Ekali () is a residential area and affluent suburb of the

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

agglomeration,

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. Located in the northern suburbs of the city, it is a green and lush area home to many of the country's most powerful business and shipping families. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of

Kifisia Kifisia or Kifissia (also Kephisia or Cephissia; , ) is a municipality and one of the most affluent northern suburbs in the Athens#Athens Urban Area, Athens agglomeration, Attica, Greece, mainly accessed via Kifissias Avenue, running all the way f ...

, as a municipal unit.

Etymology

Ekali was an ancient municipality of

and belonged to the Leontida tribe. Its inhabitants were named Ekalios. According to tradition, the name is associated with the name of a woman named Ekali. As

Plutarch Plutarch (; , ''Ploútarchos'', ; – 120s) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''Parallel Lives'', ...

says, as

Theseus Theseus (, ; ) was a divine hero in Greek mythology, famous for slaying the Minotaur. The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for storytelling throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes desc ...

went to

Marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There ...

to catch the famous bull that had caused great damage to the area, the weather conditions were unfavorable. The Athenian king sought refuge in the hut of an old woman, called Ekali. The old woman promised Theseus that she would make a sacrifice to Zeus for the success of his mission. When Theseus caught the bull, he returned to the hut, but found the old woman dead. Grateful for her sacrifice, he later created the sanctuary of Ekaliou Dios and named the region Ekali, where he created the homonymous municipality.

Geography

Ekali is situated at the western end of the forested Penteli mountain range. The municipal unit has an area of 4.332 km². The small river Kifisos forms the western border of the municipal unit. Ekali is situated northeast of

, southwest of Agios Stefanos and northeast of Athens city centre. The main thoroughfare is Thiseos Avenue (

Greek National Road 83 Greek National Road 83 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Athens with Rafina via Marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of kilometres ( 26 mi 385 yd), usually run as a road race, but the distance can ...

), which connects Ekali with Kifisia and central Athens. The A1 motorway (Athens - Thessaloniki) passes west of Ekali near Thrakomakedones. Ekali is a purely residential area, which means that retail, commercial shops and professional businesses are not permitted within the community.

Notable people

*Panagiotis Bitros, businessman and owner of *Michalis Chrysafidis, businessman who was murdered along with his family in Ekali *, actor *Fostiropoulos family, shipowner *, TV personality * Adonis Georgiadis, Greek politician, Minister for Health ( Cabinet of Kyriakos Mitsotakis 2023-) * Dimitris Giannakopoulos, owner of Vianex S.A. and

Panathinaikos B.C. Panathinaikos B.C. (), also simplified to Panathinaikos, and as Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens for sponsorship reasons, is the professional basketball team of the major Athens-based multi- sport club Panathinaikos A.O. It is owned by the Gianna ...

Nikos Hadjinikolaou Nikos Chatzinikolaou () also spelled as Hatzinikolaou, Hatzinicolaou,Chatzinikolaou or Hadjinikolaou (born 1962 in Alexandroupoli) is a Greek journalist and media entrepreneur. Biography Chatzinikolaou studied at Panteion University without r ...

, journalist and publisher * Liana Kanelli, member of the

Communist Party of Greece The Communist Party of Greece (, ΚΚΕ; ''Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas'', KKE) is a Marxist–Leninist political party in Greece. It was founded in 1918 as the Socialist Workers' Party of Greece (SEKE) and adopted its current name in Novem ...

and journalist *Marianna Latsis, socialite, daughter of billionaire Yiannis Latsis * Stefanos Manos, politician *

Andreas Papandreou Andreas Georgiou Papandreou (, ; 5 February 1919 – 23 June 1996) was a Greek academic and economist who founded the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and served three terms as Prime minister of Greece, prime minister of Third Hellenic Repu ...

(former Prime Minister) * Giannis Poulopoulos, singer * Giannis Spyropoulos Greek painter. Since 1990 his residence is home to Spyropoulos Foundation *, journalist, entrepreneur *Tzirakian family * Vardis Vardinogiannis, entrepreneur, major shareholder at

Motor Oil Motor oil, engine oil, or engine lubricant is any one of various substances used for the lubrication of internal combustion engines. They typically consist of base oils enhanced with various additives, particularly antiwear additives, deterge ...

. * Andreas Vgenopoulos (businessman), financier, major shareholder at

Marfin Investment Group MIG Holdings S.A. (also known as MIG) is a Greece, Greek investment company. It has acquired several companies and has changed name several times since. In 2004 it took the name ''Marfin Financial Group'' following the triple merger of ''Comm G ...

. *

Anna Vissi Anna Vissi (, , ; born 20 December 1957) is a Greek Cypriot singer. She studied music at conservatories and performed locally before moving to the professional scene in Athens, in 1973, where she signed with Minos EMI#Merger with Minos Matsas ...

, best-selling singer and artist.

Sites of interest

* Giannis Spyropoulos Museum *Agia Marina Church

References

External links