ 21°26'28' W long.

|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: || 34,902(''2001'')

|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation: || 3 to 4 m
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 271 00
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"*Location:
| [[List of dialing codes in Greece numerically|Area/distance code]]: || 11-30-[[Greece dialing code 26210|26210]]-3 (030-26210-3)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Municipal codes in Greece|Municipal code]]: || 1717
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>HA</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Pyrgioti (Πυργιώτη) ''sing.'' -s ''pl.'' -ika (non residential)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Address of administration: || Saki Karagiorga, Central Square Pyrgos 271 00
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www.dimospirgou.gr www.dimospirgou.gr]

|}

'''Pyrgos''' (Greek: Πύργος) is the capital of the [[Prefecture]] of [[Elis]] in [[Greece]]. It is named for a local tower.

The city is located in the western part of the [[Peloponnese]], in the middle of a plain in [[Triphyllis]]. It is 96km away from [[Patra]] via [[Greece Interstate 9]], 320 km from [[Athens]], 144 km from [[Tripoli]]. It is bypassed by GR-9/E-55 or GR-74 (eastbound) to its east. The town of [[Katakolo]] lies 12 km to the west. [[Olympia]] is also nearby, as are [[Agios Georgios (Pyrgos)|Agios Georgios]] to the north and [[Lampeti]] (Lambeti) to the east. The [[Alfeios River]] is about 4 km to the south.

The population of Pyrgos is approximately 25,000 people. Pyrgos has one of the biggest squares in Greece with loads of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, supermarkets, hospital, hotels, and a large orthodox church. Traffic lights are now installed downtown.

Its television stations are [[Cosmos TV|Cosmos]] and [[Olympiaki Radiofonio Teleorassi|ORT]] (''Olympiaki Radiophonio Teleorassi'', lit. Olympic Broadcasting Television). Its daily for the city is [[Patris]].

==Population history:==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class=prettytable
|----- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Communal population !! Change !! Municipal population !! Change
|-----
| [[1981]] || 21,958 || - || - || -
|-----
| [[1991]] || 28,465 || 6,507/29.63% || 39,183 || -
|-----
| [[2001]] || 23,791 || -4674/-16.42% || 32,090 || -7,093/-18.1%
|}

==Communities of the Municipality==

*'''Pyrgos'''
*[[Agios Georgios (Pyrgos) |Agios Georgios]], Pyrgos
*[[Agios Ioannis (Pyrgos) |Agios Ioannis]]
**[[Kyani Akti]]
**[[Palata]] (pop: 78)
**[[Tragano (Pyrgos) |Tragano]]
*[[Agios Ilias (Pyrgos)|Agios Ilias]]
**[[Pyrgi (Ilia)|Pyrgi]]
**[[Stamateleika]]
*[[Ampelona]]
**[[Kouzouli]]
**[[Rozeika]]
*[[Elaio (Ilia) |Elaio]]
**[[Vytineika (Elaio) |Vytineika]]
*[[Granitseika]]
**[[Kavouri]] (pop: 45)
*[[Katakolo]]
**[[Agios Andreas (Katakolo) |Agios Andreas]] (pop: 6)
*[[Koliri]]
**[[Koloreikas Paragkes]]
*[[Korakochori]]
**[[Agios Andreas (Korakochori) |Agios Andreas]] (pop: 7)
**[[Kallithea (Pyrgos) |Kallithea]] (pop: 51)
**[[Bouka]] (pop: 15)
*[[Lampeti]]
*[[Lasteika]]
**[[Itia]]
*[[Leventochori (Ilia) |Leventochori]]
*[[Myrtia (Ilia) |Myrtia]]
*[[Palaiovarvasena]]
**[[Agios Georgios (Palaiovarvasena), Greece|Agios Georgios]]
**[[Kampos (Pyrgos) |Kampos]] (pop: 64)
*[[Salmoni]]
**[[Alfeios]] (pop: 39)
*[[Skafidia]]
**[[Kalakeika]] (pop: 98)
**[[Moni Skafidias]]
**[[Patronikoleika]], ghost town
*[[Skourochori]]
**[[Kato Kavouri]]
*[[Varvasaina]]
**Kato Varvasena
*[[Vytineika (Pyrgos) |Vytineika]]

==Subdivisions:==

*[[Anthopyrgos]]
*[[Kavasilakia]]
*[[Kokkinochoma (Pyrgos) |Kokkinochoma]], located in the northeastern portion of Pyrgos
*[[Syntriada]]
*[[Tragano (Pyrgos)|Tragano]]

==Sporting teams==

*[[Panileiakos FC]] (played in the first division during the 2002-2003 season)

==Persons==

*[[Mary Linda]], singer
*[[Giorgos Karagounis]], football player (b. [[March 6]], [[1977]])

==External links==

*[http://www.gogreece.com/travel/select.html?CityID=251 gogreece.com on Pyrgos]
*[http://www.media.net.gr/pirgos.htm Radio stations in Pyrgos]

*[http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1218455/pyrgos.html traveljournals.net - Pyrgos]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=4486 GTP - Pyrgos]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=4484 GTP - Municipality of Pyrgos]
*[http://indexmundi.com/z/?lat=37.6833333=21.45&t=p&r=9400&p=pyrgos&cc=gr&c=greece.htm Indexmundi - Pyrgos]
 

<table width = 75% border = 2 align="center">
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''North:''' [[Vounargo|Iardanos]]</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td width = 10% align="center">'''West:''' [[Ionian Sea]] </td>
<td width = 35% align="center">'''Pyrgos'''</td>
<td width = 30% align="center">'''East:''' [[Olympia|Ancient Olympia]]</td>
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''South:'''[[Epitalio|Volakas]]</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</table>

==See also:==

*[[List of communities of Ilia]]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

[[Category:Elis prefecture]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]

Argostoli

2006-09-28T21:52:49Z

Sunfire32: /* See also */

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Kefallinia]] (capital)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || [[Province of Krani]] (capital)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: || {{coor dms|38|10|23|N|20|29|29|E|region:GR}}
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Area: -Total -Water -Rank|| km² 

|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[1991]])  - Total  - Density¹  - Rank||  -9,918  -183.49/km² 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Communes: ||
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:  -highest:|| sea level sea level (centre) about 1,000 m
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 281 00
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || 11-30-[[Greece dialing code 26710|26710]]-2 (030-26710-2)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Municipal codes in Greece|Municipal code]]: || 2701
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>KE</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Argostolian ''sing.'' -s. ''pl.''>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Website: || [http://www.argostoli.gr www.argostoli.gr] (in Greek and English)

|}
__NOTOC__
'''Argostoli''' (Greek: Modern: Αργοστόλι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον, ''-on'') is the main town on the [[Greece|Greek]] island of [[Kefalonia]], and is the seat of the province and the capital of the prefecture. It is the port for several inter-island ferries. Its geographical location is in the southern part of the island and has been the capital in [[1797]], 70 years before becoming a part of Greece. Its neighboring communities are [[Lassi]] to the west. It sits on a peninsula that is covered with forest in the north and a hill with 24 m in elevation. Its postal code is 281 and the area code is [[Greece dialing code 26740|26740]].

Much of the town was destroyed in a major earthquake in [[1953]], but locals assure us that any new building must be made with steel-reinforced concrete to obviate any future risks.

If you are really lucky, you may see [[sea turtle]]s swimming off the port's fish quays, hoping to feed on rejected fish. The sea inlet is also home to schools of dolphins. NE of Argostoli is a protected lagoon and the Drapano bridge crosses over.

The city has a few plateias, the Port of Argostoli which includes a small ferry to [[Lixouri]], hotels, and the [[Archaeological Museum of Argostoli]]. It also has an industrial area located approx. 1 km south.

The city has an airport located 10 km SE.

==Nearest Places==
*[[Lassi, Greece|Lassi]] (west)
*[[Agios Georgios (Argostoli), Greece|Agios Georgios]] (southeast)
*[[Razata]] (east)

==Communes:==
*Lassi?
*[[Razata]]
==Historical population:==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|----- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Communal population !! Change !! Municipal population !! Change
|-----
| [[1981]] || 7,164 || - || - || -
|-----
| [[1991]] || 6,815 || -349/-4.87% || 9,918 || -
|-----
| [[2001]] || 9,522 || - || 18,529 || -
|}

==External links==

*http://www.kefalonia-island.co.uk/argostoli.html
*http://www.kefalonia.net.gr/en/showarea.asp?DiamID=1
*[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21106m/e211fm01.html The Archaeological Museum of Argostoli]
*[http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1193178/argostoli.html traveljournals.net - Argostoli]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=6264 GTP - Argostoli]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=3263 GTP - Municipality of Argosoli]
*[http://indexmundi.com/z/?lat=38.1730556=22.4819444&t=p&r=1260&p=argostolion&cc=gr&c=greece.htm Indexmundi - Argostoli]

<table width = 75% border = 2 align="center">
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''North:''' [[Vassilikades|Erissos/Eryssos]]</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td width = 10% align="center">'''West:''' [[Gulf of Argostoli]] </td>
<td width = 35% align="center">'''Argostoli'''</td>
<td width = 30% align="center">'''East:''' [[Keramies|Leivathos]]</td>
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''South:''' [[Ionian Sea]]</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</table>

==See also==
*[[Communities of Kefalonia]]

[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Kefalonia]]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

Paphos province

2006-09-28T21:51:04Z

Sunfire32: /* Communities */

'''Paphos province''' is the westernmost of the six provinces of [[Cyprus]]. It boasts of being the "birthplace" of [[Aphrodite]], the [[Greek Mythology|mythological]] goddess of beauty and love. In the village of [[Kouklia]], can be found the ruins of Aphrodite's first temple in the Hellenic world.
Today the province benefits heavily from the tourist industry, not just for its antiquities but also its modern resorts, hotels, restaurants and other amenities.

==Municipalities==
*[[Geroskipou]]
*[[Paphos]]
*[[Pegeia]]
*[[Polis Chrysochou]]

==Communities==
*[[Drousia]]
*[[Kouklia]]
*[[Marathounta]]
*[[Panagia]]
*[[Polemi]]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

Kos

2006-09-28T21:50:49Z

Sunfire32: /* External references */

'''Kos''' or '''[[Cos]]''', [[Greek language|Greek]] Κώς; is a [[Greece|Greek]] island in the [[Dodecanese]] group of islands, in the [[Aegean Sea]]. It measures 25 miles (40 km) by 5 miles (8 km) and is closer to mainland Turkey than it is to mainland Greece. The island has both fertile plains and infertile highlands. Population: 30,500.

The island boasts long sandy beaches with large hotels and secluded villages, leading to its main industry being tourism. Farming is the principal occupation of many of the island's inhabitants, with their main crops being grapes, almonds, figs, olives, tomatoes and lettuce, along with wheat and corn.

The main port and population centre on the island, also called Kos, is also the tourist and cultural centre, with whitewashed buildings including many hotels, restaurants and a small number of nightclubs. The town has a [[14th century]] fortress at the entrance to its harbour, erected in [[1315]] by The Knights of Saint John of [[Rhodes]]. The ancient physician [[Hippocrates]] is thought to have been born on Kos, and in the center of the town is the [[Plane Tree of Hippocrates]], a Dream temple where the physician is traditionally supposed to have taught. The limbs of the now elderly tree are supported by scaffolding. The small city is also home to the International Hippocratic Institute and the [[Hippocratic Museum]] dedicated to him.

The island was originally colonised by the [[Kares]] who were invaded by the [[Dorians]] in the [[11th century BC]], who developed into what became known as the [[Athenian Federation]], expelling the Persians twice. In [[366 BC]] the town of Kos was built, then soon after the island became a part of the Roman Empire, then the [[Byzantine Empire]]. The island was conquered by the Venetians, who then sold it to The Knights of Saint John of Rhodes. Two hundred years later the Knights faced the threat of a Turkish invasion, and so abandoned the island. The Turks then ruled Kos for 400 years until it was handed over to the Italians in [[1912]]. In [[World War II]], the island was taken over by Germany, until [[1945]], when it became a protectorate of Britain, who ceded it to Greece in [[1947]].

==External references==
*[http://www.travel-to-kos.com Travel to Kos]: Kos island travel guide
*[http://www.kosinfo.gr Kos Info]: The Official Kos Island Travel Guide.
*[http://www.holiday.gr/place5.php?place_id=36 Kos guide]: Kos by Holiday.gr
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]
[[Category:Dodecanese]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]

Tennis

2006-09-28T21:47:36Z

Sunfire32: /* External Links */

There are few sports that can boast a constant presence in the over-100-year history of [[Sports|Greek sports]] and the Olympic movement and among them tennis occupies a distinguished position. In the beginning it made its appearance as a sport of the bourgeoisie on the eve of the [[Athens 1896|1st Olympic Games of 1896 (Athens)]], where its participation actively contributed to their revival. Nowadays, however, it is an extremely popular sport and hundreds of thousands of Greek people play tennis on an amateur or professional basis.

The country’s mild climate creates considerably favourable conditions for the sport, while apart from the courts belonging to the various local tennis clubs, many hotels also have tennis courts.

==Tennis players==
===Men===
*[[Vasilis Mazarakis]]
*[[Constantinos Economidis]]
*[[Lefteris Alexiou]]
*Kalogeropoulos

===Women===
*[[Eleni Daniilidou]]
*[[Anna Gerassimou]]
*[[Anna Koumantou]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.efoa.org.gr/ Hellenic Tennis Federation]
[[Category: Olympic Games]]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

Chania

2006-09-28T21:47:22Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

'''Chania''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Χανιά, also transliterated as ''Hania'', older form and Italian: ''Canea'') is the second largest city of [[Crete]] and its former capital. It is also the capital of the [[Chania prefecture]].
It lies along the North coast of Crete, about 70 km west of [[Rethymno]] and 145 km west of [[Heraklion]].

== History ==
Chania is the site of the [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] settlement of Kydonia, the Greek for "[[quince]]". The city reemerged after the end of the Minoan period as an important city-state in [[Classical Greece]] whose domain extended from Hania Bay to the feet of the White Mountains. Kydonia was constantly at war with other city-states such as [[Aptera]], [[Falasarna]] and [[Polyrrinia]] and was important enough to be mentioned in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Odyssey]]''. In [[69 BC]] the Roman Consul Metellus defeated the Cretans and conquered Kydonia to which he granted the privileges of an independent city-state. Kydonia reserved the right to mint its own coins until the [[3rd century]] AD.

The early Christian period under [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] rule is not well-documented. The [[Arab]]s overtook the island by [[824]] and first called the settlement Chania. Again there is little from this period which was largely an enslavement of the people rather than a colonisation. The Byzantine Empire retook the city in [[961]]. They began to fortify the city to prevent another Arab invasion.

After the [[Fourth Crusade]] and the dismantling of the Byzantine empire, in [[1204]], Crete was given to [[Boniface of Montferrat|Bonifacio, Marquis de Montferrat]]. He, in turn, chose to sell it to the Venetians for 100 silver marks. In [[1252]] the Venetians managed to subdue the Cretans but in [[1263]], the Genoans, with local support, seized the city under the leadership of the Count of Malta, Henrico Pescatore, and held it until [[1285]] when the Venetians returned. Chania was chosen as the seat of the Rector (Administrator General) of the region and flourished as a significant commercial centre of a fertile agricultural region. Contact with Venice led to close intertwining of Cretan and Venetian cultures. The city's name became La Canea and fortifications were built around the city, against invaders and pirates, giving Chania the form that it still has today.

However the walls did not prevent the Turkish army overrunning the ciy in [[1645]] after just two months siege. The Turks landed near the Monastery of "Gonia" in [[Kissamos]], which they plundered and burnt. They seized Chania itself on [[2 August]] [[1645]]. Huge numbers died in the siege, particularly Turks. The Turkish commander was executed on returning home for losing up to 40,000 men.

Most churches were turned into mosques and the riches of the city were taken. The Turks resided mainly in the eastern quarters, Kastelli and [[Splantzia]], where they converted the Dominican church of St Nicholas into the central Sovereign's Mosque ("Huyar Camissi"). They also built new mosques such as "Kucuk Hassan Camissi" on the harbour. Public baths - Hamam, and fountains were a feature of the Turkish city. The pasha of the island resided in Chania.

In [[1821]], as Greece rose against the Ottomans, many Christians were slaughtered and the Bishop of Kissamos, Melchisedek Thespotakis was hanged from a tree in Splantzia. In [[1878]], the [[Treaty of Halepa]] was signed and Christians were granted certain rights.

[[Eleftherios Venizelos]], who hailed from [[Mournies]] near Chania, was a leader of the [[1896]] uprising against Ottoman rule and went on to be Prime Minister of Greece and a great statesman. His tomb is on a hill overlooking Chania.
In [[1898]], during the final moves towards independence and [[enosis]] with [[Greece]], the [[Great Powers]] made Chania the capital of the semi-autonomous "Cretan State", with [[Prince George of Greece]], the High Commissioner of Crete living here. The district of [[Halepa]] has many fine neoclassical embassies and consulates dating from this period. Crete issued its own stamps and money.
The capital was moved to Heraklion in [[1971]].

== The city today ==

Despite being heavily bombed in [[World War II]], Chania's old city is considered Crete's most beautiful town, especially the crumbling Venetian harbour with its [[15th century]] lighthouse and the Mosque of the Janissaries. Many of the old buildings have been restored as hotels, shops and bars, although the Splantzia quarter behind the inner harbour and Venetian Arsenals is still largely untouched and very atmospheric. The [[1860]] [[Greek Orthodox]] Cathedral is located in a square facing the entrance to the [[1879]] Roman Catholic cathedral across Halidhon street. The Synagogue - ''Etz Hayyim'' in the Topanas District, has been restored in recent years after falling into disrepair when the Jewish community of Chania was transported off the island by the [[Nazi]] occupiers in [[1944]]. Tragically a British torpedo sank the ship ''Tanais'' carrying most of the Jewish prisoners, killing the island's pre-war community.

The city boasts archaeological, naval history and folklore museums, art galleries and many stores and tavernas in the old town. The [[1913]] indoor market, a large building based on the market of Marseille, is on the edge of the old town and is popular with tourists and locals alike. In the new town that spreads out some distance there are popular boutiques and cafés as well as the University, Town Hall and Hospital. Some 60,000 people live in Chania.

== Transport ==
The city has an international [[airport]] (code CHQ) on the [[Akrotiri Peninsula (Crete)|Akrotiri Peninsula]] named after [[Daskalogiannis]], a [[Sfakia|Sfakiot]] hero who was skinned by the Turks in the [[18th century]].
There are several flights a day from Athens to Chania, with Aegean Airlines or Olympic Airlines. From April to early November, there are many direct charter flights to Chania from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia and other European countries. 
[http://www.cretetravel.com/To_and_from_Crete/Flights_Crete.htm Domestic flight schedules]

[[Souda]], some 7 km from Chania, is the city's port, with daily ferries to [[Piraeus]] and a NATO naval base. 
[http://www.cretetravel.com/To_and_from_Crete/Ferries_Crete.htm Ferry schedules]

== External links ==
*[http://www.chania.gr/ Municipality of Chania]
*[http://www.cretetravel.com/Chania/Chania.htm Chania Feature]
*[http://www.west-crete.com/ West Crete]
*[http://www.etz-hayyim-hania.org Etz Hayyim Synagogue]
*[http://citymayors.com/mayors/chania.html CityMayors article]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

[[Category:Crete]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Chania Prefecture]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]

Smyrna

2006-09-28T21:44:34Z

Sunfire32: /* Sources */

'''Smyrna''' (in Greek "Σμύρνη"; (Turkish ''Izmir'') was settled at the beginning of the [[3rd millennium BC]]. Throughout Antiquity it was the early leading city-state of Greek [[Ionia]], on the Aegean shores and islands of [[Asia Minor]]. Smyrna was among the cities that claimed [[Homer]] as a resident.

Smyrna is said to have been a city of the autochthonous Leleges before the Greek colonists settled in the coast of Asia Minor. The name, which Greek myth derived from an eponymous [[Amazons|Amazon]] named Smyrna, was applied also to a quarter of [[Ephesus]], and can also be recognized under the form Myrina, a city of [[Aeolis]]. The early [[Aeolians|Aeolian]] Greek settlers of [[Lesbos prefecture|Lesbos]] and [[Cyme]], expanding eastwards, occupied the valley of Smyrna. It was one of the confederacy of Aeolian city-states, marking the Aeolian frontier with the [[Ionia]]n colonies. Strangers or refugees from the Ionian city of [[Colophon]] settled in the city and finally (traditionally in [[680s BC|688 BC]]) by an uprising Smyrna passed into their hands and became the thirteenth of the Ionian city-states. Revised mythologies made it a colony of Ephesus (Strabo xiv. [[630s BC|633 BC]]; [[Stephanus Byzantinicus]]; Pliny, ''Nat. Hist.'' v.31) In [[680s BC|688 BC]] the Ionian boxer Onomastus of Smyrna won the prize at Olympia, but the ''coup'' was probably then a recent event. The Colophonian conquest is mentioned by Mimnermus (before [[600s BC|600 BC]]), who counts himself equally of Colophon and of Smyrna. The Aeolic form of the name was retained even in the Attic dialect, and the epithet "Aeolian Smyrna" remained current long after the conquest.

Smyrna's position at the mouth of the small river Hernus at the head of a deep arm of the sea (''Smyrnaeus Sinus'') that reached far inland and admitted Greek trading ships into the heart of Lydia, placed it on an essential trade route between Anatolia and the Aegean and raised Smyrna during the [[7th century BC]] to power and splendor. One of the great trade routes which cross Anatolia descends the Hermus valley past Sardis, and then diverging from the valley passes south of Mount Sipylus and crosses a low pass into the little valley where Smyrna lies between the mountains and the sea. [[Miletus]], and later [[Ephesus]], situated at the sea end of the other great trade route across Anatolia, competed for a time successfully with Smyrna, but after both cities' harbors silted up, Smyrna remained without a rival.

The river Meles, which flowed by Smyrna, is famous in literature and was worshipped in the valley. A common and consistent tradition connects [[Homer]] with the valley of Smyrna and the banks of the Meles; his figure was one of the stock types on coins of Smyrna, one class of which numismatists call "Homerian"; the epithet Melesigenes was applied to him; the cave where he was wont to compose his poems was shown near the source of the river; his temple, the Homereum, stood on its banks. The steady equable flow of the Meles, alike in summer and winter, and its short course, beginning and ending near the city, are celebrated by Aristides and Himerius. The description applies admirably to the stream which rises from abundant springs east of the city and flows into the southeast extremity of the gulf.

The archaic city ("Old Smyrna") contained a Temple of [[Athena]] from the [[7th century BC]].

==Lydian Smyrna==
When the Mermnad kings raised the Lydian power and aggressiveness, Smyrna was one of the first points of attack. Gyges (ca. [[680s BC|687]]–[[650s BCE|652]]) was, however, defeated on the banks of the Hermus, the situation of the battlefield showing that the power of Smyrna extended far to the east. A strong fortress, the ruins of whose ancient and massive walls are still imposing, on a hill in the pass between Smyrna and Nymphi, was probably built by the Smyrnaean Ionians to command the valley of Nymphi. According to Theognis (about [[500s BC|500 BC]]), pride destroyed Smyrna. Mimnermus laments the degeneracy of the citizens of his day, who could no longer stem the Lydian advance. Finally, Alyattes III ([[600s BC|609]]–[[560s BC|560 BC]]) conquered the city and sacked it, and though Smyrna did not cease to exist, the Greek life and political unity were destroyed, and the ''[[polis]]'' was reorganized on the village system. Smyrna is mentioned in a fragment of Pindar and in an. inscription of [[388 BC]], but its greatness was past.

==Hellenistic Smyrna==
[[Alexander the Great]] conceived the idea of restoring the Greek city, in a scheme that was, according to [[Strabo]], actually carried out under Antigonus ([[316 BC|316]]–[[301 BC]]) and Lysimachus, who enlarged and fortified the city ([[301 BC|301]]–[[281 BC]]). The ruined acropolis of the ancient city, the "crown of Smyrna," had been on a steep peak about 1250 ft. high, which overhangs the northeast extremity of the gulf. The later, [[Hellenistic]] city was founded on the modern site of Izmir, partly on the slopes of a rounded hill the Greeks called Pagus near the southeast end of the gulf, and partly on the low ground between the hill and the sea. The beauty of the Hellenistic city, clustering on the low ground and rising tier over tier on the hillside, was frequently praised by the ancients and is celebrated on its coins.

Smyrna is shut in on the west by a hill now called Deirmen Tepe, with the ruins of a temple on the summit. The walls of Lysimachus crossed the summit of this hill, and the acropolis occupied the top of Pagus. Between the two the road from Ephesus entered the city by the Ephesian gate, near which was a gymnasium. Closer to the acropolis the outline of the stadium is still visible, and the theatre was situated on the north slopes of Pagus. Smyrna possessed two harbours, the outer, which was simply the open roadstead of the gulf, and the inner, which was a small basin, with a narrow entrance, partially filled up by Timur in [[1402]].

The streets were broad, well paved and laid out at right angles; many were named after temples: the main street, called the Golden, ran across the city from west to east, beginning probably from the temple of Zeus Akraios on the west slope of Pagus, and running round the lower slopes of Pagus (like a necklace on the statue, to use the favorite terms of Aristides the orator) towards Tepejik outside the city on the E., where probably stood the temple of [[Cybele]], worshipped under the name of Meter Sipylene, (from Mt. Sipylus, which bounds the Smyrna valley), the patroness of the city. The plain towards the sea was too low to be properly drained and hence in rainy weather the streets were deep with mud and water.

==Roman and Byzantine Smyrna==
In the Roman period Smyrna vied with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title First City of Asia. A Christian church existed here from a very early time, having its origin in the considerable Jewish colony. [[Polycarp]], bishop of Smyrna, was martyred AD [[153]]. The bishops of Smyrna were originally subject to the metropolitan of Ephesus; afterwards they became independent.

When Constantinople became the seat of government the trade between Anatolia and the west lost in importance, and Smyrna declined. A Seljuk pirate named Tsacha seized Smyrna in [[1084]], but it was recovered by the generals of [[Alexius Comnenus]]. The city was several times ravaged by the Turks, and had become quite ruinous when the emperor John Ducas Vatatzes about [[1222]] rebuilt it. But Ibn Batuta found it still in great part a ruin when the famous chieftain Aidin had conquered it about [[1330]] and made his son Amur governor. It became the port of the Aidin amirate. Soon afterwards the Knights of Saint John established themselves in the town, but failed to conquer the citadel. In [[1402]] Timur stormed the town and massacred almost all the inhabitants. The Mongol conquest was only temporary, but Smyrna was resumed by the Seljuks of Aidin and remained Ottoman and then Turkish. Until the reign of Abdul Mejid it was included for administrative purposes in the ''vilayet'' of Jezair ("the Isles") and not in that of Anadoli. The representative of the Capitan Pasha, who governed that eyalet, was, however, less influential in the city than the head of the Kara Osman Oglus of [[Manisa]]. From the early [[17th century]] till [[1825]], Smyrna was the chief provincial factory of the British Turkey Company, as well as of French, Dutch and other trading corporations. The passages with gates at each end within which most Frank shops in modern Smyrna lie, are a survival of the semi-fortified residences of the European merchants.

Western sources (such as the ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' 1908) estimated that shortly before [[World War I]] Smyrna had a population of at least 300,000, of whom 150,000 were Greeks. There were also numerous Jews and Armenians and almost 10,000 European Catholics living in the city at the close of the Ottoman empire.

==The Burning of Smyrna==

In [[1914]] a number of historians contend that the Turkish Nationalist regime may have initiated a systematic campaign against the ethnic Greek population of Asia Minor, while Turkish historians ascribe the deaths to anarchy surrounding the outbreak of [[World War I]]. Whatever the causes, thousands of male Greek conscripts died in forced labor battalions, and many towns and villages were destroyed and thousands of their greek inhabitants killed or exiled in areas where Greeks had previously composed a majority, such as on the Black Sea coast, parts of Eastern Thrace, [[Pontus]], and areas around Smyrna.

In [[1922]], the nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sought to revoke the [[Treaty of Sèvres]] following the defeat of the Ottoman empire in [[World War I]]. The treaty planned to cede parts of eastern [[Thrace]] and Asia Minor to Greece, including the city of Smyrna. The city was occupied on May 15th [[1919]] by Greece with Allied approval. By 1922, the Greek forces which had pushed into Anatolia were driven back to the sea and in September 1922 Smyrna was recaptured. Many Armenians and Greeks were killed when the Turkish army reoccupied Smyrna. While the historian Kinross referred to the deaths as individual and sporadic and placed the total at 2,000, Marjorie H. Dobkin reconstructs the first detailed account of the capture of Smyrna in her book "Smyrna 1922"; she uses diaries, letters and eyewitness reports as sources. Her assessment is that the city was ravaged and destroyed by Turkish troops under the noses of Allied ships, which failed to help the civilian population, or even the refugees who swam out to their ships; for them, economic interests in Turkey were at stake. It is claimed that, of 400.000 Christians in Smyrna, 190.000 were unaccounted for by October 1. The US Consul at Smyrna, George Horton, estimated on the basis of this number that about 100.000 people were killed at Smyrna.
Among the dead was the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Smyrna [[Bishop Chrysostom of Smyrna|Chrysostom]] who was mutilated, then killed by a mob after trying to visit and pay his respects to General Nur-ed-Din Pasha at his headquarters.

Following Turkish reoccupation, a fire destroyed much of the city. The cause of the fire has never been satisfactorily explained. According to Kinross the fire began when Turks, in trying to round up Armenians to confiscate their arms, besieged a group who had taken refuge in a house. They then decided to burn them out by setting the building alight. According to this account, other Armenians in Smyrna, meanwhile, started another fire elsewhere to divert Turkish attention, and it is argued a strong wind could then have carried both fires from the outskirts of Smyrna inward. Many of the buildings, being of flimsy construction, were reduced to ashes. Some Turks believed the fire to be the continuation of the 'scorched earth' policy of the Greeks, while others believed Armenians had received instructions to burn Smyrna as a sacred duty. The more generally accepted account proposed by most Western scholars, however, is that the Turks burned the Armenian and Greek quarters, and Nur-ed-Din Pasha is accused of starting the fire deliberately in an act of retribution. Some Turkish scholars of the time also appear to maintain that position. Suleyman Kulce , in his book, “Maresal Fevzi Cakmak,” accuses Nur-ed-Din and writes that he “..was responsible for the massacres and the fire.” Falih Rifki Atay, who was also a close confidant of Ataturk, was more direct when he wrote: “Why were we burning Izmir? Were we afraid that we would not be delivering ourselves from the (sway) of the minorities in case the mansions, hotels, and cafes were left to remain? Driven by the same fear we put to the torch all the inhabitable quarters and neighborhoods of the Anatolian cities and towns during the World War I Armenian deportations.” He also blamed Nur-ed-Din.

There exist conflicting eyewitness accounts and evidence over who started the fire. The US consul-general George Horton claimed to have seen uniformed Turkish soldiers pouring petroleum near the US consulate. In 1926 Horton published his eyewitness accounts in a stinging criticism of the foreign policy of the Western Powers, ''The Blight of Asia'' [http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/horton/horton.html]. Mark Prentiss, an American industrial engineer, stated that : "Many of us personally saw-and are ready to affirm the statement-Turkish soldiers often directed by officers throwing petroleum in the streets and houses. Vice-Consul Barnes watched a Turkish officer leisurely fire the Custom House and the Passport Bureau while at least fifty Turkish soldiers stood by. Major Davis saw Turkish soldiers throwing oil in many houses. The Navy patrol reported seeing a complete horsehoe of fires started by the Turks around the American school." But after being instructed by his superiors, he changed his version and stated that he saw no petroleum being poured. Furthermore, Prentiss in his last version(sent to Adm. Bristol as a form of a manuscript) claims that Paul Grescovitch, Chief of the Smyrna Fire Department, found evidence to suggest that Armenians were the source of the fire, while Dobkin cites references from the fire department accusing the Turks.

Following the success of the nationalist movement, the Treaty of Sevres was revoked and the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] was signed, marking the end of the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)|Greco-Turkish War]] and incorporating the city of Smyrna (Izmir), into modern day Turkey.

== Sources ==
*Dobkin, Marjorie H. (1972). ''Smyrna 1922: The Destruction of a City.'' Faber & Faber.
*Horton, George. (1926). ''The Blight of Asia'' ([http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/horton/horton.html On-line excerpts])
*Kinross, ''Patrick Ataturk: The Rebirth of a Nation '' Phoenix Press (2003) ID=ISBN 1-84212-599-0
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]
[[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek colonies]]
[[Category:Aeolian colonies]]
[[Category:Ionian colonies]]
[[Category:Asia Minor]]

Zakynthos

2006-09-28T21:44:09Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

'''Zakynthos''' (Ζάκυνθος, also known as '''Zante'''), the third largest of the [[Ionian Islands]], covers an area of 410 square kilometers and its coastline is roughly 123 kilometers in length. The island is named after [[Zacynthus]], son of a legendary Arcadian chief [[Dardanus]]. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or [[Pelasgian]] in origin.

Zakynthos has a varied terrain, with fertile plains in the southeastern part and mountainous terrain with steep cliffs along the coasts on the west. Zakynthos town coordinates are: latitude 37.79139/37°47'29 N, longitude: 20.89528/20'53'43 E.

The mild, Mediterranean climate and the plentiful winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. The principal products are olive oil, currants, grapes and citrus fruit.

The capital, which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town of [[Zakynthos city|Zakynthos]]; apart from the official name, it is also called ''Chora''(i.e. the Town, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town). According to the 2001 census, the island has a population of 38,957.

The most famous Zakynthian is the [[19th century]] poet [[Dionysios Solomos]], the principal modern Greek poet and author of the national anthem of Greece. His statue adorns the main town square.

The island has one airport, the [[Dionysos Solomos Airport]] (on former GR-35) in its southwest which connects flights with other Greek airports. Further southwest is the National [[Marine Park of Zakynthos]] where loggerhead turtles (''Caretta caretta'') are found in (the [[bay of Laganas]]). ''Caretta caretta'' is an endangered species. Every year beginning in June the female turtles come to the southern beaches in order to bury their eggs in the sand. The breeding times takes approx. 55 days. The babies slip themselves into the sea, and the survival rate is very small for the males. A pregnant turtle lays about 1,000 eggs.

The port of Zakynthos has a ferry connecting to the port of [[Kyllini (Elis)|Kyllini]] on the mainland. Another ferry connects the village of Skinari to [[Argostoli]] on the island of [[Kefallinia]].

This paradise on earth suffered severe earthquakes in 1953, which destroyed almost everything on the island. These were not the only earthquakes in area, but the most dramatic ones in recent history. Only three buildings were left standing in place after the disaster: the St. Dionysios Cathedral, the National Bank building, and the church of St. Nicholas "tou Molou" (of the Quay). A few other buildings in outlying areas have avoided complete destruction. Since then Zakynthos has been rebuilt to a very rigid anti-earthquake specification, and has withstood several serious earthquakes with minimal damage.

Mining is also common on the island, where a small mountain located in Zakynthos' west side was mined during the [[1990s]], though it is no longer in use. Today, mining still continues, but now with two quarries on the mountain range in the western part of the island.

on [[January 2005|January 31, 2005]], an earthquake rumbled not far from the island. It tremored in the sea at 5.6 on the Richter scale at 02:30 (UTC/PMST), 04:30 (Eastern Europe-Eastern African time).

The [[Zante currant]], a small sweet seedless grape is native to the island.

*Island length: 40 km
*Island width: 20 km
*Highest point: [[Vrachionas]], 758 m

The sites of interest including Shipwreck Bay, Cape [[Skinari]] and the blue cave.

The western part of the island is accessible and has a panoramic view of the sea.

The ridge area from Anafontria has an observation deck and a ship wreck and with the monastery.

Keri is located in the far south of the island. It is a mountain village and has a lighthouse in the south. It includes a panorama of the southern part of the [[Ionian Sea]].

Zante has campsites and beaches including a beautiful one near Keri with a length of a 100 m surrounded by cliffs. The island also offers a numerous amount of arches and cliffs which are famous. One of the arches are underground. Several documentary shows were filmed around that part of Zakynthos/Zante. Other campsites include [http://www.zanteweb.gr/camping/alykes/ Camping Alykes]. Beaches are in Porto Limnionas, Porto Vromi and Porto Zoro.

Other includes a junior/quaternary soccer team (D Division) named [[APS Zakynthos]].

==Transportation==

[[Greece Interstate 35]], a road linking Zante and Porto Roma and another road linking Zante and Volimes.

==Population==

*[[1900]]: 42,000
*[[1981]]: 30,011
*[[1991]]: 32,556 (island), 13,000 (city)
*[[2001]]: 38,597

==Communications==
===[[List of Greek language television channels|Television]]===

*[[ERZ]]
*[[TVZ (Zante)|TVZ]]

==Municipalities==

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''Municipality'''
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''Municipal code'''
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''Seat'''
!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" | '''Postal code'''
|-
| Alykes || 1601 || [[Alykes]] || 290 90
|-
| [[Arkadi]] || 1602 || [[Vanato]] || 291 00
|-
| [[Artemisio]] || 1603 || [[Macherado]] || 290 92
|-
| [[Elata]] || 1604 || [[Volimes]] || 290 91
|-
| Lagana || 1606 || [[Lagana]] || 290 92
|-
| '''Zakynthos''' || 1605 || [[Zakynthos city]] || 291 00
|}

See also: [[List of settlements in the Zakynthos prefecture]]

==Persons==
*[[Hugo Foscolo]]
*[[Andreas Kalvos]]
*[[Dionysios Solomos]]

==External links==
*[http://www.zakynthos.net.gr zakynthos.net.gr] Complete travel guide for Zante island in five languages
*[http://www.travel-to-zakynthos.com Travel to Zakynthos] Zakynthos Travel Guide
*[http://www.zakynthos-net.gr Zakynthos Net] Travel and Destination information on Zakynthos
*[http://www.zanteguru.com Zante Guru] Comprehensive Travel Guide to Zakynthos
*[http://www.zantehotels.gr Zante Hotels] Complete guide to Zante island.
*[http://www.zanteisland.com zanteisland.com]
*[http://zakynthos.abgebloggt.de/ (in German)]
*[http://www.greeka.com/ionian/zakynthos Greeka - Zakynthos]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=6547 GTP - Zante]
*[http://www.hri.org/infoxenios/english/ionian/zakynthos HRI - Zakynthos]
*[http://www.hri.org/infoxenios/english/ionian/zakynthos/history.html History of Zante]
*[http://www.hri.org/infoxenios/english/ionian/zakynthos/towns.html towns of Zante]
*[http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1226700/zakynthos.html traveljournals.net - traveljournals.net - Zakynthos]
*[http://www.greeka.com/ionian/zakynthos/zakynthos-villages.htm villages of Zante]
*[http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Zante&country=GR Mapquest - Zante]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Greece]]

Corfu

2006-09-28T21:42:39Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

'''Corfu''' (ancient and modern Greek Κέρκυρα, ''Kérkyra'') is an island of [[Greece]], in the [[Ionian Sea]], off the coast of Albania, from which it is separated by a strait varying in breadth from less than 2 to about 15 miles (3 to 25km) including one near Albania near Butrint and a longer one west of [[Thesprotia prefecture]]. It has ferry services to the rest of [[Greece]] with [[Igoumenitsa]] and Gaios in the island of Paxoi and as far as [[Patra]]. There is also a small port in Lefkimmi. The coastline and its beaches is about 217 km which includes capes and points. The highest point is [[Pantokratoras]], the second is [[Stravoskiadi]] (849 m).

It is linked by two highways, GR-24 in the west and GR-25 in the south. The [[Corfu Airport|airport]] is located some kilometres to the south. The airport offers flights with [[Olympic Airlines]] (OA 600, 602 and 606) and [[Aegean Airlines]] (A3 402, 404 and 406). Corfu now also has a university named [[University of Corfu]]. The city is covered with hills while the west is covered with hills. Capes and points include Agia Aikaterini, and Draptis to the north, Lefkimmi and Asprokavos to the southeast and Megachoro to the south. Another island is in the middle of [[Gouva Bay]] which covers the eastern part of the island; it is called [[Ptychia]]. Campgrounds are founded in Palaiokastro, Agrillos, two in the northern part, Pyrgi, Gouvia and Messonghi.

== Geography ==
The name Corfu is an Italian corruption of the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] Κορυφώ; (Koryphō), which is derived from the Greek Κορυφαί (Koryphai), meaning "Crests." In shape it is not unlike the sickle (drepanē), to which it was compared by the ancients, the hollow side, with the town and harbour of Corfu in the centre, being turned towards the Albanian coast. Its extreme length is about 40 miles (60km). and its greatest breadth about 20 miles (30km). The area is estimated at [[1 E8 m²|227 sq. miles (580 km²)]]. Two high and well-defined ranges divide the island into three districts, of which the northern is mountainous, the central undulating and the southern low-lying. The most important of the two ranges is that of San Salvador, probably the ancient Istone, which stretches east and west from Cape St. Angelo to Cape St. Stefano, and attains its greatest elevation of 3300 ft (1000 m) in the summit from which it takes its name. The second culminates in the mountain of Santi Jeca, or Santa Decca, as it is called by misinterpretation of the Greek designation οἱ Ἅγιοι Δέκα (hoi Hagioi Deka), or the Ten Saints. The whole island, composed as it is of various limestone formations, presents great diversity of surface, and the prospects from the more elevated spots are magnificent. Beautiful and sparkling beaches with yellow sands are founded in Agii Gordi, the [[Korissi lagoon]], Agios Georgios, Marathia, Kassiopi, Sidari, Roda, Palaiokastritsa and many others.

Corfu is generally considered the most beautiful of all the [[Greek islands|Greek isles]], but the prevalence of the olive gives some monotony to its colouring. It is worthy of remark that [[Homer]] names, as adorning the garden of [[Alcinous]], seven plants only—wild olive, oil olive, pear, pomegranate, apple, fig and vine. Of these the apple and the pear are now very inferior in Corfu; the others thrive well and are accompanied by all the fruit trees known in southern Europe, with addition of the Japanese medlar(or loquat) and, in some spots, the banana. When undisturbed by cultivation, the myrtle, arbutus, bay and ilex form a rich brushwood and the minor flora of the island is extensive.

The town of Corfu stands on the broad part of a peninsula, whose termination in the citadel is cut from it by an artificial fosse formed in a natural gully, with a salt-water ditch at the bottom. Having grown up within fortifications, where every foot of ground was precious, it is mostly, in spite of recent improvements, a labyrinth of narrow, tortuous, up-and-down streets, accommodating themselves to the irregularities of the ground, few of them fit for wheel carriages. There is, however, a handsome esplanade between the town and the citadel, and a promenade by the seashore towards Castrades. In several parts of the town may be found houses of the Venetian time, with some traces of past splendour, but they are few, and are giving place to structures in the modern and more convenient French style. The town is as mundane as Rome, looks like Venice and has the flair of Cuba. Of the thirty-seven Greek churches the most important are the city's cathedral, the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Cave (ἡ Παναγία Σπηλιώτισσα (hē Panagia Spēliōtissa)); [[Saint Spyridon]] church, where inside lies the preserved body of the patron saint of the island; and the suburban church of St Jason and St Sosipater, reputed the oldest in the island, named after the two saints who were probably the first to preach Christianity to the Corfiots. The nearby island named Pontikonisi (Greek meaning "mouse island") has only three trees, and the highest point is about 2 m.

Othoni (Οθωνοί) is the westernmost settlement and island in all of Greece. Erikoussa is the northernmost of the Ionian Islands. All areas lie below the 40° N. About a quarter of the villages ends with -ades and there is some villages that also ends with -ades outside Corfu and are a few in the prefecture of Ioannina. The southern part and on Paxoi have villages ending with -atika and one ending with -eika and is Gramateika.

==Climate==

{| border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="567"
| style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Climate

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jan

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Feb

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Mar

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Apr

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | May

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jun

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Jul

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Aug

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Sep

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Oct

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Nov

| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Dec
|-----
| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Total Sunshine Days

| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 4

| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 5

| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 7

| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 7

| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 9

| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 10

| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 12

| style="background: #FF9900; color:#000080;" | 11

| style="background: #FFCC00; color:#000080;" | 9

| style="background: #FFCC66; color:#000080;" | 6

| style="background: #FFFF99; color:#000080;" | 4

| style="background: #FFFFCC; color:#000080;" | 2
|-----
| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" height="16;" | High temperature [°C]

| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 14

| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 15

| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 16

| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 19

| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 23

| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 28

| style="background: #FFFF66; color: black;" | 31

| style="background: #FFFF66; color: black;" | 32

| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 28

| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 23

| style="background: #FFFF99; color: black;" | 19

| style="background: #FFFFCC; color: black;" | 16
|-----
| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Low temperatures [°C]

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 13

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 13

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 14

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 15

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 18

| style="background: #66CCFF; color: black;" | 22

| style="background: #66CCFF; color: black;" | 23

| style="background: #66FFFF; color: black;" | 24

| style="background: #66CCFF; color: black;" | 23

| style="background: #66CCFF; color: black;" | 21

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 17

| style="background: #0033FF; color: black;" | 14
|-----
| style="background: #99CCCC; color:#000080;" | Precipitation
| style="background: #009933;" | 13 || style="background: #33CC33;" | 11
| style="background: #00FF99;" | 9
| style="background: #99FFCC;" | 7 || style="background: #99FFCC;" | 5
| style="background: #99FFFF;" | 2
| style="background: #99FFFF;" | 1 || style="background: #99FFFF;" | 1
| style="background: #99FFCC;" | 5
| style="background: #00FF99;" | 9 || style="background: #33CC33;" | 12
| style="background: #009900;" | 15
|}

==Population==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Population !! Change !! Density
|-
| [[1991]] || 105,043 || - || 163.87/km²
|-
| [[2001]] || 113,000 || about 8,000/about 8% || about 180/km²
|}

== Transportation==

*Greece Interstate 24, Cen., W, Corfu - Palaiokastritsa
*[[Greece Interstate 25]], Cen., S, SE, Corfu - Lefkimi

==Municipalities and communities==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Municipality !! YPES code !! Seat !! Postal code !! Area code
|-
| [[Achiliis]] || 2602 || [[Vrioni]] || 490 84 || 26610-39
|-
| [[Agios Georgios (Corfu), Greece|Agios Georgios]] || 2601 || [[Agros]] || 490 83 || 26630-7
|-
| '''Corfu''' || 2607 || [[Corfu (city)]] || 491 00 || 26610
|-
| [[Esperii]] || 2604 || [[Velonades]] || 490 81 || 26630-7
|-
| [[Feakes]] || 2616 || [[Hypsos]] || 490 83 || 26610-97
|-
| Kassiopi || 2606 || [[Kassiopi]] || 491 00 || 26630-91
|-
| [[Korissi]] || 2608 || [[Argyrades Kerkyras]] || 490 80 || 26620-5
|-
| Lefkimmi || 2609 || [[Lefkimmi]] || 490 80 || 26620-2
|-
| [[Melitiis]] || 2611 || [[Moraitika]] || 490 81 || 26610-7
|-
| Palaiokastritsa || 2613 || [[Palaiokastritsa]] Lakonon || 490 83 || 26630-4
|-
| [[Parelii]] || 2615 || [[Kokkinio]] || 491 00 || 26610-9
|-
| [[Paxoi]] || 2614 || [[Gaios]] || 490 82 || 26620-3
|-
| [[Thinalio]] || 2605 || [[Acharavi]] || 491 00 || 26630-63
|-bgcolor="#efefef"
! Community !! YPES code !! Seat !! Postal code !! Area code
|-
| [[Erikoussa]] || 2603 || [[Nissos Erikoussis]] || 491 00 || 26630-7
|-
| Mathraki || 2610 || [[Mathraki]] || 491 00 || 26630-71
|-
| Othonas || 2612 || [[Othonas]] || 491 00 || 26630-71
|}

See also: [[List of settlements in the Corfu prefecture]]

== History ==

According to the local tradition Corcyra was the [[Homer]]ic island of [[Scheria]], and its earliest inhabitants the Phaeacians. At a date no doubt previous to the foundation of [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]] it was peopled by settlers from [[Corinth]], but it appears to have previously received a stream of emigrants from [[Eretria]]. The splendid commercial position of Corcyra on the highway between Greece and the West favoured its rapid growth and, influenced perhaps by the presence of non-Corinthian settlers, its people, quite contrary to the usual practice of Corinthian colonies, maintained an independent and even hostile attitude towards the mother city. This opposition came to a head in the early part of the 7th century, when their fleets fought the first naval battle recorded in Greek history (about [[664 BC]]). These hostilities ended in the conquest of Corcyra by the Corinthian tyrant [[Periander]] who induced his new subjects to join in the colonization of [[Apollonia]] and [[Anactorium]]. The island soon regained its independence and henceforth devoted itself to a purely mercantile policy. During the [[Iran|Persia]]n invasion of [[480 BC]] it manned the second largest Greek fleet (60 ships), but took no active part in the war. In [[435 BC]] it was again involved in a quarrel with Corinth and sought assistance from Athens (see [[Battle of Sybota]]). This new alliance was one of the chief immediate causes of the [[Peloponnesian War]], in which Corcyra was of considerable use to the [[Athens|Athenians]] as a naval station, but did not render much assistance with its fleet. The island was nearly lost to Athens by two attempts of the oligarchic faction to effect a revolution; on each occasion the popular party ultimately won the day and took a most bloody revenge on its opponents ([[427 BC]] and [[425 BC]]). During the [[Sicilian campaign]]s of Athens Corcyra served as a base for supplies; after a third abortive rising of the oligarchs in [[410 BC]] it practically withdrew from the war. In [[375 BC]] it again joined the Athenian alliance; two years later it was besieged by a [[Sparta|Lacedaemonian]] armament, but in spite of the devastation of its flourishing countryside held out successfully until relief was at hand. In the [[Hellenistic]] period Corcyra was exposed to attack from several sides; after a vain siege by [[Cassander]] it was occupied in turn by [[Agathocles]] and [[Pyrrhus of Epirus|Pyrrhus]]. It subsequently fell into the hands of Illyrian corsairs, until in [[229 BC]] it was delivered by the Romans, who retained it as a naval station and gave it the rank of a free state. In [[31 BC]] it served [[Augustus Caesar|Octavian]] (Augustus) as a base against Mark Antony. Eclipsed by the foundation of [[Nicopolis]], Corcyra for a long time passed out of notice. With the rise of the [[Normans|Norman]] kingdom in Sicily and the [[Italy|Italian]] naval powers, it again became a frequent object of attack. In [[1081]]-[[1085]] it was held by [[Robert Guiscard]], in [[1147]]-[[1154]] by Roger II of Sicily. During the break-up of the Later Roman Empire it was occupied by Genoese privateers ([[1197]]-[[1207]]) who in turn were expelled by the Venetians. In [[1214]]-[[1259]] it passed to the Greek [[despotate of Epirus|despots of Epirus]], and in [[1267]] became a possession of the Neapolitan house of [[Anjou]]. Under the latter's weak rule the island suffered considerably from the inroads of various adventurers; hence in [[1386]] it placed itself under the protection of Venice, which in [[1401]] acquired formal sovereignty over it. Corcyra remained in Venetian hands till [[1797]], though several times assailed by Turkish armaments and subjected to two notable sieges in [[1536]] and [[1716]]-[[1718]], in which the great natural strength of the city again asserted itself. The Venetian feudal families pursued a mild but somewhat enervating policy towards the natives, who began to merge their nationality in that of the Latins and adopted for the island the new name of Corfu. The Corfiotes were encouraged to enrich themselves by the cultivation of the olive, but were debarred from entering into commercial competition with Venice. The island served as a refuge for Greek scholars, and in [[1732]] became the home of the first academy of modern Greece, but no serious impulse to Greek thought came from this quarter.

By the Treaty of Campo Formio, Corfu was ceded to the French, who occupied it for two years, until they were expelled by the Russian squadron under Admiral Ushakov. For a short time it became the capital of a self-governing federation of the [[Hephtanesos]] ("Seven Islands"); in [[1807]] its faction-ridden government was again replaced by a French administration, and in [[1809]] it was vainly besieged by a British fleet. When, by the Treaty of Paris of [[November 5]], [[1815]], the Ionian Islands became a protectorate of the United Kingdom, Corfu became the seat of the British high commissioner. The British commissioners, who were practically autocrats in spite of the retention of the native senate and assembly, introduced a strict method of government which brought about a decided improvement in the material prosperity of the island, but by its very strictness displeased the natives. In [[1864]] it was, with the other Ionian Islands, ceded to the kingdom of Greece, in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants. The island has again become an important point of call and has a considerable trade in olive oil; under a more careful system of tillage the value of its agricultural products might be largely increased.

During the [[World War II|Second World War]], the Italian Army bombarded the city devastating most of the area.

Several movies were filmed in Corfu and a song was common that it was set in a city square and it was called ''[[Kerkyra (song)|Kerkyra]]'' which is dedicated to this city and the island. It was also set in a Corfiot beach.

In late-[[2002]] and early-[[2003]], heavy rains plundered the island several times including one which caused a mudslide near [[Messonghi Beach]].

== Archaeology and architecture ==
Corfu contains very few important remains of [[antiquity]]. The site of the ancient city of Corcyra (Kerkyra) is well ascertained, about 1 1/2 miles (2km) to the south-east of Corfu, upon the narrow piece of ground between the sea-lake of [[Halikiopoulo]] and the Bay of Castrades, in each of which it had a port. The circular tomb of [[Menekrates]], with its well-known inscription, is on the Bay of Castrades. Under the hill of Ascension are the remains of a temple, popularly called of [[Poseidon]], a very simple [[dome]] structure, which still in its mutilated state presents some peculiarities of [[architecture]]. Of [[Cassiope]], the only other city of ancient importance, the name is still preserved by the village of Cassiopi, and there are some rude remains of building on the site; but the temple of [[Zeus]] Cassius for which it was celebrated has totally disappeared. Throughout the island there are numerous monasteries and other buildings of Venetian erection, of which the best known are Paleokastritsa, San Salvador and Pelleka. The ''Achilleon'' or ''Achilleas Thniskon'' is a palace commissioned by [[Elisabeth of Bavaria|Elisabeth of Austria]] and purchased in [[1907]] by [[Wilhelm II of Germany]]; it is now a popular [[tourist attraction]].

Corfu Town is famous for its Italianate architecture, most notably the '''''Liston''''', an arched colonnade lined with cafes on the edge of the '''''Spianada''''' (Esplanade), the vast main plaza and park which incorporates a [[cricket]] field and several pavilions. Also notable are the Old and New castles, the recently restored '''''Palace of Sts. Michael and George''''', formerly the residence of the British governor and the seat of the [[Ionian Senate]], and the summer Palace of '''''Mon Repos''''', formerly the property of the Greek royal family and birthplace of the [[Duke of Edinburgh]].

{{1911}}

==Music and festivities==
Corfiotes are great lovers of music. Most people readily join in the singing of the ''cantadas'', impromptu choral songs in two, three or four voices, usually accompanied by a guitar. Corfu Town is home to three famous, top-quality marching brass bands, the dark red-uniformed '''[[Philharmonic Society of Corfu]]''' or '''Old Philharmonic''', the blue-uniformed '''[[Mantzaros]]''' Philharmonic and the bright red and black-uniformed '''[[Capodistria]]''' Philharmonic. The bands give regular weekend promenade concerts and partake in the yearly Holy Week celebrations. There is considerable but friendly rivalry among them, and their respective repertoires are rigorously adhered to. For example on Good Friday the Old Philharmonic will parade the streets playing [[Albinoni]]'s ''Adagio'', the Mantzaros plays [[Verdi]]'s ''Marcia Funebre'' from [[Don Carlo]], and the Capodistria plays [[Chopin]]'s ''Funeral March'' and [[Mariani]]'s ''Sventura''.

Sometimes, though, the three bands coexist, as is the case on Holy Saturday morning, when the ''Epitaphios'' of the St. Spiridon Cathedral is paraded, along with the Saint's relics. At this time the bands play [[Miccheli]]'s ''Calde Lacrime'', the ''Marcia Funebre'' from [[Faccio]]'s opera ''Amleto'', and the ''Funeral March'' from [[Beethoven]]'s ''[[Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)|Eroica]]''. The custom dates from the 16th century, when the Venicians banned the traditional Good Friday Epitaphios parade. The defiant Corfiotes held the litany the following morning, and paraded the relics of St. Spiridon as well, so that the Venicians would not dare intervene.

The litany is followed by the most spectacular Corfiote celebration by far, the "Early Resurrection". Balconies in the old town are decked in bright red cloths, and Corfiotes throw large clay pots (the ''botides'') full of water down, so that they smash on the street pavement. This is done in anticipation of the Resurrection of Jesus, which is to be celebrated that same night.

During Venetian rule, the Corfiotes developed a fervent appreciation for Italian [[opera]]. The Corfu Opera House was a fixture in famous opera singers' itineraries, and those who were successful there were given the title '''''"applaudito in Corfu"'''''.

==Persons==

*[[Evgenios Voulgaris]], clergyman, writer ([[1716]] - [[1806]]).
*Prince Philip
*[[Ioannis Kapodistrias]], first Governor of Greece
*[[Nikos Mantzaros]] ([[1795]] - [[April 12]], [[1872]])
*[[Rena Vlachopoulou]] ([[1923]] - [[July 29]], [[2004]] in [[Athens]])
*[[Georgios Theotokis]] ([[1844]] - [[1916]])
*[[Gerald Durrell]] and [[Lawrence Durrell]] lived in Corfu for some years and Gerald wrote several books about his upbringing on the island.
*[[Sakis Rouvas]] singer

== External links==

*http://www.enimerosi.com - Newspaper in Ionian Islands, portal about Corfu and Ionian
*http://www.travel-to-corfu.com - Corfu travel guide
*http://www.holiday.gr/place5.php?place_id=32 - Corfu By Holiday.gr
*http://www.e-city.gr/corfu/ - Corfu guide
*[http://www.hit360.com/english/destinations/showcounty.php?county_id=50 Corfu Travel and Hotels Guide] with panoramic 360 images.
*http://www.kerkyra.net
*http://www.corfu.gr - Homepage of the city of Corfu
*http://www.olympion.de/ - Corfu weather, pictures, information (in German)
*http://www.corfugolfclub.com/ - Corfu Golfclub
*http://www.ionio.gr/ - Ionian University
*http://www.allcorfu.com/ - Maps, news and weather
*http://www.corfunet.com
*[http://www.pelekas.com/ Pelekas] - A typical Corfiot village
* http://www.meditationincorfu.org/ - Meditation and Buddhism in Corfu (greece and english)
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Greece]]

Agios Nikolaos

2006-09-28T21:41:59Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

'''Agios Nikolaos''' (or Aghios Nikolaos, [[Greek language|Greek]]: Άγιος Νικόλαος) is a coastal town on the [[Greece|Greek]] island of [[Crete]].
It is east of the island's largest city [[Heraklio]], north of the town of [[Ierapetra]] and west of the town of [[Sitia]]. In the year 2000 the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos which includes part of the surrounding villages counted about 19,000 inhabitants. Agios Nikolaos is the capital of the [[prefecture]] of [[Lasithi prefecture|Lasithi]].

The name ''Agios Nikolaos'' means ''Saint Nicholas''. The stress lies on the second syllable of the word "Nikolaos".

Note that ''Agios Nikolaos'' or ''Ayios Nikolaos'' (alternative transliterations of the Greek ''Άγιος Νικόλαος'') is a common place name in [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]] since [[Saint Nicholas]] is the patron saint of sailors and of all of Greece.

It is easy to reach the town by bus. There is a regularly scheduled bus service along the northern coast of Crete, and it takes one hour and a half to get from [[Heraklion]] to Agios Nikolaos.

There are several small beaches near the inner town. Also, there is a small lake near the harbour, [[Lake Voulismeni]], along which there are terraces.

The archeological museum has artifacts from the [[Minoan Crete|Minoan]] era. There is a folk museum in the city as well.

Agios Nikolaos also has a golf club a few kilometres north situated near the grassy hills of the north and forests in the middle. Hotels are near the golfcourse.

==See also==
* [[Lake Voulismeni]]
* [[Crete]]

==External links==

*[http://www.aghiosnikolaos.gr Homepage of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Crete]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Lasithi prefecture]]

Magnesia

2006-09-28T21:40:01Z

Sunfire32:

'''Magnesia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Μαγνησία ''Magnisia'', deriving from the [[Macedonia]]n tribe name ''[[Magnetes]]'', is the name of the southeastern area of [[Thessaly]] in central [[Greece]]. About two-thirds to three-fourths of the entire population live in the Greater [[Volos]] area which is the second-largest city in Thessaly. Much of the population live within the Pagasetic Gulf and the eastern part. Its area ranking is between [[Larisa prefecture]] and [[Chalkida]].

Homeland of the mythical heroes [[Jason]], [[Peleus]] and his son [[Achilles]].

The modern Magnesian capital is the city of [[Volos]], and the homonymous prefecture includes the [[Almyros]] plain, [[Nea Anchialos]] archaeological excavations, the [[Pagasetic Gulf]], the Mt. [[Pelion]] peninsula and the [[Sporades]] islands.

It is bounded by [[Phthiotis prefecture|Phthiotis]] in the southeast, and [[Larisa prefecture|Larisa]] in the west and north. The lagoon of [[Lake Voivis]] is to the north and is surrounded with farmlands to the west and mountains to the east. It is one of the prefectures that is bounded with only two prefectures.

Most of the settlements are in the western part of the Sporades, southeastern, central, northwestern and along within the Pagasetic Gulf.

==Transportation==

*[[Greece Interstate 1]]/[[E75]], SW, W, NW
*[[Greece Interstate 6]], Cen., NW
*[[Greece Interstate 30]], W, Cen.

==Archaeological sites==

*[[Pagasae]]
*[[Iolcus]]
*[[Demetrias]]
*[[Nea Anchialos]]

==Municipalities and communities==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Municipality !! YPES code !! Seat !! Postal code !! Area code
|-
| [[Afetes]] || 3708 || [[Neochori (Magnesia), Greece|Neochori]] || 370 10 || 24230-
|-
| Agria || 3701 || [[Agria]] || 373 00 || 24280-
|-
| [[Aisonia]] || 3703 || [[Dimini]] || 385 00 || 24210
|-
| Almyros || 3603 || [[Almyros]] || 371 00 || 24220-
|-
| Alonnisos || 3704 || [[Alonissos]] || 370 05 || 24240-
|-
| Argalasti || 3706 || [[Argalasti]] || 370 06 || 24230-
|-
| [[Artemida (Magnesia), Greece|Artemida]] || 3707 || [[Ano Lechonia]] || 385 00 || 24280-
|-
| [[Feres]] || 3726 || [[Velestino]] || 375 00 || 24250-
|-
| [[Iolcus|Iolkos]] || 3711 || [[Anakasia Iolkou]] || 385 00 || 24210-
|-
| [[Karla, Greece|Karla]] || 3712 || [[Stefanoviki]] || 375 00 || 24250-
|-
| Milea || 3715 || [[Milea (Magnesia)|Milea]] || 370 10 || 24230-
|-
| [[Mouresi]] || 3716 || [[Tsangarada]] || 370 12 || 24260-
|-
| Nea Anchialos || 3717 || [[Nea Anchialos]] || 374 00 || 24280-
|-
| Nea Ionia || 3718 || [[Nea Ionia, Volos|Nea Ionia]] || 383 & 384 || 24210
|-
| Portaria || 3719 || [[Portaria]] || 370 11 || 24280-
|-
| Pteleos || 3720 || [[Pteleos]] || 370 07 || 24220-
|-
| [[Sipiada]] || 3721 || [[Lafkos]] || 370 06 || 24230-
|-
| Skiathos || 3722 || [[Skiathos]] || 370 03 || 24240-
|-
| Skopelos || 3723 || [[Skopelos]] || 370 03 || 24240-
|-
| Sourpi || 3724 || [[Sourpi]] || 370 08 || 24220-
|-
| '''Volos''' || 3709 || [[Volos]] || 380-382 || 24210
|-
| Zagora || 3710 || [[Zagora]] || 370 01 || 24260-
|-bgcolor="#efefef"
! Community !! YPES code !! Seat !! Postal code !! Area code
|-
| Anavra || 3705 || [[Anavra]] || 350 10 || 22320-9
|-
| Keramidi || 3713 || [[Keramidi (Magnesia)|Keramidi]] || 385 00 || 24280-7
|-
| Makrinitsa || 3714 || [[Makrinitsa]] || 370 11 || 24280-99
|-
| Trikeri || 3725 || [[Trikeri]] || 370 09 || 24230-91
|}

See also: [[Populated places in the Magnesia prefecture]]

==Persons==

*[[Rigas Feraios]] Poet and forerunner of the Greek Revolution of 1821
*[[Lavrentios Dianellos]], a [[List of Greeks|Greek actor]]
*[[Nikos Gounaris]], popular [[Elafro]] singer

==Football (soccer) clubs==

*[[Niki Volos FC|Niki Volos]]
*[[Olympiakos Volos FC|Olympiakos Volos]]

==Hotels==
*[[Laodamia Hotel]]
*[[Protessilaos Hotel]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.magnesia.gr Homepage of the Magnesia prefecture]
*[http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/enh/PILIONWWW/pages/magnesia.html History of Magnesia]
*[http://www.magnesia.gr/Promotion_plan/english/history.htm History of Magnesia]
*[http://www.travel-pelion.gr Hotels Association Of Magnesia]
*[http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

[[Category:Prefectures of Greece]]

Elis prefecture

2006-09-28T21:39:51Z

Sunfire32:

'''Elis''' (Modern Greek: Ηλεία - ''Ileía'') is a [[prefecture]] in the Western [[Peloponnesus]] and in Western portion of [[Greece]]. The prefecture is part of the [[Peripheries of Greece|periphery]] of [[West Greece]]. It covers the area of ancient Elis, and was formerly a department. Its capital is [[Pyrgos]].

==Overview==

The population of ancient Elis (from 1000-1 BC) was in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 and reached 10,000 or 20,000 by 1 BC. The population surpassed the 100,000 mark around the quarter of the 20th century and more than 150,000 in the late-20th century. Pyrgos became the largest city having the population over the 10,000 mark in the mid-20th century, and abovr 20,000 in the late-1980s. The population in the northwest is growing while the population is declining in the southeast and east.

The area is rich in beaches, climate, and forests.

==Climate==

In spring, temperatures in May can climb to around 20 to 25 °C. Temperatures in the summer can soar over 30 °C (86 °F).

==Geography==

The northernmost point is 38.1° or 38° 06′ N, the westernmost is around 22.2° E or 22° 12′ E, the southernmost is 37.3° N or 37° 18′ N, and the easternmost is 21.9° E or 21° 54′ E. The length from north to south (Directly is 100 km (60 miles), and from east-to-west is around 55 km (35 miles). Its coast line includes 120 km of sandy beaches.

The longest river is the Alpheus River (Greek: Πόταμος Αλφειόυ ''Alfeios''). Other rivers are Erymanthus (Ερύμανθος ''Erymanthos'') by the boundary of Elia-Arcadia, Peneus (Πόταμος Πηνειός ''Pineios'') of the west runs down into the southern part of Vartholomio. The Neda (Νέδα) river is the boundary of Messenia and Elis.

Forests are found in the east. Pine trees are mostly founded in places from Neda River up to Peneus River. About half of the area are covered with forest. There are forest preserves in [[Pholoe]] (Φολόη ''Foloi'', ''Pholoi'', modern Greek or ''Pholoe'', ancient and modern Greek.), and the mountain ranges of Eastern Elis. Another forests in the northern part is the [[Strofylia]] forests which has pine trees.

Tree-planting is very rare. The rate of forestation is slightly decreasing, mainly by fires and road networks. But larger forests, not linked by any roads, are protected.

The port of [[Kyllini]] in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis. It ferries cars to and fro the islands of [[Zante]] and [[Corfu]] with 2 ferry lines. Other ports in the prefecture are small in size and can only accomodate smaller boats.

Elis is located in the heart of the earthquake zone and the faultline. Every year dozens of minor earthquakes and aftershocks can be felt.

Here lies the ancient ruins of [[Elis]] (Ancient Greek Ηλίς ''Elis'', Modern Greek Ηλίδα ''Ilida''), [[Epitalium]] (Επιτάλιον, Επιτάλιο (modern Greek spelling ''Epitalion'') and [[Olympia]], and once held the ancient Olympic games which started in [[776 BC]]. A museum is found with statues that relate with the history of Olympia. Another smaller museum is in Elis.

Elis has a military airport in [[Andravida]], located slightly north of Pyrgos, 3 km north of the center of Andravida. There are no international or local airports in the area. There are military bases in Elis, like the one in Kyllini.

Monasteries are scattered throughout the region. The nearest from Amalias is [[Agia Frangavilli]] about 5 km SE of Amalias and N or Pyrgos via GR-9.

==Agriculture==

The primary agricultural products of the region are corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, watermelons and melons.

There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia, [[Gastouni]], and north of Andravida. The most fertile land is a plain that covers the northern part of the prefecture.

==Tourism==

Tourism flourishes in the summer season in hotels in the Kyllini area and its thermal springs next to the Ionian Sea.

Another tourist attraction is Olympia, along with its ancient ruins.

==Population==

*1991: 174,021, density: 65 inh./km²
*2001: 192,340, density: 71.74/km²

==People==
*[[Andreas Karkavitsas]], writer
*[[Ioannis Paraskevopoulos]], banker, Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Dimitrios Kiousopoulos]], jurist, Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Spyros Skouras]], [[Greek-American]] film executive

==Communication==

Total highways are exactly 200 km, with 25 km being old national roads. Almost 95% to 99% of the roads were surfaced in the 1950s.

The principal highways include:
*[[E55]] ([[Greece Interstate 9|GR Highway 9]]). Its length is 110 km (68 miles), while bypassing Pyrgos. The highway runs through the entire western coast of the Peloponnese, with a few exceptions, Kyllini and Katakolon coasts.
*[[Greece Interstate 74|GR Highway 74]], the Pyrgos-[[Tripolis]] Road which last around 500 to 60 kilometers in Elia linking up to the small one-lane narrow tracherous bridge Construction is under way for a by-pass and a 2-lane bridge will also be built over the riverbanks of Erymanthus. This is the only road connects outside Elia, being running from W to E parts of the Peloponnese.
*[[Greece Interstate 76|GR Highway 76]], part of which is funded locally and not being GR Highway 76 though. The Elia portion of Pyrgos-Andritsaina-Megalopolis road is 60 km long This road runs almost entirely being the Peloponnesian highway running from NW (Kyllini) to SE ([[Monemvasia]]).
*[[Greece Interstate 33|GR Highway 33]], about 30 km (20 miles) with curves for Patras-Tripolis Highway in Elia.

==Telecommunications==

*[[Olympiaki Radiophonio Teleorassi|ORT]] (''Olympiaki Radiophonio Teleorassi'' meaning the Olympic Broadcasting Television) serves the whole of Elia in local programming to the area. ORT is also a [[Polis (television channel)|Polis]] affiliate along with [[Music All Day]].

There are number of radio stations like RSA, [[Radio Station of Amalias]] from Amalias, [[Eleftheri Radiofonas Krestenas]] from Krestena, and so on.

==Municipalities==

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Municipality !! YPES code !! Seat 
|-
|[[Alifeira]]||1701||[[Kallithea, Elis|Kallithea]]
|-
|Amaliada||1702||[[Amaliada]]
|-
|Andravida||1703||[[Andravida]]
|-
|Andritsaina||1704|| [[Andritsaina]]
|-
|Archaia Olympia||1705||[[Olympia]]
|-
|[[Figaleia]] ||1720|| [[Nea Figaleia]]
|-
|[[Foloi]] ||1721|| [[Lalas]]
|-
|Gastouni ||1709|| [[Gastouni]]
|-
|[[Iardanos]]||1711||[[Vounargo]]
|-
|[[Kastro-Kyllini]] ||1712|| [[Kyllini]]
|-
|Lampeia||1713|| [[Lampeia]]
|-
|[[Lasion]] ||1714|| [[Panopoulo]]
|-
|Lechaina||1715|| [[Lechaina]]
|-
|[[Oleni]] ||1722|| [[Karatoulas]]
|-
|[[Pineia]] || 1716||[[Efyra]]
|-
|'''Pyrgos'''||1717|| [[Pyrgos]]
|-
|[[Skillounta]]||1718||[[Krestena]]
|-
|Tragano||1719|| [[Tragano]]
|-
|Vartholomio||1706||[[Vartholomio]]
|-
|[[Volakas]]||1708||[[Epitalio]]
|-
|[[Vouprasia]]||1707||[[Varda]]
|-
|Zacharo||1710||[[Zacharo]]
|}

Elis has two provinces:
*[[Elis province]] contains Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis. Though smaller, it has the most people. The seat is [[Pyrgos]].
*[[Olympia province]] containing most of Pisatis or Pisa and Triphylia. Its seat is [[Andritsaina]], Krestena and Zacharo are the largest towns in the district.

See also:
*[[List of settlements in the Elis prefecture]]
*[[List of municipalities in the Elis Prefecture]]

==External links==

*[http://www.media.net.gr/pirgos.htm Radio stations of Ileia]
*[http://dipe.ilei.sch.gr/ekpth/tilc.htm Schools of Ileia]
*[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/d/d_gr_il.htm World Gazeteer - Ilia]
*[http://www.travelinfo.gr/eleia.htm Travel Info - Ileia]
*[http://www.nailias.gr The Prefectural administration of Ilia]
*[http://5dim-pyrgou.ilei.sch.gr/ilia.html Geography of Ilia] (in Greek)
*http://www.structurae.info/geo/geoid/index.cfm?ID=11273 - Structurae (in French)
* [http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]
[[Category:Prefectures of Greece]]

Ammochostos

2006-09-28T21:37:42Z

Sunfire32: /* External Links */

'''Ammochostos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Αμμόχωστος, Turkish: ''Gazimağusa'', commonly in western languages "Famagusta") is a city on the east coast of [[Cyprus]].

The town was known as ''Arsinoe'' (after [[Arsinoe]] of Egypt) in antiquity, then ''Ammochostos'' (meaning "hidden in sand") which is how it is today referred to in Greek. The same name developed into ''Famagusta'',used in Western European languages and the Turkish name of ''Mağusa'' (Gazi is a Turkish prefix meaning ''veteran''). It seems to have had its heyday in the 13th century when Christians fleeing from Syria and Palestine settled there thriving under the Lusignan dynasty, which ruled from 1192. It declined after a riot in the 14th century and by 1489, when the Venetians took over, it had seen better times. They redeveloped it, building a massive wall round the old town, still mostly remaining. The ''Martinengo'' bastion is an excellent example of expert fortification, as it provides protection for the walls on either side of it. The Ottoman forces took over in 1571, converting churches into mosques or using them for secular purposes. The Cathedral of St Nicholas became the Lala Mustapha Pasa Mosque.

After the British acquired Cyprus in [[1878]], they demolished many buildings to provide material for Port Said and the Suez Canal. Famagusta was occupied by the Turkish military during the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|invasion of the island by Turkey]] in [[1974]]. The Greek Cypriot inhabitants fled, never to return again. Consequently, most of the then-modern part of the city, known as Varosha, was deserted, becoming a closed-off military zone, something which persists to this day. Varosha is often described as a "Ghost Town" as it has been frozen in time with department stores still full of clothes, now many years out of fashion and hotels still fully equipped.

Turkish Cypriots continue to live north of Varosha, especially in the walled city.

The town, prior to the Turkish military occupation, played host to the football clubs [[Anorthosis Famagusta FC|Anorthosis]] and [[Nea Salamina FC|Nea Salamina]].

==External Links==
*[http://www.emu.edu.tr/ Eastern Mediterranean University ]
*[http://groups.msn.com/ReturntoVaroshaFamagustaCyprus/ Return to Varosha, Famagusta, Cyprus]
* [http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]
[[Category: Cities and Towns in Cyprus]]

Lemesos

2006-09-28T21:36:59Z

Sunfire32: /* External link */

'''Limassol''' (population 107,000) is the English name for '''Lemesos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Λεμεσός, Turkish: Leymosun), the second-largest city of [[Cyprus]]. The city is situated on [[Akrotiri Bay]], on the southside of the island.

Limassol was built between two ancient cities, [[Amathus]] and [[Kourion]], so during [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] rule it was known as Neapolis (new town). The ruins of Kourion are extensive and include well-preserved mosaics. Limassol's tourist strip now runs east along the coast as far as Amathus, whose ruins are less well-preserved than Kourion. To the west of the city is the [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|Akrotiri Base Area]] of the United Kingdom.

The medieval castle of Limassol now contains a museum. It is one of the nine castles of Cyprus (the others are at [[Kolossi Castle|Kolossi]], [[Larnaca]], [[Paphos]] and [[Famagusta]], [[Kantara Castle|Kantara]], Buffavento, [[St. Hilarion Castle|St. Hilarion]] and [[Kyrenia]] now in the north.

Richard the Lionheart is supposed to have married his fiancée Princess Berengaria of Navarre on this site after her ship was grounded nearby in [[1191]] as she accompanied him to the Third Crusade.

Limassol is the major sea port under the control of the Republic of Cyprus ([[Famagusta]] is the largest on the island). It is the base for many of the island's wine companies, serving the wine-growing regions on the southern slopes of the [[Troodos Mountains]] (of which the most famous is [[Commandaria]]).

Limassol traditionally had a mixed population of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The majority of Turkish Cypriots moved to the north in 1974. During the 1990s several Cypriot Roma (people) (considered Turkish Cypriots according to the constitution) relocated from North Cyprus to the Turkish quarter of Limassol.

Limassol also attracts a wide range of tourists mostly during the summer season to be accomodated in its several luxurious hotels and apartments.

==External link==

* [http://www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy/ Lemesos Municipality web-pages]
* [http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

[[Category:Cities and Towns in Cyprus]]

Paphos

2006-09-28T21:25:32Z

Sunfire32: /* External links */

'''Paphos''', ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Πάφος'', ''Páfos'') is a coastal town in the south-west of [[Cyprus]]. Paphos is the mythical birthplace of [[Aphrodite]], the [[Greece|Greek]] goddess of love, sex and beauty. In Greco-Roman times it was the island's capital, and it is famous for the remains of the Roman Governor's palace where extensive, fine mosaics are a major tourist attraction. Another famous archaeological site is the [[Tombs of the Kings (Paphos)|Tombs of the Kings]]. The Apostle Paul visited the town during the [[1st century]] and converted the Roman Governor to Christianity.

Modern Paphos has grown from a small settlement and is now a large town based on light industry and the thriving tourist trade. The coastal areas have been developed for visitors on holiday, with numerous large and small hotels and apartments. There is a small harbour and an upper town slightly to the north where the larger shops, offices and town administration are based. A modern international airport was built here in 1983. Paphos is divided into the lower (Kato Paphos) and upper city (Ktima).

[[Rauf Denktash|Rauf Denktaş]], the long-serving leader of the Turkish Cypriot community of Cyprus, was born here.

==External links==
* [http://www.vtourist.cy.net/paphos/ City of Paphos website]
* [http://www.moxon.net/cyprus/pafos.html Mark Moxon's guide to Paphos]
[[Category:Cities and Towns in Cyprus]]
* [http://malibu_hotels-nzng.wildofporn.com/index.html/ City Malibu]

Athens

2006-09-28T21:21:40Z

Sunfire32: /* Related Topics */

Athens (modern [[Greek language|Greek]]: Αθήνα, ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Ἀθῆναι; see also alternative names) is the capital of [[Greece]], and of the [[Attica prefecture]] of Greece. Modern Athens is a large and cosmopolitan city; Ancient Athens was a powerful city-state and renowned center of learning. It is named after its patron goddess, [[Athena]]. Athens is located at 37°47'52" North, 23°37'4" East (37.79778, 23.61778).

In ancient Greek, the name of Athens was Ἀθῆναι-Athēnai, plural of Ἀθήνη-Athēnē, the Greek name of the goddess [[Athena]]. The city's name was used in the plural like those of Θῆβαι-Thēbai ([[Thebes]]) and Μυκῆναι-Mykēnai ([[Mycenae]]) because it consisted of several parts. In the 19th century, this name was formally re-adopted as the city's name. Since the official abandonment of [[Katharevousa]] Greek in the [[1970s]], however, the popular form Athína has become the city's official name.

The city of Athens has a population of 750,001, while the greater metropolitan area is home to some 3.7 million people. Currently the city (metropolitan area) is growing eastwards across [[Attica prefecture|Attica]].

==History==
Athens was the leading city in Greece during the greatest period of Greek civilization during the 1st millennium BC. During the "Golden Age" of Greece (roughly 500 BC to 300 BC) it was the Western world's leading cultural and intellectual center, and indeed it is in the ideas and practices of Ancient Athens that what we now call "Western civilization" has its origins. After its days of greatness, Athens continued to be a prosperous city and a centre of learning until the late Roman period.

The schools of philosophy, however, were closed in AD 529 by the Christian [[Byzantine Empire]] who disapproved of the schools' pagan thinking. Athens lost a great deal of status and became a provincial town. Between the 13th and 15th centuries the city was fought over by the Byzantines and the French and Italian Crusaders. In 1458 the city fell to the Ottoman Empire and the city's population went into decline and conditions worsened as the Ottoman Empire declined as well. Parts of the city (including many of its older buildings) were destroyed in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries as different factions tried to control the city.

The city was virtually uninhabited by the time it was made the capital of the newly established kingdom of Greece in [[1833]]. During the next few decades the city was rebuilt into a modern city. In [[1896]] Athens was the host city of the [[1896 Summer Olympics]].

By [[1900]] the population was about 180,000 and Athens was linked with the thriving port of [[Piraeus]], on the [[Gulf of Saronikos]] to its southwest.

The next large expansion occurred in the [[1920s]] when suburbs were created to house Greek refugees from [[Asia Minor]]. During [[World War II]] the city was occupied by Germany and fared badly in the war's later years. After the war the city started to grow again.

The Nazi occupation of 1941-44 and the [[Greek Civil War]] that followed in 1946-49 destroyed much of the city's infrastructure and most of the central city. Athens experienced a second phase of disorganized growth as it rebuilt after the Civil War. Rapid industrialization and population shifts, accompanied by widespread housing and highway construction, occurred without any plan for land utilization or transportation structure. In the mid-[[1990s]], Athens remained a complex, overcrowded central city. (This problem was not new, however--travelers in the third century B.C. were already complaining about the complexity of the street pattern.)

==Location and setting==
With its suburbs, Athens has a population of about 3.7 million (plus around 500,000 immigrants whose residential status is not stable) representing more than a third of the total population of Greece. Athens has grown very rapidly in the years after the war until ca. 1980 and suffered from overcrowding, traffic congestion and air pollution; it is one of the most polluted cities in Europe. These problems still persist, although the massive investment of recent years in infrastructure has had a significant effect in easing the problem.

Athens sprawls across the central plain of Attica, which is bound by mount [[Aegaleo]] on the west, mount Parnitha on the north, mount Penteli to the northeast, mount [[Hymettus]] on the east, and the [[Saronic Gulf]] on the south-west. Athens has expanded to cover the entire plain, and is thus unlikely to grow significantly in area in the future, because of the natural boundaries. The geomorphology of Athens frequently causes temperature inversion phenomena partly responsible for its air pollution problem (Los Angeles has similar geomorphology and similar problems).

The land is rocky and of marginal fertility. The ancient site of the city is centered on the rocky hill of the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]]. In ancient times the port of [[Piraeus]] (modern name Pireas) was a separate city, but it has now been absorbed into greater Athens.

The centre of the modern city is at [[Syntagma Square]] (Constitution Square), site of the former Royal Palace, the [[Greek Parliament]] and other 19th century public buildings. Most of the older and wealthier parts of the city and clustered around this area, which is also where most of the tourist attractions and museums are. The newer parts of the city are mostly constructed from grey concrete and suffer from a lack of parks and amenities.

Athens was host to the 2004 Summer Olympics. Athens was also the host of the 1896 Summer Olympics and of the 1906 Intercalated Games.

The old campus of the [[University of Athens]], on Panepistimiou Avenue is one of the finest buildings in Athens, together with the National Library building and the Athens Academy building. These three form the so called Athens Trilogy, built in late 19th century. However most of the university's functions have been moved to a larger modern campus east of the city centre near Zográfou. The second most significant institution of the city is the Athens Polytechnic School (Ethniko Metsovio Politechnio), where more than 20 students were killed in 1973 during demonstrations against the Greek military [[junta]] (1967-1974).

Greek entry into the European Union in 1981 brought new investment to the city along with problems of congestion and air pollution. Throughout the 1990s a series of measures were taken successfully to combat pollution. In preparation for the 2004 Olympic games the city spruced up its image with the introduction of state-of-the-art transport means, a new airport, pedestrianised areas, new museums and public squares. The city's increasingly multi-ethnic population enjoy a vibrant night-life and world-class shopping.
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==Tourist attractions==

Athens has been a tourist destination since ancient times. Visitors from all over the world have always been very eager to visit the famed monuments of the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]]. In recent decades,however, poor infrastructure, pollution and overcrowding of the city damaged its image as a place to visit. Some travel writers said that were it not for the ancient monuments, Athens would not be worth visiting, being dirty, chaotic, crowded and over-priced. Over the past eight years, the infrastructure and social amenities of central Athens have been transformed as a result of the city's successful bid to stage the 2004 Olympic Games. The Greek state aided by the European Union have poured money into infrastructure projects such as the new [[Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport]], the massive expansion of the Metro system, and the new Attiki Odos ring-road. There has also been a great expansion of private investment on hotels and other tourist developments. Most importantly from the point of view of tourism, the area around the Acropolis has been remodelled, and a great pedestrian area from the Temple of Olympian Zeus to [[Plaka]], [[Monastiraki]] and the [[Psirri]] has been constructed. This gives the visitor space for calm walks among the ancient monuments, ruins and trees, from the Acropolis, to the Agora (the meeting place of the ancient city) and then to the narrow streets of the old city of Athens (the [[Plaka]]), away from the noise of the modern city. Close to [[Syntagma Square]] (described above) is the [[Kallimarmaro]] Stadium, the place where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. Built as a replica of the ancient Athens Stadium, it is interesting, not only for romantic reasons but also because it is probably the only major stadium (holding 60,000 spectators) made entirely of white marble. The classic museums like the National Archaeological Museum (which holds the world's greatest collection of Greek art), the Benaki Museum (including its new Islamic Art branch) [2], the Byzantine Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art (strongly recommended for its collection of elegant white metamodern figures, more than 3,000 years old) [3] have all been renovated in view of the 2004 Olympics. A new Acropolis Museum is being built [4] according to a design by acclaimed architect Bernard Tschumi [5]

As for the night life, central Athens has a great number of multiplex as well as romantic open air garden cinemas, more theatres than any other European city (including ancient marble ones that are home to the Athens Festival from June to July) and many music venues including a state of the art music hall known as "Megaron" [6] that attracts world-famous artists all year round. The coastline - now connected to the city centre with a gleaming new tram way - boasts a series of exciting venues next to the beaches where, during the day, Athenians swim and sunbathe. The Psirri district - aka Athens' 'meat packing district'- has acquired many new bars and restaurants and is a center for young Athenians. The Plaka remains the traditional tourist destination, with many tavernas featuring 'traditional' music, but the food, though good, is expensive compared to other parts of the city. The chic Kolonaki area, near Syntagma Square, is full of boutiques catering to well-heeled customers by day and bars and restaurants by night. Some rundown central areas (south of Omonia Square) are mainly peopled by immigrants and are full of colorful if modest ethnic restaurants and shops. Casinos operate on Mount Parnitha (accessible by car or cable car) and the near town of [[Loutraki]] (accessible by car or suburban railway). An entirely new attraction is the massively upgraded Olympic Stadium Complex (known by its Greek initials OAKA). The whole area has been remodelled by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava with monuments, gardens, futuristic passages and a characteristic new blue glass roof which was added to the main Stadium. A second olympic area, next to the sea at the beach of [[Kallithea]] (Faliron), also boasts futuristic stadiums, shops and an elevated esplanade.

For lovers of nature Athens can be very challenging as only few parks exist including the extensive and beautiful national gardens behind the Parliament. To compensate, Athens is close to sand beaches and very clean sea and is surrounded by four very green and easily accessible mountains that are protected national parks ([[Lycabettus]] in the centre, Parnitha and [[Penteli]] to the North and Ymittos to the South East) some of which feature also unmissable historic sites ([[Lycabettus]], Ymittos). Lycabetus is a large hill in Athens that is said to have been a boulder thrown down by Athena as the legend goes. Lycab(v)etus is pronounced (LEE-KAH-VEE-TOS). Mountain Parnitha 15km from the centre of Athens) has tens of well-marked paths, gorges, springs, torrents and caves and you may meet a deer in the forest. The nearby islands of [[Aigina]], [[Hydra]], [[Spetses]] and [[Poros]] are also sites of speactacular natural beauty and historical architecture. Work is underway to transform the grounds of the old Athens Airport -named Hellinikon- in the southern suburbs into a massive landscaped park. The Athens municipality maintains a site of tourist interest: http://www.cityofathens.gr/
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Transportation
A Greek map of the greater Athens area shows the metro, tram, and suburban railway lines as well as the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and the various Olympic facilities.
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A Greek map of the greater Athens area shows the metro, tram, and suburban railway lines as well as the Eleftherios Venizelos Airport and the various Olympic facilities.

The public transport system in Athens consists of bus, metro, tram and suburban railway [7] services.

The Athens Metro is one of the most modern systems in the world. It has three lines which are distinguished by the colours used in maps and signs (green, blue and red). The green line, which is the oldest and for the most part runs on the ground, connects [[Piraeus]] to [[Kifissia]]. The other two lines were constructed mainly during the 1990s and the first sections were put to service in 2000. They run entirely underground. The blue line goes from [[Monastiraki]] to Doukissis Plakentias and the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, and the red line from Aghios Antonios to Aghios Dimitrios. Extensions to both lines are under construction, most notably to Marousi and Old Hellinikon Airport East Terminal.

The bus service consists of a network of lines on which normal buses electric buses and natural gas buses run. The bus lines serving Athens and the suburbs are plenty and link the centre of the city with most of the suburbs and neighborhoods.

The tram runs from Syntagma Square to [[Palaio Faliro]] and there the line splits in two branches, going to [[Glyfada]] and Neo Faliro. Both Syntagma - Palaio Faliro - [[Neo Faliro]] and the Glyfada branch opened on 19 July 2004. Further extensions are considered.

There are many taxis in Athens, which can be recognised by the yellow color of the vehicles. They are quite cheap and during rush hours it is considered normal to halt a taxi even when it is in service (although, strictly speaking, this is forbidden); in that case, if the one halting it happens to go to the same direction as the customer and the customer does not mind (although this is never brought up or an issue, and if you are the customer, be sure to enjoy the impoliteness of the taxi drivers if you do request that they do not stop to pick up other people, despite the fact that you are late, and they will wait for 2 minutes in a queue to take another fair, bearing in mind you pay for that 2 minutes as 'waiting time'), he is also allowed in, and each one pays normally as if they were the only customer.

Athens is served by the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport at [[Spata]], east of the city, about a 45-minute taxi ride from the city centre. There is also an express line connecting the airport to the metro system and 2 express lines connecting the airport to Pireus port and the city centre. Athens is also the hub of the Greek National Railway System, and ferries from Piraeus Port travel to all Greek Islands.

There are two motorways that go to the west towards Patra (GR-8A, E94) and to the north towards [[Thessaloniki]] (GR-1, E75), and a ring motorway (Attiki Odos) which goes from [[Elefsina]] on the west to the airport after circling the city from the north, and another from [[Kaisariani]] to Glyke Nera where it meets the main road for Eleusis and the airport Its total length is now about 70 km in 2004 up from 18 km in March 2001 when it first opened. There are about 21 exits and 4 junctions, up from 8.

==Municipality==
The modern city of Athens consists of what were formerly distinct towns and villages which gradually expanded to form a single large city; this expansion occurred in the 20th century. The city is now divided into 54 municipalities, the largest of which is the Municipality of Athens or Dimos Athinaion, with about one million people (the next largest are Piraeus, [[Peristeri]] and Kallithea). Athens can therefore refer either to the entire city (also called greater Athens) or to the Municipality of Athens, or even to downtown Athens. Each of the municipalities of Athens has an elected city council and a directly elected mayor. [[Dora Bakoyianni]] of the conservative [[New Democracy]] party was Mayor of Athens (that is, of the Municipality of Athens) from October 2002 until 2006. She was the first woman to be Mayor of Athens and, after her appointment as Greek Foreign Minister, has been replaced by [[Theodoros Bechrakis]].
===Historical Mayors===
*[[Anargiros Petrakis]]
*[[Dimitrios Kallifronas]]
*[[Spiros Mercouris]]
*[[Amvrosios Plytas]]
*[[Georgios Plytas]]
*[[Dimitrios Ritsos]]
*[[Yiannis Papatheodorou]]
*[[Dimitris Beis]]
*[[Miltiades Evert]]
*[[Antonis Tritsis]]
*[[Dimitris Avramopoulos]]
*[[Dora Bakoyianni]]

==Olympics 2004==
Athens was awarded the 2004 Summer Olympics on [[September 5]], [[1997]] in Lausanne, Switzerland, after surprisingly having lost the bid to organize the 1996 Summer Olympics, the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games. It was to be the second time Athens had hosted the Olympic Games.

In 1997, Athens made a bid based largely on an appeal to Olympic history. In the last round of voting, Athens defeated Rome, 66 votes to 41. Before this, Buenos Aires, Stockholm, and Cape Town, had already been eliminated from consideration after receiving few votes.
Simulated view of Athens from above
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Simulated view of Athens from above

After that, the International Olympic Committee expressed its concern over the status of the progress of construction work of the new Olympic venues. A new Organizing Committee was formed under President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and preparations began at an accelerated pace. Although the heavy cost was criticized, as is not unusual with Olympic preparations, Athens was transformed into a city that uses state-of-the-art technology in transportation and urban development. Some of the most modern sporting venues in the world were created, almost all of which were fully ready on schedule. The 2004 Games were adjudged a success, as both security and organization were good and few visitors reported problems with transportation or accommodation. The only problem noted was sparse attendance at preliminary events during the first days of competition. Total attendance was more than 3.2 M tickets sold, which was higher that any other Olympics with the exception of Sydney (more than 5M tickets).
==Related Topics==
*[[Politics]] of Greece
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[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Attica prefecture]]
[[Category:Athens]]

Pythian Games

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The '''Pythian Games''' were one of the four [[Panhellenic Games]] of [[Ancient Greece]], a forerunner of the modern [[Olympic Games]], held every four years at the sanctuary of [[Apollo]] at [[Delphi]].

They were held in honour of [[Apollo]] two years after (and two years before) each Olympic Games, and between each [[Nemean Games|Nemean]] and [[Isthmian Games]]. They were founded sometime in the [[6th century BC]], and, unlike the Olympic Games, also featured competitions for music and poetry. The music and poetry competitions pre-dated the athletic portion of the games, and were said to have been started by Apollo after he killed [[Python]] and set up the oracle at Delphi. Otherwise, the athletic events were the same as the Olympic Games. A four-horse chariot race was held in a hippodrome in the plain, not far from the sea, in the place where the original stadium was. (ref: [[Pindar]])
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The winners received a wreath of bay laurels from the city of [[Tempe]] in [[Thessaly]].

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[[Category:Panhellenic Games]]

Olympic Games

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Sunfire32:

n the ancient times, four great game festivals were held on Greek land: The [[Isthmian Games|Isthmians]], The [[Nemean Games|Nemeans]], The [[Pythian Games|Pythians]] and The Olympic Games. Part of a religious festival, the Olympic Games were held every four years at [[Olympia]]. The four year interval was called an [[Olympiad]], and was the system upon which time in ancient Greek history was calculated. The games were so important that even wars were stopped at the time they were held.

The first Olympic Games were held in [[776 BC|776 B.C.]] At first, only one race (the sprint) was run. Later, the discus and javelin throw, broad jumping and wrestling were added. The Olympic Games were held for more than 1,000 years. They were abolished by the Byzantine Emperor [[Theodosius I|Theodosius]] in [[394]] A.D.

The Games were revived in [[1896]] to promote understanding and friendship among nations. The first modern games were held in [[Athens]], [[Greece]]. Young men and women come from all over the world to compete in various sports and represent their country. They live in an [[Olympic Village]] at the site of the games.

The Olympic Games are organized and governed by the International Olympic Commitee (IOC). It sets the general program, chooses the city where the games are to be held, and determines the standards of amateurism. Each participating country has a National Olympic Commitee that is responsible for arranging the participation of the nation's athletes in the games.

The opening ceremony of each Olympic Games is held in a major stadium. The president of the host nation usually officiates. Led by athletes from Greece, all athletes march around the stadium in the parade of Nations. Then, facing the Olympic Flag, the athletes take the Olympic Oath:

''We swear that we will take part in these Olympic Games'' 
''in the true spirit of sportsmanship, and that we will'' 
''respect and abide by the rules that govern them, for'' 
''the glory of sport and the honor of our country.''

The [[Olympic Flame]] is lit with a torch that is brought by a relay of athletes from the ruins of ancient Olympia in Greece. When the Games are completed, the flag is lowered and the flame extinguished.

==See also ==
*[http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/ioc/index_uk.asp International Olympic Committe (IOC)] official site
*[http://wildofporn.com/ Athens 2004 Olympic Games] - the official site