| |
Piraeus - the port of ancient Athens
By Jakob Jelling
Piraeus, also known as Peiraeus or Pireas, is a city located in the prefecture of Attica, towards the southern side of Athens. This city's main attraction is based on the fact that in ancient Greece, it was used as Athens' main port, and therefore it played a very important role in the city's life.
Besides than being the port of ancient Athens, Piraeus has been also named port of modern Athens since 1834. This way, nowadays this port can be seen in action, and although it does not look just like it used in ancient Greece, it still shows some of such antique characteristics which turn it into a very interesting and peculiar place to meet.
The name of this area, Piraeus, means "the place over the passage", a meaning which is very significant to its past history. In its origins as a populated area, Piraeus was a small island which was connected to the land by a narrow stretch of land. Although at first the area received other denominations, this geographical characteristic finally inspired the actual name.
Although its main port is the most famous one, Piraeus also has two other smaller harbors which have also helped turning this spot into a very active one. The benefits of this spot and its harbor was not noticed until the decade of 490 BC when Themistocles constructed a fortification by this spot with the purpose of being able t easily use the ports and protect the citizens of Athens from Persians' attacks.
Piraeus has a population of about 175.000 people, with a density of 15.972 inhabitants per km2. IT is one of the few municipal authorities located within the metropolitan area of Athens. Besides Pireus, this metropolitan area has other municipal authorities among which we can name Keratsini, Korydalos, Drapetsona, Nikaia, Perama, and Rentis.
Piraeus has been home town of several important people, such as per example the Andrianoloulos brothers, who founded the Olympiacos sporting club, Yiorgos Batis, an important Greek musician who lived between 1885 and 1967, or Dimitris Gkogkos, an important Greek musician from beginnings of the XX century.
About the Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/greece.php if you're planning a trip to Greece.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/16568.html
| If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/16568.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
| Some other articles by Jakob Jelling | Mixing and pouring concrete
Mixing and pouring concrete often sounds easier than it is. This task implies handling the right amount of ingredients and handling them at the right moment and the right way, and all these aspects might have some ...
How to repair cracked vinyl siding
Although vinyl siding has many advantages over wood and does not wear as easily, sometimes it can be cracked and might have to ...
How to install replacement windows
Replacement windows can be a great choice when needing new windows and wishing to be able to replace them easily. Replacement windows are created and designed in such a way they ...
How to install an under-the-sink water filter
Installing a water filter can be very important, especially in those cases where water has more chlorine or minerals than we might wish, or when we simply want to make sure of having as pure as possible ...
How to install a ceiling fan
A ceiling fan can be a great choice for acclimatizing an environment, especially when the space is reduced, but installing it can be ...
How to replace a windowsill
Replacing a windowsill can be easier than it seems, you might only need to count with the necessary tools and follow several steps. We will provide you with some useful tips through the next ...
|
|
| |
|
