Syros
Syros
Περιφερειακή ενότητα Σύρου Δήμος Σύρου-Ερμούπολης | |
---|---|
EEST) | |
Postal codes | 841 xx |
Area codes | 228x0 |
Car plates | EM |
Syros (Greek: Σύρος [ˈsiros]), also known as Siros or Syra, is a Greek island in the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. It is 78 nautical miles (144 km) south-east of Athens. The area of the island is 83.6 km2 (32 sq mi) and at the 2021 census it had 21,124 inhabitants.[1]
The largest towns are Ermoupoli, Ano Syros, and Vari . Ermoupoli is the capital of the island, the Cyclades, and the South Aegean. It has always been a significant port town, and during the 19th century it was even more significant than Piraeus. Other villages are Galissas, Foinikas, Pagos, Manna, Kini and Poseidonia.
Ermoupoli
The city hall is in the center of the town, in Miaoulis Square, ringed with cafés, seating areas, and palm trees. Dubbed the "City of
The quarter of Vaporia is where sea captains traditionally lived. There are numerous neo-classical mansions along the quarter's narrow streets.
Ano Syros
History
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Kastri culture
The history of settlement on Syros goes back at least 5,000 years, to the
Kastri, dated by archaeologists to 2800-2300 BC, was one of the earliest settlements in Greece that were protected by stone walls with rounded bastions. Also the cemetery of Chalandriani is associated with Kastri. Inside the fortification, the houses shared party walls and were packed close together. It is estimated that the fortified town was home to up to 300 people.
The site was first discovered and excavated in 1898 by Christos Tsountas, the "father of Cycladic research". Kastri had some of the earliest metalwork in the region, and also some of the earliest use of potter's wheel.
Antiquity
Throughout history, the island was known as Syra (
The island was also the home of the
now stands.The island did not play an important role during
Middle Ages
At the end of ancient times, barbarian raids and piracy, which affected the Aegean for many centuries, led Syros to decline. The island, along with the other Cyclades, was devastated several times during the Middle Ages by raiders from different directions including Sicilians, Arabs, Turks and Venetians.
In the
It was at this time that
Ottoman Era
By the 16th century, the Ottoman fleet became dominant in the Aegean and the Duchy fell apart. In 1522 the corsair Barbarossa took possession of the island, which would be known as "Sire" during Ottoman rule.[5] However, negotiations of the local authorities with the Ottomans gave the Cyclades substantial privileges, such as the reduction of taxes and religious freedom.
At the same time, following an agreement of France and the Holy See with the Ottoman authorities, the Catholics of the island came under the protection of France and Rome[citation needed] and so Syros sometimes was called "the Pope's island".
The
The list of
After the second half of the 17th century, a period of economic recovery of the Aegean began, climaxing during the transition from the 18th to the 19th century. The special regime of the islands allowed the development of local self-government. The decline of piracy since the beginning of the 19th century led to the gradual liberation of the sea routes of the Eastern Mediterranean.
In Independent Greece
Greek War of Independence and 19th century
Due to its crucial geographical position, Syros became known as a maritime way-point. Moreover, the special social, religious and institutional conditions prevailing on the island, led Syriots to neutrality at the beginning of the
In 1827 Syros became part of the newly founded First Hellenic Republic and later (1834) the Greek Kingdom. The island returned to peace and tranquility, Syros became known as a cross-road in the Aegean and as an international commercial center linking Western Europe and the Mediterranean sea to the East. The construction of the first buildings began in 1822, and in 1824 the first Orthodox Church Metamorphosis and the largest Greek sanatorium was constructed.
Because of the Venetian domination from the
During 1831 Syros played a prominent role in the elaboration of the new Greek Constitution. Under Ioannis Kapodistrias (Giovanni Capo D'Istria), the first Governor of the new state, the population of Ermoupolis had reached 13,805 residents and the city had evolved into a seat of government.
It had a Commercial Court of Law, a post office (one of the first in Greece), insurance brokerages, the first public school, a branch of the
Newcomers, mainly mariners and tradesmen, gave the island a new dynamic, which along with its demographic and economic development, turned it into an administrative and cultural centre. Newcomers flocked to the island and founded the town of Ermoupoli, which rapidly became the leading port of Greece.
Between 1822 and 1865, Ermoupoli was rebuilt in a Neoclassical style, merging
The European architects (mainly Germans and Italians) and also Greeks who participated in the design and planning of Ermoupolis respected the classical and ancient Greek architecture and harmonized it with the romanticism of the West. Ermoupoli has a high density of neoclassical architecture. The prosperity of Syros was connected with the development of social and cultural life. The evolutionary cycle was completed with the creation of the first industrial units during the decade of 1860–70.
Most public buildings, churches, schools, stadiums and many mansions were built in the same elegant and neoclassical style, making Ermoupoli at the time a very modern city with a unique character. As a result, Syros changed almost overnight from a rather quiet island into a vigorous centre of crafts, industry and production.[14] Also, due to its large port of Ermoupoli, it turned into a major centre for ship building and refitting. Neorion was the first shipyard of Greece. To this very day, it remains a place where many ships are serviced and refitted.
Since 1830 the commerce of fabrics, silk, ship building, leather and iron developed on Syros and at the same time a powerful banking system was created. The tremendous growth and development of Ermoupolis continued and until 1860 Syros was the most important commercial harbour in Greece. Together with commerce and ship building, construction and public works were also developed. The Greek Steamship Company was founded in 1856.
A period of decline then followed, as sailing gave way to steam, the importance of the geographical situation of the island was reduced and Piraeus harbour finally took the predominant position in Greece - with the competition of Patras also reducing Syros' commercial importance.
20th century
Beginning at the end of the 19th century and for several decades, a temporary economic recovery took place, due to the development of the textile industry ("Foustanos-Karellas-Velissaropoulos & Co").
The
Ermoupoli today has 7 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools, 2 high schools, 2 technical schools and the
Syros also has a British cemetery where various people are buried, including many seamen and servicemen who died in the Cyclades region, particularly during the Second World War. The numerous consulates of countries such as France, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries bear witness to the connection of Syros with the wider European scene.
Administration
Syros is a separate
The municipality also includes the uninhabited island Gyaros and several other islets. The total area of the municipality is 101.90 km2 (39 sq mi).[16]
Province
The province of Syros (Greek: Επαρχία Σύρου) was one of the provinces of the Cyclades Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current regional units Syros and Mykonos.[17] It was abolished in 2006.
Religion
As in the rest of Greece, Syros has
The
There is also a single church of the Greek Byzantine Catholic Church which is not part of the diocese but subject to the Byzantine Exarchate of Greece.
Cuisine
Local specialities of the island include:
- Kaparosalata (salad with capers)
- Maidanosalata (salad with parsley)
- Frisoura (appetizer)
- Delagraciano
- Ladopita
- Marathopita
- Tomatokeftedes (fried tomato balls)
- Kalamari gemistó (stuffed grilled squid)
- Sfougato
- San Michali cheese
- Loukoumi (dessert)
- Halvadopita (dessert)
- Pastelaria (dried figs dessert)
Sports
- Foinikas Syros V.C.
- Aris Syros, basketball/volleyball
- Hellas Syros, football
- Athletic Club Syros, basketball/football
- Syros Windsurfing School
- Komito Watersports
Airport
Notable residents
- Eumaeus, character in the Odyssey
- philosopher
- Ioannis Andreas Kargas, Catholic bishop of Syros and martyr
- Michail Melas (1833–1897), Greek politician and merchant, father to Pavlos Melas
- Demetrius Vikelas (1835–1908), writer and the first president of the International Olympic Committee
- Emmanuel Roidis (1836–1904), writer and journalist
- Stamata Revithi (1866–?), the first woman to compete in the Olympic Games and run the Marathon
- Cefalonia, Greece
- Anna Kalouta (el) (1918–2010), actress
- Markos Vamvakaris (1905–1972), musician
- Rita Boumi-Pappa (1906–1984), poet and translator
- Apostolic Exarch of the Byzantine Rite Catholics in Greece
- translator
- Stelios Mainas (1957–), actor
- Georgios Printezis (1985–), professional basketball player
Gallery
-
Ermoupolis, Syros from above
-
Ano Syros, Catholic quarter
-
Statue of Andreas Miaoulis
-
View from Ano Syros
-
Ermoupoli market shop
-
Kini beach
-
Galissas from Agia Pakou chapel
-
Megas Gyalos
See also
References
- ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Μόνιμου Πληθυσμού κατά δημοτική κοινότητα" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 21 April 2023.
- ^ Suda, s.v.
- ISBN 978-1-910630-86-0.
- ^ William Miller, Latins in the Levant p636
- ^ ""ege adalarÃ"±" arama sonuçları ile ilgili bilgiler". Türkçe Bilgi.
- ^ Le Quien, op. cit., II, 233
- ^ Ampelas, Histoire de Syros, 411
- ^ Miklosich and Mueller, "Acta patriarchatus constantinopolitani", V, 461
- ^ Ricaut, "Histoire de l'estat présent de l"Eglise grecque", 361; Hilaire de Barenton, "La France Catholique en Orient", 171-173
- ^ Oriens christianus, III, 865-868
- ^ Hierarchia catholica medii aevi, I, 492; II, 267; III, 324
- ^ Pétridès in "Revue de l'Orient chrétien", V, 407-422
- ^ Edward Lear diaries, 1858-1888. MS Eng 797.3 (7), page seq. 57. Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
- ^ See, e.g., Theodore Bent, ‘The Capital of the Cyclades’. Macmillan’s Magazine, Vol. 50, 1884 (May/Oct), pp. 426-435.
- ^ "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
- ^ "Detailed census results 1991" (PDF). (39 MB) (in Greek and French)
- ^ a b "Syros Churches: Information about the churches of Syros Greece, Cyclades". Greeka.com. 20 November 2007.
- ^ "Easter: A date with God". The Economist. April 20, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
Only in a handful of places do Easter celebrants alter their own arrangements to take account of their neighbours. Finland's Orthodox Christians mark Easter on the Western date. And on the Greek island of Syros, a Papist stronghold, Catholics and Orthodox alike march to Orthodox time. The spectacular public commemorations, involving flower-strewn funeral biers on Good Friday and fireworks on Saturday night, bring the islanders together, rather than highlighting division.
External links
- Official website of Municipality of Áno Sýros (in Greek)
- Official website of Municipality of Ermoúpoli (in English and Greek)
- University of the Aegean in Ermoúpoli (in English and Greek)
- Department of Product and Systems design from University of the Aegean
- Information about Syros from syros-online.com (in German)
- Syros The Official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation
- Festival of the Aegean (Official website of the music festival that has been held on the island since 2005.)
- Complete travel guide for Syros island (in English and Greek)