Lamia

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Statistics
Prefecture: Phthiotis
Province: Province of Phthiotis
Location: 38° 53′ 50″ N, 22° 25′ 52″ E
Population: (1991)
 - Total
 - Density¹
 - Rank

 55,445

 -/km²
Elevation:
 -lowest:
 -centre:
 -highest:

sea level
about 50 m(centre)
around 800 to 1,000 m
Postal code: 351 00
Area/distance code: 11-30-22310, (030-22310)-2 thru 4/5?
Municipal code: 4912
Car designation: MI
3-letter abbreviation: LAM (Lamia)
Name of inhabitants: Lamian sing., -s pl.

Lamia (Greek: Λαμία; is a city in central Greece (population 75,000). It is a site of archaeological excavation (a castle dating from the pre-classical years, reconstructed in the early middle ages). Lamia is the capital of the prefecture of Phthiotis and the periphery of Central Greece (comprising 5 prefectures). It is the provincial capital of Phthiotis.

Historical population

Year Communal population Change Municipal population
1981 41,846 - -
1991 44,084 -2,238/-53.48% 55,445

Name

One account says that the city was named after the mythological figure of Lamia, the daughter of Poseidon queen of the Trachineans. Another says that it is named after the Malians, the inhabitants of the surrounding area. In the middle ages (AD 869) Lamia was called Zetounion being the seat of a bishop.

Conquered by the Latins after 1204, the city was known as Zirtounion, Zitonion, Girton (during the Frankish rule), and (under the Catalan rule) El Cito. The Turks called it Iztin.

History

Although inhabited since the 5th millennium BC, the city was first mentioned after the earthquake of 424 BC, when it was an important Spartan military base. It was occupied by Alexander king of Macedonia; the Athenians rebelled at his death. His successor Antipatros after losing the fight against the Athenians and their allies, took refuge behind the substantial walls of the city (Lamian war 323 BC322 BC). The war ended at the death of the general of the Athenian troops, Leosthenes, and the arrival of a 20,000-strong Macedonian army. Lamia afterwards prospered in the third century BC under Aetolian hegemony, which came to an end when Acilius Glabrio sacked the city in 190 BC.


Persons

Sporting teams

See also