Larissa
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2008-06-25T22:27:06Z
El Greco
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:''This article is about a city in Greece. For other meanings see [[Larissa (disambiguation)]].''
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name = Larissa
|name_local = Λάρισα
|periph = [[Thessaly]]
|prefec = [[Larissa Prefecture|Larissa]]
|image_skyline =
|caption_skyline =
|city_flag =
|city_seal =
|districts =
|party =
|since =
|elevation_min =
|elevation_max =
|population = 126076
|agglomeration = 248675
|population_as_of = 2001
|area = 122.586
|elevation = 67
|lat_deg = 39
|lat_min = 38.5
|lon_deg = 22
|lon_min = 25
|postal_code = 41x xx
|area_code = 2410
|licence = ΡΙ
|mayor =
|website = [http://www.larissa-dimos.gr www.larissa-dimos.gr]
}}
[[Image:Larissa horse.jpg|thumb|300px|The eternal symbol of the city, artistic display.]]
'''Larissa''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: '''Λάρισα''', ''Lárisa'') is the capital city of the [[Thessaly]] [[Peripheries of Greece|periphery]] of [[Greece]], and capital of the [[Larissa Prefecture]]. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by rail with the port of [[Volos]] and with [[Thessaloniki]] and [[Athens]]. The population of the greater area is around 250,000, and takes in the Municipalities of Nikaia, Giannouli and other smaller suburban communities. According to archaeological evidence, the capital of [[Thessaly]], Larissa, lies atop a site that has been inhabited since the tenth millennium before Christ. A major commercial and industrial centre, Larissa sits in the middle of the plain of [[Thessaly]], a few kilometers off the [[Athens]]-[[Thessaloniki]] National Road. Legend has it that [[Hippocrates]], the Father of Medicine, died here.
==Geography==
There are a number of highways [[E75]] and the main railway from [[Athens]] to [[Thessaloniki]] (Salonika) crosses [[Thessaly]]. The region is directly linked to the rest of [[Europe]] through [[International Airport of Central Greece]] located in [[Nea Anchialos]] in a small distance from Larisa.
The [[Larissa Chasma]], a deep gash in the surface of [[Dione (moon)|Dione]], a natural satellite of Jupiter, was named after Larissa.
==History==
===Antiquity===
Traces of [[Paleolithic]] human settlement have been recovered from the area, but it was peripheral to areas of advanced culture.<ref>Curtis Runnels and Tjeerd H. van Andel. "The Lower and Middle Paleolithic of Thessaly, Greece" ''Journal of Field Archaeology'' '''20'''.3 (Autumn 1993:299-317) summarises the survey carried out in June 1991.</ref> The area around Larissa was extremely fruitful - it was agriculturally important and in [[Classical antiquity|antiquity]] was known for its horses. The city finally moved closer to the rest of Greece.
The name Larissa,<ref>"The city and the plain around it were settled in prehistoric times, and its name must be early, but it is first mentioned in connection with the aristocratic [[Aleudae|Aleuadai]], whose home it was." (Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister, eds., ''The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'' (Princeton University Press) 1976, 's.v.'' "Larissa, or Larisa, or Pelasgis, Thessaly").</ref> inherited from the [[Pelasgian]] settlers— an alternative name for the district was '''Pelasgiotis'''— was common to many Pelasgian towns: the ancient Greek word ''larissa'' means "stronghold". In [[Greek mythology]] the nymph [[Larissa (mythology)|Larissa]] was a daughter of the primordial man [[Pelasgus]].<ref>Pausanias, 2.24.1</ref>
Larissa is thought to be where the famous Greek physician [[Hippocrates]] and the famous philosopher [[Gorgias of Leontini]] died.
When Larissa ceased minting the federal coins it shared with other Thessalian towns and adopted its own coinage in the late fifth century BC, it chose local types for its coins. The obverse depicted the nymph of the local spring, Larissa, for whom the town was named; probably the choice was inspired by the famous coins of [[Kimon]] depicting the Syracusan nymph [[Arethusa]]. The reverse depicted a horse in various poses. The horse was an appropriate symbol of Thessaly, a land of plains, which was well-known for its horses. Usually there is a male figure; he should perhaps be seen as the eponymous hero of the Thessalians, Thessalos, who is probably also to be identified on many of the earlier, federal coins of Thessaly.
===Hellenistic and Roman era===
Larissa, sometimes written Larisa on ancient coins and inscriptions, is near the site of the Homeric Argissa. It appears in early times, when [[Thessaly]] was mainly governed by a few aristocratic families, as an important city under the rule of the [[Aleuadae]], whose authority extended over the whole district of [[Pelasgiotis]]. This powerful family possessed for many generations before 369 BC the privilege of furnishing the ''tagus'', the local term for the ''[[strategos]]'' of the combined Thessalian forces. The principal rivals of the Aleuadae were the [[Scopadac]] of [[Crannon]], the remains of which (called by the Turks Old Larissa) are about 14 miles south west. The inhabitants sided with [[Athens]] during the Peloponnesian War.
As the chief city of ancient Thessaly, Larissa was directly annexed by Philip II of Macedon in 344, and from then on Larissa was under Macedonian control; in 196 B.C. Larissa became an ally of Rome and was the headquarters of the [[Thessalian League]].
Since the [[5th century]] it has been the seat of an [[archbishop]].
===Modern Greek era===
The town was taken from the Byzantine Empire by Bulgaria and later held by Serbia, with which it passed in the 15th century under the rule of the Ottoman Turks.
Larissa was the headquarters of [[Ali Pasha]] during the [[Greek War of Independence]], and of the crown prince [[Constantine I of Greece|Constantine]] during the [[Greco-Turkish War of 1897]]. The flight of the Greek army from here to [[Pharsala]] took place on the [[April 23]] [[1897]]. Until 1881 Larissa was the seat of a [[pasha]] in the [[wilaya]] of [[Iannina]]; and known in [[Turkish language|Turkish]] as ''Yenişehr-i Fenar'' (New Town in Greece). Its long subjection to [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule has left little trace of antiquity. In the 19th century, there was a small village in the outskirts of town very unusually inhabited by Africans from the [[Sudan]], a curious remnant of the forces collected by [[Ali Pasha]]. In the 19th century, the town produced [[leather]], [[cotton]], [[silk]] and [[tobacco]]. Fevers and agues were prevalent owing to bad drainage and the overflowing of the river; and the death-rate was higher than the birth rate. It was also renowned for the [[minaret]]s of its [[mosque]]s (four of which were still in use in the early part of the 20th century) and the [[Muslim]] burial grounds. A considerable portion of the Turkish population emigrated in 1881. During the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, Turkish troops entered the city once again in April 25. After a treaty for peace was signed, they withdrew and Larissa remained permanently in [[Greece]]. This was followed by a further exodus of Turks in 1898.
==Historical population==
[[Image:Larissa (Greece).jpg|thumb|250px|Larissa from space, November 2004]]
*[[1889]]: 13,610 (city)
*[[1907]]: 18,001 (city)
*[[1907]]: 95,066 (prefecture)
*[[1991]]: 113,781 (city)
*[[1991]]: 277,973 (prefecture)
*[[2001]]: 126,076 (city)
*[[2001]]: 279,305 (prefecture)
==Archaeological Sites==
*[http://www.larissa-dimos.gr/larissa/city/A_arxaio_theatro.shtm Ancient Theatre A']
*Ancient Theatre B'
*[http://www.geocities.com/cgbarbus/ Fortress Hill & Ancient Agora]
==Museums==
*[http://www.larissa-dimos.gr/larissa/npdd/pinako.shtm Municipal Gallery-G.I. Katsigras Museum]
*[http://www.larissa-dimos.gr/larissa/city/laografiko_mouseio.shtm Historical & Folklore Museum]
*[http://www.e-city.gr/larissa/home/view/1209.php Archaeological & Byzantine Museum]
*Diachronic Museum
*Folklore Society of Larissa
==Sites of Interest==
[[Image:St Achilles Larissa.jpg|thumb|St Achilles Cathedral in the hill of frourio]]
*The Church of Agios Achilios (Cathedral) on the ancient Acropolis / Frourio Hill
*Nike's Monument
*Mylos Theatrical & Cultural Complex
*Alkazar Park & Municipal Open Amphitheatre
*The memorial of Hyppocratis
*City Center's Pedestrian Zone
*Old Town (Lachanàdika-Frourio / Castle)
*The traditional houses at Tabakika
*Sentient Pinios River Park
*Municipal Observatory
'''Places of Interest near Larissa'''
*Tempi Valley
*Mt. Olympus
*Agiokampos Beach
*Ancient city of Lakeria
*Old Town of Aghià
*Pinios River Delta & Aquatic Zone
*Historical village of Ambelakia
==Districts (Quarters)==
The Municipality of Larissa is divided in 2 Municipal Districts (Larissa & Terpsithea). The Municipal District of Larissa is subdivided into 4 city-districts (29 quartes) & 2 suburban districts (Amphithea & Koulourion). The Municipal District of Terpsithea is subdivided into 2 suburban districts (Terpsithea & Argyssa).
* 1.Saint Achellios
* 2.Saint Nikolaos
* 3.Saint Athanasios
* 4.Alkazar
* 5.Hippocrates
* 6.Papastavrou
* 7.Ambelokipoi
* 8.Saints Saranta
* 9.Lachanokipoi
*10.Nea Smyrne-Kamynia
*11.Kalyvia-Saint Marina
*12.Charavgi
*13.Toumba
*14.Pyrovolika-Pharos
*15.Averof-Sekfo
*16.Nea Politia
*17.OKE
*18.Saint Georgios
*19.Pinioupolis
*20.Philippoupolis
*21.Livadaki
*22.Epirotika-Mezourlo
*23.Neapolis
*24.Saint Konstantinos
*25.Stathmos
*26.Anthoupolis
*27.Saint Thomas
*28.Saint Paraskevi
*29.Neraida
==Transport==
*Larissa's Urban Bus System
*Larissa's Interurban System
* {{coor dms|39|37|46|N|22|25|22.2|E| Larissa Central Railway Station}}
* {{coor dms|39|37|08|N|22|24|30|E| Mezourlo Freight Railway station}}
*Larissa Airport
==Higher Education and Research==
*[http://www.med.uth.gr/ University of Thessaly School of Medicine]
*[http://www.teilar.gr/about/start.uk.php3 Technological Educational Institute of Larissa]
*[http://www.nagref.gr National Agricultural Research Foundation]
*Agricultural School of Larissa
==Sports==
*Alkazar Sport Complex
*Alkazar National Stadium
*Municipal Swimming Pool
*Equestrian Club of Larissa
*Neapolis Palais de Sports
*Larissa's Nautical Club
*Alkazar Golf Center
*The Ice Skating Rink
===Sporting teams===
*[[Larissa F.C.]] ([[Super League Greece]]), [[Super League Greece|Greek Champions]] in 1988 and [[Greek Cup|Cup Winners]] in 1985 & 2007. Their first division championship in 1988 made them the only "countryside" team (''i.e.'' not based in Athens or Thessaloniki) to have won in the history of the league.
*[[Apollonas Larissas|Apollonas Larissa]] ([[Fourth Division (Greece)|Fourth Division]])
*[[Olympia Larissas BC]] ([[A1 Ethniki]]) Basketball team
*[[AEL 1964 BC]]/Gymnastikos S. Larissas [[A1 Ethniki]]
==Festivals==
*Achilleia Festival
*Pinios Festival
*Ippokrateia Festival
*Mediterrenean Festival of Young Cinematographers
*Memorial Festival of the Lost Homelands
*Choral Musical Festival
*The Carnival Festival of Tyrnavos
*Wine Festival of Ampelon
*Apple Festival of Aghià
==Famous People==
*[[Larissa (mythology)|Larissa]] mythological nymph from Thessaly
*[[Medius of Larissa]] ([[4th century BC]]) friend of Alexander the Great
*[[Philo of Larissa]] ([[1st century BC]]) philosopher
*[[Hippocrates]] (460 BC–370 BC) ancient physician
*[[Achillius of Larissa]] (270-330) saint
*[[George Seremetis]] (1879-1950) lawyer, mayor of Thessaloniki
*[[Kostas Gousgounis]] (1931) porn actor
*[[Georgios Souflias]] (1941) politician
*[[Lakis Lazopoulos]] actor, comedian, script author & director
*[[Petros Efthimiou]] (1950) politician
*[[Georgios Mitsibonas]] (1962-1997) footballer
*[[M. Karagatsis]] (1908-1960) novelist, journalist
*[[Vassilis Karapialis]] (1965) footballer
*[[Dimitris P. Kraniotis]] (1966) poet & medical doctor
*[[Paraskevas Boubourakas]] (1972) fashion model
*[[Konstantinos Chalkias]] (1974) footballer
*[[Alexis Georgoulis]] (1974) actor
*[[Yannis Goumas]] (1975) footballer
*[[Dimosthenis Dikoudis]] (1977) basketball player
*[[Fani Halkia]] (1979) hurdler
*[[Ekaterini Voggoli]] (1970) discus thrower
*[[Dimitris Spanoulis]] (1979) basketball player
*[[Theofanis Gekas]] (1980) footballer
*[[Vaggelis Moras]] (1981) footballer
*[[Vassilis Spanoulis]] (1982) basketball player
*[[Sotiris Skipis]] (1881-1952) poet
*[[Achilleas Tzartzanos]] (1873-1946) linguist, philologist
*[[Takis Tloupas]] (1920-2003) photographer
*[[Giorgakis Olympios]] (1772 - 1821) [[armatoloi|armatolos]]
*[[Anna Vagena]] actress
*[[Nestoras Kommatos]] (1977) basketball player
==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|Moldova}} [[Bălţi]], [[Moldova]]
*{{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Banská Bystrica]], [[Slovakia]]
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], [[USA]]
*{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Rybnik]], [[Poland]]
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Ürgüp]], [[Turkey]]
==See also==
*[[CERETETH]], Center of Technology Thessaly
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Larissa}}
*[http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Larissa Larissa]; 1911 Encyclopedia article.
*[http://www.larissa-dimos.gr Official website]
*[http://www.thessalia.gr Region of Thessaly Official Website]
*[http://www.2013volos.gr/index.htm VOLOS - LARISSA 2013 Bid for the XVII MEDITERRENEAN GAMES Official Website]
{{Larissa}}
{{Prefectural capitals of Greece}}
{{Capitals of Peripheries of Greece}}
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek regional capitals]]
[[Category:Larissa]]
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