Atalanti
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Atalanti ( el, Αταλάντη '' Atalantē'') is the second largest town in
Phthiotis Phthiotis ( el, Φθιώτιδα, ''Fthiótida'', ; ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Φθιῶτις) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. The capital is the city of Lamia. It is b ...
,
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...
. It is located southeast of Lamia, north of
Livadeia Livadeia ( el, Λιβαδειά ''Livadiá'', ; grc, Λεβάδεια, Lebadeia or , ''Lebadia'') is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the Boeotia regional district. Livadeia lies north-west of Athens, west of Chalkida, south-ea ...
and northwest of
Chalcis Chalcis ( ; Ancient Greek & Katharevousa: , ) or Chalkida, also spelled Halkida (Modern Greek: , ), is the chief town of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. The name is preserved fro ...
. In 2011, it was incorporated into the municipality of Lokroi, of which it is the government seat and a municipal unit.


Geography

The town can be accessed via the
Greek National Road 1 Greek National Road 1 ( el, Εθνική Οδός 1, abbreviated as EO1) is the old single carriageway road connecting Athens with Thessaloniki and Evzonoi, the border crossing between Greece and North Macedonia. For most of its length, it ...
(
Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...
Lamia
Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...
). It is situated in central Greece, surrounded by Mt. Knimida to the north, Mt. Chlomo to the south, Mt. Parnassus to the west, and the northern Eubean Gulf to the east. The area is characterized by high concentrations of
magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic ...
and
iron Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from la, ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, right in ...
in the soil. The municipal unit has an area of 304.141 km2.


Economy

Atalanti is known as a market town and was the capital of the former Locris Province. The town's geography has garnered it a reputation in Greece as a notable wine-producing hub.


Subdivisions

The municipal unit, Atalanti, is subdivided into the following communities (with constituent villages in parentheses): *Atalanti (Atalanti, Agios Vlasios, Palirroia, Skala) * Exarchos * Kalapodi * Kyparissi (Kyparissi, Efkalyptos) * Kyrtoni * Megaplatanos * Tragana (Tragana, Mikrovivos)


Historical population


Mythology

The capital of
Locris Locris (; el, label= Modern Greek, Λοκρίδα, Lokrída; grc, Λοκρίς, Lokrís) was a region of ancient Greece, the homeland of the Locrians, made up of three distinct districts. Locrian tribe The city of Locri in Calabria ( Italy) ...
province was the city of Opus. According to Hesiodus and
Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for hi ...
, the city was named Opus after the son of Locros and the great-grandson of Deucalion and Pyrrha. The Locrians from Opus participated in the
Trojan War In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans ( Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and ...
, providing 40 battle ships and four thousand warriors. The leader of the Locrians was Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus and grandson of Hodoedocus. Ajax excelled in the Trojan War, but while returning from
Troy Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Ç ...
, he died in a storm. Another notable figure from Opus was Patroclus, son of Menoetius and best friend of
Achilles In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's '' Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Pe ...
. When he was still a child, Patroclus killed the nobleman
Clysonymus In Greek mythology, Clysonymus ( Ancient Greek; Κλύσωνυμος ''Klysonymos'') was the son of Amphidamas of Opuntus and a childhood friend of Patroclus. The latter murdered accidentally Clysonymus during an argument over a game of dice. H ...
, son of Amphidamas, during a game. Although he was a minor, Patroclus had to leave Opus in order to escape revenge. His father took him to
Peleus In Greek mythology, Peleus (; Ancient Greek: Πηλεύς ''Pēleus'') was a hero, king of Phthia, husband of Thetis and the father of their son Achilles. This myth was already known to the hearers of Homer in the late 8th century BC. Bi ...
, who raised him along with Achilles as his own child.


History


Neolithic Age

The first signs of organized human life in Atalanti's region can be traced back to the Neolithic era (7000 BC – 3200–3100 BC) when the first town in the valley of Skala Atalanti was developing. All human activities of Neolithic man can be traced in this area:
agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...
, stockbreeding,
hunting Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...
, and
fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from fish stocking, stocked bodies of water such as fish pond, ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. ...
.


Bronze Age

The Early Helladic period (3200–2100 BC) saw the growth of
trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct exc ...
(both land- and sea-borne) and the development of
pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and ...
. The area of Atalanti was influenced by other places in mainland
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...
and the islands. This area, as well as others of this period, was characterized by a hierarchically organized society. In the Middle Helladic period (2100–1600 BC), villages were destroyed (possibly due to the invasion of other Greek tribes). Because of this, retrogression, introversion and cultural isolation were noted. Most possibly in the Late Helladic period (1600–1100 BC), the Mycenaean city, Opus, was built. Its inhabitants main occupations were fishing and agriculture (e.g., the cultivation of
wheat Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food. The many species of wheat together make up the genus ''Triticum'' ; the most widely grown is common wheat (''T. aestivum''). The archaeologi ...
,
grain A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit ( caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legum ...
,
legumes A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock for ...
, olives, and grapes, as well as the production of
wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented grapes. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different ...
). During the 11th century BC (post-Mycenaean period), there was an economic and demographic decline. Old villages were abandoned and new villages were built in different locations. This period is mostly characterized by an adherence to tradition. Pottery making remained the main occupation.


Protogeometric Period

Between the 10th and 8th century BC, the regime of Opus was
aristocracy Aristocracy (, ) is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the el, αριστοκρατία (), meaning 'rule of the best'. At the time of the word' ...
and
oligarchy Oligarchy (; ) is a conceptual form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may or may not be distinguished by one or several characteristics, such as nobility, fame, wealth, education, or corporate ...
. Hierarchy was one of the key features of society in that time. It was a society where classes owed their existence primarily to the differentiation between the distinct occupations of its inhabitants. Trade and
shipping Freight transport, also referred as ''Freight Forwarding'', is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...
were growing. Opus was heavily influenced by art from Athens,
Corinth Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part ...
,
Euboea Evia (, ; el, Εύβοια ; grc, Εὔβοια ) or Euboia (, ) is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait (only at its narrowest poi ...
, and
Thessaly Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
. A massive production of vases and the blooming of metallurgy (weapons and gold jewelry) are recorded. All these suggest the existence of a prosperous and wealthy society in the region of
Locris Locris (; el, label= Modern Greek, Λοκρίδα, Lokrída; grc, Λοκρίς, Lokrís) was a region of ancient Greece, the homeland of the Locrians, made up of three distinct districts. Locrian tribe The city of Locri in Calabria ( Italy) ...
.


Archaic Period

During the Archaic period (700 – 480 BC) the system of government in Opus remained an oligarchy with no political controversy. This can perhaps be termed a "conservative
democracy Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose g ...
" since there were no
slaves Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
in Locris. The main inhabitants' main occupations continued to be agriculture, livestock (mainly
cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ...
), fishing, pottery and wine production.


Classical period

In the Classical Period (second quarter of 5th century BC – 323 BC), and more specifically during the Peloponnesian War (431 – 404 BC), the Locrians sided with
Sparta Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referr ...
(leader of the
Peloponnesian League The Peloponnesian League was an alliance of ancient Greek city-states, dominated by Sparta and centred on the Peloponnese, which lasted from c.550 to 366 BC. It is known mainly for being one of the two rivals in the Peloponnesian War (431–404 ...
). The
Athenians Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
attacked and destroyed the coastal cities of Locris. In 431 BC they fortified the island of Atalanti (or Atalantonisi or Talantonisi) in order to curb the activities of Locrian
pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...
and to ensure the safety of the coast of Euboea. But an
earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...
in 426 BC destroyed part of the walls and the
fortress A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
that were built in Atalantonisi.


Hellenistic and Roman Period

During the Hellenistic period (336 or 323 BC – middle of 1st century BC) an earthquake in 300 BC destroyed part of Opus. In 204 BC, the Roman general Gaius Flaminius seized Opus, but in 197 BC he restored independence to the Locrians. In 165 BC, the Common of Locris was founded. Another earthquake in 106 BC destroyed Opus, but it was rebuilt again. The end of the Hellenistic period was sealed by the raid of Sulla ( Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix) around 87/86 BC. Throughout this period Opus remained a mainly rural economy. At the same time, Atalanti was the main center of pottery production in the district. The invasion of Sulla prompted many residents of the cities of Locris to abandon their villages during the Roman period (30 BC – 324 AD). The population mostly moved to the settlements of Opus and
Kynos Cynus ( grc, Κῦνος, Kynos) was the principal sea-port of the Opuntian Locrians, situated on a cape at the northern extremity of the Opuntian Gulf, opposite Aedepsus in Euboea, and at the distance of 60 ''stadia'' from Opus. Livy gives an in ...
. In the area, large privately owned farms were created. In Atalanti, public baths and an aqueduct were built.


Early Christian Period

During early Christian times, the Diocess of Opus was founded (Ecumenical Synod or Council in
Ephesus Ephesus (; grc-gre, Ἔφεσος, Éphesos; tr, Efes; may ultimately derive from hit, 𒀀𒉺𒊭, Apaša) was a city in ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built i ...
in 431 and in Chalcedon in 451 under the Diocese of Corinth. In the years 376 and 395–397
Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Euro ...
and
Visigoths The Visigoths (; la, Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, Wisi) were an early Germanic people who, along with the Ostrogoths, constituted the two major political entities of the Goths within the Roman Empire in late antiquity, or what is k ...
(under
Alaric I Alaric I (; got, 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃, , "ruler of all"; c. 370 – 410 AD) was the first king of the Visigoths, from 395 to 410. He rose to leadership of the Goths who came to occupy Moesia—territory acquired a couple of decades ...
) invaded the area which had a negative effect on the local economy. Regression and in some cases abandonment of coastal settlements occurred.


Byzantine and Frankish periods

In 565, during the reign years of
Justinian I Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized '' renov ...
, the name Talanti was first mentioned. In the 9th century the Saracens raided the area and in the 10th century, the Bulgarians under Simeon I also attacked Locris. Following the
Fourth Crusade The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was a Latin Christian armed expedition called by Pope Innocent III. The stated intent of the expedition was to recapture the Muslim-controlled city of Jerusalem, by first defeating the powerful Egyptian Ayyubid S ...
, a Frankish
barony Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...
was established at Atalanti, under the Catalan noble Pere de Puigpardines. The Koulia tower (which was demolished in 1957) and probably the paliopyrgos were built at this time. The barony (La Calandri -in Catalan sources- or Talantum in Western sources) was a part of the Aragonese Duchy of Athens and one of the four major ports of the Duchy, that was based in Talanti (La Calandri). In 1311, the Duchy of Athens had fallen into the hands of
Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...
mercenaries A mercenary, sometimes Pseudonym, also known as a soldier of fortune or hired gun, is a private individual, particularly a soldier, that joins a military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a memb ...
of the Catalan Company after the victorious Battle of Halmyros. In 1380, the Navarrese Company made raids against the Catalans of Atalanti. In 1385, the area of Phthiotis fell into the hands of the
Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian Cultural heritage, ancestry, Culture of Serbia, culture, History of ...
, except for Atalanti. In 1388, the region of Locris passed into the hands of the Florentine
Acciaioli The Acciaioli, Acciaiuoli, Accioly, Acciajuoli or Acioli was an important family of Florence. Family name is also written Acciaioli, Acciainoli, or Accioly, Accioli, Acioli and Acyoly in Portugal and Brazil, where there are branches of it. Descent ...
family, ending the Catalan domination. In 1393, the Diocese of Talanti was established. The same year the Ottoman Turks began their raids. The Duchy of Athens was abolished by the Ottomans in 1458, and the period of Ottoman rule for Atalanti and Locris in general began.


Ottoman period

According to the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 1466, Atalanti had 248 families all of whom were Christians. In the census of 1506, there were 449 Christian and 13 Ottoman homes. In 1521 435 Christian and 30 Ottoman homes were recorded. The residents of Atalanti did not pay any taxes, while their children were free from the mass forced recruiting of children in the Ottoman army, in order to join the
Janissaries A Janissary ( ota, یڭیچری, yeŋiçeri, , ) was a member of the elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan's household troops and the first modern standing army in Europe. The corps was most likely established under sultan Orhan ...
(in Greek:Παιδομάζομα, in Turkish: devşirme). In return, the inhabitants of Atalanti had to protect the narrow sea and the coast when pirates attacked. These privileges were maintained by residents of Atalanti until 1571. According to the census of that year there were 622 Christian and 77 Ottoman homes in Atalanti. This made it the largest settlement across Locris, with a population of about 3,000 people. This also explains the upgrading of Atalanti during the next century which included the surrounding villages. The main occupations of the inhabitants were agriculture (
cereals A cereal is any grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran. Cereal grain crops are grown in greater quantities and provide more food ...
,
viticulture Viticulture (from the Latin word for '' vine'') or winegrowing (wine growing) is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of '' Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine, r ...
), cultivation of
flax Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. Textiles made from flax are known in ...
,
cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...
and vegetables, as well as apiaries and livestock. In 1688, during the Ottoman–Venetian war, Kourmas and the Bishop of Amfissa Philotheos temporarily seized Atalanti. The same year,
plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...
broke out in Atalanti. The Turks reclaimed the city in a short time. Fearing retaliation, several families relocated to the Venetian Peloponnese between 1691 and 1697. Knowledge about the period of the 18th and early 19th century is limited and it is mostly based on reports by travelers. One of them, William Martin Leake, visited Atalanti in 1805 and he wrote:
There are 300 houses in the town, one third of which is Turkish. Some of the houses are big and surrounded by a garden. They seem very pretty from a far distance. But most of them are abandoned and ruined, partly because of a plague that wiped out entire families a few years ago. The ruler is Isset Bey, a son of Kapicilar Kahyasi of Ali Pasha. The Greek neighborhood is separated from the Turkish. The
Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...
of Atalanti which comes under the Bishop of Athens is the head of the Greek community and has a sustainable house, with a garden of orange, lemon and other
fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in partic ...
trees. A garden, that despite of its ferocity, is the best place here, something extraordinary in that area. The valley is very fertile, but not cultivated, because of the absence of people. In low parts of the area, towards the sea,
corn Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The ...
, excellent wheat, grapes from which they make a tolerable wine and a few olives grow perfectly. The average wage here is the same as that one in Athens and Livadeia. The administrative area includes thirty to forty villages, most of them very small, and not fully inhabitant, since most of their residents migrate to areas of Livadeia and Athens, since Ali Pasha took over the place. Incomes are now in the hands of Veli, who is trying to bring back immigrants, promising tax cuts.
Francois Pouqueville (between 1806 and 1816) reports: "Atalanti is built on the foothills of Mount Chlomos. Two mosques and a church are the only remarkable things you can see. The importance of the city is that twenty one villages depend on it." According to other sources in 1800 there were more than 200 Ottoman families living in their own settlement in the western part of town. In this part of the town, the Turkish governor, treasurer,
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
and a small Turkish guard of about 150 men were located.
Kodjabashis The kodjabashis ( el, κοτζαμπάσηδες, kotzabasides; singular κοτζάμπασης, ''kotzabasis''; sh, kodžobaša, kodžabaša; from tr, kocabaṣı, hocabaṣı) were local Christian notables in parts of the Ottoman Balkans, most ...
(Greek people who represented the Christian communities to the Ottomans) of Talanti were: Lambros Alexandrou (later renamed Evmolpidis), Constantinos Sakellion and Alexis Michalis.
Nikolaos Metaxas Nikolaos ( el, Νικόλαος, ') is a common Greek given name which means "Victor of People", a compound of νίκη '' nikē'' 'victory' and λαός laos' 'people'. The connotation is "people's champion" or "conqueror of people". The English ...
, or Neophytos of Athens, was ordained Bishop of Talanti in 1803. In 1810 the Ottoman doctor Hasan Agha Kourtalis was known to offer his services to both Greeks and Ottomans without any discrimination.


Atalanti during the Greek Revolution of 1821

On 31 March 1821, Anthony Kontosopoulos and 1000 armed Locrians sieged and freed the city of Atalanti with the help of Lambros Eleftheriou and the rest of the residents of the city. In the winter of that same year, the Turkish army under
Omer Vrioni Vizier Ömer Pasha Vrioni (in Greek spelling: Ομέρ Βρυώνης, ''Omer Vryonis'') was a leading Ottoman- Albanian figure in the Greek War of Independence. Early life Omer Vrioni was a Muslim Tosk Albanian from the village of Vrioni nea ...
and Mehmet Kiosses passed Atalantonisi. The next year, Atalanti was burned again by the Turkish troops who were passing through the region and a plague fell on Atalantonisi. In the Second National Assembly at
Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 afte ...
in 1823, Bishop Neophytos of Talanti and attorney Lambros Alexandrou represented the area. Provincial Governor of Talanti was replaced by Ioannis Filon. In 1824 the Turkish fleet occupied Atalantonisi, destroying its facilities, slaughtering or capturing those who had taken refuge there. Between 5 and 9 November 1826, the
Battle of Atalanti A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and for ...
took place. Anastasios Karatassos,
Angelis Gatsos Angelis Gatsos ( el, Αγγελής Γάτσος; bg, Ангел Гацов) (1771–1839) was a Slavophone Greek military commander during the Greek War of Independence. He was born in the village of Sarakinovo, today known as Sarakinoi (Alm ...
and Olivier Voutier lead 1500 Macedonians warriors. Mustafa Bey moved from Livadeia to Atalanti with an army of a few thousand men (infantry and horsemen) and surprised the Greek guards. After a fierce battle, the Greeks retreated having lost 42 men on the battlefield.
Gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). T ...
storehouses of vital importance to the Turks were located in Atalanti and guarded by two hundred Ottomans. In 1826 Georgios Karaiskakis attempted to set the storehouses on fire but ultimately failed. The next year Karaiskakis placed a guard with his men, in Atalanti, under Spyros Xidis. Another attempt by Ioannis Kolettis in 1827, to take over Atalanti also failed. The final liberation of Atalanti came on 6 November 1828. Dimitris Liakopoulos (from Kato Milia, Pieria) mounted a surprise attack and released the city.


Atalanti in Independent Greece

Several institutions were founded in 1831 in Atalanti following the liberation: a primary school (first teacher was D. Manasidis from
Samos Samos (, also ; el, Σάμος ) is a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, south of Chios, north of Patmos and the Dodecanese, and off the coast of western Turkey, from which it is separated by the -wide Mycale Strait. It is also a sepa ...
), a county court, a notary, tax authorities, a fund, a
tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
factory, customs, a forestry organization anda post office. In 1833 the city was included in the prefecture of
Phocis Phocis ( el, Φωκίδα ; grc, Φωκίς) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Var ...
and Locris. The first prefect was Ioannis Amvrosiadis and the district officer was Anagnostis Mostras. A diocese of Locris was established (from the dioceses of Mendenitsa and Talanti), under Bishop Agathangelos Myrianthousis. That same year, Macedonian fighters who fought during the revolution of 1821 started to settle permanently in Atalanti. On 10 January 1834, the City of Atalanti was established by law. It included several villages outside of the original Atalanti: Skala, Skenteraga ( Megaplatanos), Kyparissi, Kolaka, Bogdanos, Exarchos and Drouskos. The first elected
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
, in 1836, was Efstathios Spyridonos. In December 1836, Konstantinos D. Vellios, a benefactor of the Macedonian settlers, arrived at Atalanti. The Municipality of Pella in Atalanti was established in 1837 through a Royal Decree for the Macedonians settlers. A Greek boarding school was founded in 1843 and a primary school for girls was established in 1857. In 1855 the Cathedral of St. Theodore was founded in Atalanti, and in 1862 the Church of the Transfiguration of Jesus was finished. In 1860 seven large fountains were built in the neighborhoods of Atalanti and New Pella. In 1864 the first annual Atalanti trade fair began. It lasts from 6 to 10 August and has been held every year since it was established. In 1871 the road between Atalanti and Scala was constructed. In 1873 a branch of the National Bank of Greece was founded. The Revolution of Litochoro ( Revolution of Olympus) in 1878, was led by the Macedonian Kosmas Doumpiotis, who had several fellow volunteers from New Pella Atalanti by his side. In 1885 oil lamps for lighting the city were installed and an aqueduct was built. Nicholas K. Abraham was born in 1888 in New Pella. He served as a Minister of Justice and Maritime Affairs. The earthquake of 1894 caused major damage throughout Locris. 255 people were killed and 3,783 houses collapsed. At the time
sericulture Sericulture, or silk farming, is the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. Although there are several commercial species of silkworms, '' Bombyx mori'' (the caterpillar of the domestic silkmoth) is the most widely used and intensively stud ...
was at its peak in many households in Atalanti. In 1895 the Locris Gymnastics Club of Atalanti was founded. It was one of the first clubs in the country and also one of the 28 clubs that founded the S.E.A.G.S. later known as the S.E.G.A.S. Nicholas Doumpiotis (born in 1866 in New Pella) participated in the Macedonian Struggle (1904–1908) as an officer under the nickname "Captain Amyntas".


20th century

In 1912 the municipalities of Atalanti and New Pella were abolished and they became communities. The first car appeared in Atalanti in 1915. In March 1913, Greek villagers from
Thrace Thrace (; el, Θράκη, Thráki; bg, Тракия, Trakiya; tr, Trakya) or Thrake is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, which is bounded by the Balkan Mountains to ...
were forced to leave. The people from Plavou did not feel safe and could not remain there any longer, so decided to move from Ottoman territory. They moved without any property and went to Greece. Some went to Athens, others went to the area of Lamia (Kostalexi, Stavros, Roditsa) but most of them came to Atalanti. Between 1912 and 1922, 63 soldiers from Atalanti were lost in the wars (
Balkan Wars The Balkan Wars refers to a series of two conflicts that took place in the Balkan States in 1912 and 1913. In the First Balkan War, the four Balkan States of Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria declared war upon the Ottoman Empire and def ...
,
First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
and Asia Minor Campaign). After the Asia Minor disaster in 1922, 218 individuals arrived in Atalanti. In 1931, officials declared that 30 acres of land in the Atalanti area would be used by the refugees. This area of Atalanti was named, ''Sinoikismos''. In 1926, the "Refugee Association of Atalanti and Suburbs" was founded. Its main objectives were claiming damages, issuing identity documents to the refugees, offering help with finding jobs and offering general support. In 1923 the Commercial Club was founded in Atalanti. In 1927 the Agricultural Credit Cooperative and the Mandolinata were established and a branch of Bank of Athens started to operate within the city. The first mill also began to function in 1927. "Ajax the Locrian Gymnastics Club" (Greek: Γ.Σ. Αίας ο Λοκρός) was founded in 1928 for football, and track and field. Also the "Union of Atalanti Melissa" began the reforestation of mountain Roda. A powerhouse was established which contributed to the electrification of households in the city. Vasilios A. Kokkinos was born in Ano Pella in Atalanti in 1929. He later served as president of the Supreme Court (1990–1996). In 1931, the "Association of New Pella Alexander the Great" was founded, such as the Olympiakos Atalanti football club. That same year the Ajax the Locrian sports club successfully organized a local athletic event in Atalanti. The Primary School for Boys and Girls that was later used as the first Elementary School in Atalanti was built in 1932. In 1933 the Scouts group was founded. Siblings Charilaos, Demosthenes and George Constantinou from Atalanti established the famous tobacco industry Santé in Athens. The "Music Society of Atalanti
Orpheus Orpheus (; Ancient Greek: Ὀρφεύς, classical pronunciation: ; french: Orphée) is a Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet in ancient Greek religion. He was also a renowned poet and, according to the legend, travelled with J ...
" was founded in 1935. In 1936, the union sports association was established. In 1937 a branch of the Agricultural Bank of Greece opened in Atalanti. In 1938 the Chorus of Atalanti made its first appearance. In 1939 the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives in Atalanti was founded. On 20 April 1941 the German air force (
Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German '' Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the '' Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabt ...
) bombed Atalanti causing only damages to buildings and on 25 April 1941 the German army occupied Atalanti. The White Cross of Atalanti was founded in 1943 to help those in need. On 23 March 1943 the Italian occupation forces left the city. The Germans took the place of the Italians and they withdrew from Atalanti in October 1944. Due to the peculiar soil, and the inability of the Greek state to support the people of Evrytania, after the liberation of 1944 they began to leave their homeland and moved to the surrounding plains like the one in Atalanti and the other urban centers around them. That lasted from 1945 until 1987. Also the earthquake that took place at Vracha with a 6.2 magnitude on the
Richter scale The Richter scale —also called the Richter magnitude scale, Richter's magnitude scale, and the Gutenberg–Richter scale—is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by Charles Francis Richter and presented in his landmark 1935 ...
on 5 February 1966 also prompted more relocation again to Atalanti. During the
Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος όλεμος}, ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom and ...
(1946–1949), several—mostly young people—were found in two conflicting camps, the National Army (Greek government's army) and the Democratic Army of Greece(DSE or Greek initials ΔΣΕ). Eight National Army's soldiers and an unknown number of DSE fighters were killed. In the decade of the 1950s, local elections were carried out after 16 years in 1951. The city's water supply system was installed in 1953. The current Atalanti's city plan was adopted in 1954 and the Sunday Bank Holiday was established by the Commercial Union in 1957. In the next decade: the first kindergarten (1963) and the Municipal Library of Atalanti (1965) were founded. A branch of the Emporiki Bank opened, and the educational, cultural and entertainment association Proodos (The Progress) was established (1966). Atalanti FC was created in 1968 by the merger of the two city clubs (Ajax and Olympiakos). The military dictatorship (1967–1974) ended the City Boards and the Cooperative Societies. During this period, the city hall, high school, kindergarten and the National Stadium of Atalanti were built. During the Turkish invasion in
Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...
(20–21 July 1974) the soldier Christos L. Ligdis was killed. In 1975 the Association "Agia Sofia of Asia Minor Refugees in Sinoikismos" was founded to preserve the culture of the refugees. In 1976 the Constantinian Cultural Center of Atalanti was built,"Demosthenes Constantinou bequeathed to the municipality of Atalanti 5 million drachmas for the construction of medical facilities ... Instead" Christophorou K. Manthos 2001. "Timeline for Opous and Atalanti A Summary of 4000 years." Edition City of Atalanti p.30 and in 1979 the Technical High School was founded. In 1980 the "Locros Sports Mountaineering Association" was founded; in 1992 it was renamed Locros Sports Association with the addition of more sports. In 1982 the Nautical Club of Atalanti was founded. In 1985 the Municipal Conservatory was established, and in 1988 the municipal fish farm in the Bay of Atalanti was created. In 1989 the town's indoor hall (capacity: 1,100 seats) was built. The same year the History and Folklore Research of Atalanti Company was also founded. In 1992, the "Athletic Football Club, Atalanti '92" was founded and the first town's private radio station began to broadcast. Since 1993 economic migrants from Balkan countries (
Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and share ...
,
Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
,
Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...
), central Europe (
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...
) and Asia (
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, India, China) begin to settle permanently or temporarily in the town. In 1998 the Archaeological Museum of Atalanti opened and the Aianteios Municipal Theatre began operating. In 2010, Atalanti, under the Kallikratis plan, joined with the municipalities of Malesina, Opountia and Dafnousia and formed the municipality of Locris (or municipality Lokroi). The seat of the municipality became the town of Atalanti.


Tourism – Sightseeing – Cultural Activities

Among the points of interest in the region are: The
catacomb Catacombs are man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. Etymology and history The first place to be referred ...
of St. Athanasius or ''Chamaithanasis'' in the center of town is a Roman crypt. It is said that during the Ottoman occupation it was used as a secret school (Krifo scholio). Behind the catacomb is St. Athanasius Church. The church of St. Seraphim is located in the forest above the town of Atalanti. The
monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...
of St. Anargiri, built in the 17th century, is located on the main road from Atalanti to Kirtoni. The
chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common type ...
of St. John the Roda, is built on top of Roda mountain. The archaeological museum of Atalanti was inaugurated in the summer of 1998 by the City of Atalanti. The 14th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities was built by the municipality of Atalanti, the
Hellenic Ministry of Culture The Ministry of Culture and Sports ( el, Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού) is the government department of Greece entrusted with preserving the country's cultural heritage, promoting the arts, and overseeing s ...
with financial assistance from donors. It is a relatively small but very important neoclassical building which used to be the area's old high school. The exhibits come from the region of Locris. They are divided into chronological and thematic sections and cover the prehistoric and historic periods up until Roman times. In the museum, and at the museum's courtyard, visitors can see tombstones, pottery for everyday use, tools, jewelry, idols, etc. Just from Atalanti is the port of Skala Atalanti, with many fish restaurants, cafes and bars. Skala is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Locris. It is Ataanti's main beach. It is relatively long and wide and well organized and has many restaurants. Also along the beach there are playgrounds and a Beach volleyball and a tennis court. The beach also has water sports. It has been a Blue Flag beach since the 1980s. The port authority is located in Skala. In the area there are the churches of Analipsi and of Panagia. The Atalanti Lagoon is located south of the bay of Atalanti. It is a shallow coastal lagoon with a narrow opening to the sea that is separated from it by a strip of land connected. The Council of Atalanti, in cooperation with local city cultural institutions, holds many cultural events:


Carnival

This custom began around the late 1970s. It begins in the Pre-Lenten Season and th city's cultural clubs host carnival dances for all ages. In the early days people used to masquerade and pay visits to friendly homes asking them the classic game of "guess who I am." The main parade consists of walking groups and floats that satirize current issues and affairs. Schools, clubs and many volunteers participate. They pass by as the crowds cheer them on. A feast takes place at the town's main street. At the end in the central square the carnival's traditional bonfire takes place. Before that, there is dancing and singing around the ''gaitanaki''. On the next day of the carnival, (''Kathara Deftera'') everybody heads to the Skala beach. There Lent is celebrated. The City of Atalanti established this day and each year it offers its guests traditional soup, Lent meals, wine and halva (a traditional sweet). Young and old try to fly kites as high as they can.


Wine Festival

Each fall, after the grape harvest the wine festival takes place. It is a fiesta with no specific date but was established in 1996 by the City of Atalanti. The area has a tradition of wine production. Two places in the valley are named Kato and Pano Ampelia (vines). A feast takes place in the central square. Traditional music and food prevail, and visitors can drink free wine. The wine provided by the local wine producers. Atalanti is home to one of the largest Greek wineries Domaine Hatzimichalis with over of 200 hectares of land.


Sardine Festival

Every July the traditional feast of sardines takes place. It is also a fiesta without a specific date. The festival takes place in Skala, Atalanti. The City of Atalanti, in collaboration with the Scala cultural associations organize a great feast where sardines, wine, salad and bread are served free of charge to guests. The feast is accompanied by traditional bands that play music.


Choral Festival of Atalanti

The Choral Festival of Atalanti began in the early 1980s and continues to this day. In 2011 it completed 30 years of continuous activity. Until 1996 the festival took place at the main city square, but since 1997 and until now the festival is organized in the Aianteio Municipal Theatre of Atalanti. It is carried out always in June but not on a specific date. Besides the locals choirs Armonia (Harmony), Proodos (Progress), and the Chorus of Atalanti, choirs from all over Greece and abroad also participate at the festival.


Annual trade fair

On 6 August each year, the Transfiguration of Christ, is celebrated for six days with a trade fair in Atalanti. It is otherwise called Pazaria (Bazaar). This celebration began in the 18th century and was originally a cattle market. As the city evolved it became a trade fair. In the center, Atalanti retailers gather from different regions of the country and sell their merchandise. They also offer evenings with traditional music in the town square and in shops where visitors can eat and drink.


People

*Panagiotis Danglis, military officer *Nikolaos Doubiotis, military officer


See also

*Atalanti Island *List of settlements in Phthiotis


Sources

*Dakoronia F. Kotoulas D., Baltas E. Tolias B Sythiakakis B. ''Locris – History & Culture.'' Publisher: Hatzimichalis Estate(In Greek) *Efstathios Kaklamanos El. 1980. ''Atalanti 1800–1828.'' Thessaloniki: Publications Dioscuri. (In Greek) *Karastathis Costas B. 2001. ''The Passion of the Greek genus.'' Athens. Publisher: Tinos.(In Greek) *Constantinio Cultural Center of Atalanti. 2011. ''Atalanti – Historical Photographs.'' Athens 2011. Publications: Bartzoulianos (In Greek) *"Chronicles of Locris". 1995. Athens: Annual Publication of Historical and Folklore Society Research of Atalanti (E.I.L.E.A.). Volume and Year 1. (In Greek) *"Chronicles of Locris". 1997. Athens: Annual Publication of Historical and Folklore Society Research of Atalanti (E.I.L.E.A.). Volume and Year 3.(In Greek) *Mavinidis C. "The people from Plavou and their village".(In Greek) *Magazine "Apoplous." Issue 1. 2002. Edition Musical Cultural Association "Chorus of Atalanti." (In Greek) *Magazine "Apoplous." Issue 2. 2002. Edition Musical Cultural Association "Chorus of Atalanti."(In Greek) *Magazine "Apoplous." Issue 3–4. 2002. Edition Musical Cultural Association "Chorus of Atalanti."(In Greek) *Magazine "Apoplous." Issue 6. 2002. Edition Musical Cultural Association "Chorus of Atalanti."(In Greek) *Magazine "Apoplous." Issue. 38, 2009. Edition Musical Cultural Association "Chorus of Atalanti."(In Greek) *Protopapas Zissis. 1952. "Locris". Athens 1952. pp. 20–23 (In Greek) *Rizopoulos. N. 2005. "Atalanti – Brief Retrospective, Myths-History-Experiences-Memories." p. 29. (In Greek) *Theodore Tzoumekis. 1998. "Refugee Facilities in Fthiotida in the first half of the 20th century." Thessaloniki.(In Greek) *Christophorou K. Manthos 1991." Opountion Locris and Atalanti – Memories and testimonies." Part 1. Athens: Society for Historical and Folklore Research of Atalanti (E.I.L.E.A.). (In Greek) *Christophorou K. Manthos 1993." Opountion Locris and Atalanti – Memories and testimonies." Part 2. Athens: Society for Historical and Folklore Research of Atalanti (E.I.L.E.A.). (In Greek) *Christophorou K. Manthos 1995." Opountion Locris and Atalanti – Memories and testimonies." Part 3. Athens: Society for Historical and Folklore Research of Atalanti (E.I.L.E.A.).(In Greek) *Christophorou K. Manthos 2001. "Timeline for Opous and Atalanti A Summary of 4000 years." Edition City of Atalanti. (In Greek)


References


External links


Official websiteAtalanti (municipality) on GTP Travel Pages
(in English and Greek)
Atalanti (community) on GTP Travel Pages
(in English and Greek) {{Authority control Populated places in Phthiotis Wine regions of Greece