Pelion

Pelion (often Pelion, Pelion also, Greek Πήλιο, Pelion ) is a mountain ( 1,624 m, Pourianos Stavros ) in the Regional District of Magnesia the Greek region of Thessaly. It is sometimes also the whole of the peninsula that separates the Pagasitic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, so called. At the northwest end of the peninsula lies the important seaport and commercial city of Volos.

He is popular with the Greek people, but also many foreigners as a second home by its luxuriant vegetation and its mild climate. On the Pelion are over 40 mountain villages and coastal towns, which can look back on a storied past in part. In the mythology of the Pelion was designated as the home of the Centaurs. Cheiron, whose cave was on the main summit Pliassidi, educated here Achilles. During the conquest of Mount Olympus, the Aloiden invaginated Pelion on Mount Ossa. From the port city of Volos ( the then Iolcus ) started from Jason and the Argonauts to search for the Golden Fleece.

History

Antiquity

In addition to the legendary lore there on the Pelion evidence of an ancient settlement in Pouri to Zagora ( official archaeological site ).

In the northeast, about 8 km south of Veneto, located on a rocky cliff, a large number of sea caves. There are most likely the " ovens " - ipnoi, of which Herodotus: Here the Persian fleet under Xerxes I. is lost in a storm many of their ships have ( Herodotus 7.188 ).

In Volos - the ancient Iolcus - held archaeological excavations, and there were antique finds at Alikes made ​​. In Volos, there is also an archaeological museum.

Modern Times

The geographical conditions made ​​the Pelion for the Turkish occupiers almost impregnable. The coastal regions were (formerly ) only sparsely populated, there are on the side of the Aegean only one natural harbor ( Damouchari ( d' amour chari = ' thanks love ') - a former Genoese fortress with traces of a fort ). Each of the small fishing villages had a more inland cities and the capital, which was usually not seen from the sea. These places, though only a few kilometers from the coast, altitudes have 200-500 m. The paths from the coast to these places were hidden and not to fathom for conquerors. Due to these circumstances the Pelion has never been occupied by Turks. In addition, the Pelion region enjoyed by an agreement with the Ottomans a special law, which gave the Pilioriten a kind of autonomy, similar to the island of Chios. These circumstances made ​​it possible to leave quite early develop its own national Greek feeling, so from here the Greek freedom fighters Rigas Velestinlis ( Rigas Fereos ) ( and others on the 10 euro cent coin pictured) in the wide world ( 1 station Venice) moved to the Greek struggle for freedom to organize. Rigas Fereos worked as a teacher in Kissos. The fact that there was a Greek school in his time, is proof of the freedom of this region, because in the Ottoman occupied territories of the teaching was strictly forbidden in the Greek language, so that the so-called ' kryfa scholia ' ( secret schools ) existed there.

Economy

On Pagasitic Gulf is the largest cement factory in Greece, Heracles. The Zagora, Makrirahi and Anilion region is the largest fruit growing area of Greece, especially for apples. The Mouresi region is Greece's largest wine area of ​​gardenias; the South is known for its olives. In addition, pickled fruits from Pelion in Greece are very popular. Other important thriving here plant species and agricultural products marketed are sweet chestnuts, cherries, pears, plums, mulberries, blackberries, oregano and other herbs, honey, lemons, nectarines, peaches, apricots, fish, oranges, various flowers, wood and much more.

Along the coast, tourism is an important source of income in the summer months. The most of the year but are closed many stores and restaurants.

In winter, the ski resort in Chania of Volos is easily accessible for day trippers.

Others

  • Mamma Mia!, The successful musical film adaptation so far, has been turned with the small romantic village of Damouhari in the area of Mouresi on the east coast of Pelion on the mainland, but also on Skiathos and Skopelos.
  • Agria is the birthplace of the composer Vangelis (1492: Conquest of Paradise ).
  • The Greek freedom fighter Rigas Velestinlis worked in Kissos as a teacher.
  • The Austrian dropouts Alfons Hochhauser lived from 1927 to 1938 and from 1957 to 1981 in Pelion.
  • The German writer Werner Helwig wrote three novels whose action in Pelion plays: Predator fishing in Hellas (1939 ), In the Jungle of Pelion (1941 ) and headwind (1945 ).
  • In the early summer is the annual dance and creative workshop of Pelion Summer Academy ( PiSa ​​) under the direction of international lecturers.
  • In high summer, the Gulf of Volos (leaving Melina ) sailing trips take place on the almost 100-year old traditional sailing HEKLA.
  • The Greek playwright Euripides calls the valleys of Pelion and there severed spruce in his tragedy Medea the origin of the Argonauts ship Argo.

Swell

  • Herodotus, 7.188
  • Http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/searchresults?q=pelion
  • Tasos Petris: Pelion - The land of the Centaurs. Athens 1998, ISBN 960-540-142-8.
  • Klaus Bötig, Marion Steinhoff: Northern Sporades and Pelion. Cologne 2000, ISBN 3-7701-4598-4.
  • Karlheinz Eller (ed.): Euripides Medea. Greek / German. Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-15-007978-0.
Chiron Mamma Mia! (Film) Medea (play) Pelion railway
640633
de