Methana

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Methana (Greek Μέθανα (n. pl. ), AltGr. Ἡ Μεθάνα also ) is the name of a peninsula on the Argolid the Saronic Gulf on the eastern tip of the Peloponnese ( χερσόνησος των Μεθάνων ) and a community ( Δήμος Μεθάνων ) in the Attica region, the 1912-2010 was. Capital of the province was the same spa resort located in the southern part. The city Methana is known for its thermal baths, which is why their official name was 1966-1997 Loutropolis methanone ( to gr loutro, Bad ' ).

The community Methana that existed since 1934, was incorporated on 1 January 2011 with Trizina the new community Trizinia where she has since formed a district.

Geography

The Methana peninsula is the most north-western foothills of the Cycladic arc on which the active volcanic areas Methana, Milos, Santorini and Nisyros are. It is dotted with more than 30 volcanic domes and numerous sulfur springs of volcanic origin.

The famous historical eruption took place near the village of Kameni Chora next to the older lava Malia Vgethi in the northwest of the peninsula around the year 230 BC. The ancient writer Ovid, Strabo and Pausanias reported last of the volcanic eruption and then sprung mineral springs on the coast near the village of Agios Nikolaos.

Off the north west coast Methana a submarine volcano was discovered in 1987, was active in the 17th century. This outbreak and the hot springs indicate that the volcanism on Methana is not extinguished, and even more in the future volcanic eruptions are expected. Since 1991, the peninsula is geologically explored and mapped by the ETH Zurich. The result was ever a geological and one topographic map of the peninsula in the scale of 1:25,000. With these data, a three-dimensional map was created that can be traversed virtually the Internet ( could ).

The name is of methane (gas ) produced, which comes on the peninsula in one or more mofettes from the earth.

History in antiquity

Neither the city nor peninsula in ancient times to have reached significant importance, although the settlement has been demonstrated since the Mycenaean period. Ancient remains found first described by Michael Deffner are scattered throughout the peninsula.

Sensational in 1990 was the discovery of a late Mycenaean settlement by Sofia Michalopoulou at the chapel Agii Konstantinos ke Eleni. There was a sanctuary with numerous offerings and a child's grave, possibly a human sacrifice discovered. Famous is the Acropolis of ancient Paliokastro Methana the fishing village Vathy, from where the remains of walls, towers and gates from the 5th century BC have received. More Castles are located near the village of Kypseli on the coast ( Acropolis Oga ) and the main town of Nissaki ( Νησάκι ).

In the Peloponnesian War, the entire peninsula was occupied by the years 425 BC to the Nikiasfrieden by the Athenians, who used it as a bridgehead for an attack on allied with the Spartans cities. In the 4th century BC the city was self-employed until they fell into the sphere of influence of the Ptolemies and served as a base. During this period (up to about mid-2nd century BC), it was called Arsinoe in the Peloponnese. The soldiers brought the cult of Isis and Serapis.

Places in municipality

• Agii Theodori
• Agios Georgios
• Agios Nikolaos
• Dritsika
• Kameni Chora
• Kounoupitsa
• Kypseli
• Makrylongos
• Megalochori
• Methana
• Vathy
• Palia Loutra

All villages have been merged under the " Kapodistrias plan " in the late 20th century and were administered until a few years from the capital Methana. Meanwhile, the community Methana has been dissolved and is administered by the municipality Trizinia.

The Methaner among the Arvanites, an originally from Southern Albania minority who immigrated to Greece in the Middle Ages.