Aigeira
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aigeira Αιγείρα |
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|---|---|
| Location | |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | West Greece |
| Prefecture: | Achaea |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[1]) | |
| City Proper | |
| - Population: | 4,512 |
| - Area:[2] | 103.65 km² (40 sq mi) |
| - Density: | 44 /km² (113 /sq mi) |
| Codes | |
| Postal: | 250 10 |
| Area: | 26960 |
| Auto: | ΑΧ |
| Website | |
| aigeira.gr | |
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Aigeira or Aegira (Greek: Αιγείρα, older: Αίγειρα), also Egira, Eyira, Aiyira is a community located about 500 m SW of the Gulf of Corinth in the northeastern part of the prefecture of Achaea. It is located in GR-8 and has an interchange connecting the new highway with GR-8A and E65. Distance from Patras is 67 km E, about 4 km NE of Akrata and 148 km W of Athens. The municipality is the easternmost in the prefecture.
[edit] Nearest places
- Akrata (west)
- Seliana (west)
- Sinevro (northwest)
[edit] Communes:
- Aigeira
- Aiges
- Ampelokipoi
- Chrysanthio
- Exochi
- Monastiri
- Oasi
- Perithori
- Seliana
- Sinevro
- Vella
[edit] Historical population:
| Year | Communal population | Change | Municipal population | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,320 | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 1,696 | 376/28.48% | 4,211 | - |
| 2001 | - | - | 4,503 | 292/6.93% |
The community has a school, a gymnasium, a church, a post office and a(plateia). It has a train station with no building connecting the railway line with Patras - Aigio - Aigira - Derveni - Xylokastro - Kiato - Corinth. The origin of the name comes from the Ancient Greek word aiges for goats.
The place has 8-story buildings and hotels founded around the city and newer ones in the west. Aigeira also has a traffic light.
Mountains are founded to the south. Forests are founded to the west and east. One of the hill foundede south is named Palaiokastro.
North of Aigeira is a beach which includes spas.
In the archaeological site, the city had a temple during ancient times. It has an antefix decorated with a painted palmette dating back to 500 BC. It also had a harbor.
[edit] History
The area was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. The city was known as Hyperesia (Greek: Υπερησία, Hyperesia) during Homeric times. In 688 BC, Hyperesia changed to Aegira.
The legend Hyperesia was threatened once, as Pausanias reported by a hostile army from Sicyon.
It changed its name to the present name as the defenders achieved victory and the people bounded for the goats and attacked the enemies.
The city was prosperous and was one of the twelve most important cities in the Achaean League. It was also a member of the Achaean league. According to Pausanias, there was a statue of Zeus and Athena as well as a temple of Artemis Agrotera.
The city was destroyed when Achaea became part of the Roman Empire. Allegedly it was destroyed by a flood. Since then, the city is 400 m above sea level. Others said it was destroyed by an earthquake.
[edit] Archaeology
The Österreichische Archäologische Institut, lit. the Austrian Archaeological Institute in 1916 made excavations in Aegira. The team along with Otto Walter (pronunciation: VAHL-tehr) found the head of the statue of Zeus which was sculpted by Euclid. Walter also found the left arm, the finger at the right hand later. In 1972, excavations continued by Wilhelm Alzinger and excavated the ancient theatre and a Naiskos (small temple). The soil was decorated with mosaic which showed an eagle.
[edit] Other
Its major soccer team is Thyella Aigira, its uniform is black and white. Egira is also home to non-league amateur football club Panegiratikos.
Egira also has a parking area 1 km E of the National Road interchange.
[edit] External links
- OeAL - Aigeira
- The Acropolis of Aigeira
- GTP - Ancient Aegira
- GTP - Aigeira
- GTP - Municipality of Aigeira
| North: Gulf of Corinth | ||
| West: Akrata |
Aigeira/Egeira | East: Evrosthyni |
| South: Akrata |
[edit] See also
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