Nea Potidea
Encyclopedia
Nea Poteidaia is a small town
in Moudania
, in the Chalkidiki Prefecture
of Greece. Built on the site of the ancient city of Potidaea
, 33 kilometers south-west of Poligiros, it was founded in 1922 and today has a population of 900.
ian colony. The place held a strategic position in ancient times. The village of Nea Potidea (New Potidea) as it exists was founded in 1922 by refugees from Eastern Thrace
and Kololimnos.
In 1960, archeologists discovered the bones of a young girl believed to have died almost 700,000 years ago. These are the oldest skeletal remains ever found in Greece.
Notable locations in the area include the remains of the castle in which the rebellious islanders barricaded themselves in 1821. Another important tourist destination is the church of the Taxiarches
founded in 1591. The church is dependent on Mount Athos
and the Dochiariou monastery
. Others come to see the marble
statue
of Aristotle
, built in memory of the philosophers born in the nearby village of Stageira
.
Ancient Potidea was founded in 600 BC on the saddle of the Pallini Peninsula. As the name of the city denotes, its patron was Poseidon. During the expedition of Xerxes against Greece in 480 BC, the city was defeated following a siege. However, a year later it gathered forces and resisted the siege of Artavazos. In the same year, it was the only city of Macedonia which, along with other Greek cities, took part in the battle of Platees.
Its history goes back a long way in the depths of the centuries. Potidea was a member of the first Alliance between Athens and Delos. It seceded from the alliance in 432/1 BC with the support of the Corinthians and King Perdikas II. In 431 BC, after the siege by the Athenian general Kallias, it was subjugated and subsequently forced to take in settlers from Athens. When the Peloponnesian war was over, Potidea was freed from the domination of Athens and received a second wave of Athenian settlers in 362/1 BC. In 356 BC, it was ruined by the king of Macedonia, Philip II and was turned over to the Olynthians.
In 349/8 BC the city had the fate of the other cities of Chalkidiki, that is, it became part of the Macedonian Kingdom.
After a period of desertion of about 40 years, in 316 BC, Kassandros built on the site of Potidea a new city, which was named after him, Kassandria. In the following period until the taking of Macedonia by the Romans (168 BC), Kassandria developed into one of the most powerful cities of Macedonia. It was almost certainly during this time that the canal was opened up, which facilitated navigation and boosted trade and economic development.
In 168 BC, the city came under Roman rule and flourished a new. Potidea's decay is linked to the invasions of the Huns, who invaded Macedonia in 540 AD. Consequently, despite Justinian's efforts in the 6th century AD, the city was completely deserted, according to historical sources. Its castle, being of great importance for the security of the whole peninsula, was repaired by Ioannis VII, Paleologos, in 1407 and later by the Venetians. In 1430 it came under Turkish domination.
With the Greek Revolution of 1821, the old fortification was repaired and reused, while in the same period the new cutting of the canal was made.
In 1821, the revolting people of Chalkidiki entrenched themselves in the castle. They fought hard until the ”turmoil of Kassandra“, the well-known "holocaust" which is commemorated with big official celebrations every year on its anniversary, November 14.
Nea Potidea is a very beautiful place.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Moudania
Moudania, Greece
Moudania is a former municipality in Chalkidiki, Greece, named after Mudanya in present Turkey. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Nea Propontida, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 17,032 . The seat of the municipality was in Nea Moudania...
, in the Chalkidiki Prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
of Greece. Built on the site of the ancient city of Potidaea
Potidaea
Potidaea was a colony founded by the Corinthians around 600 BC in the narrowest point of the peninsula of Pallene, the westernmost of three peninsulas at the southern end of Chalcidice in northern Greece....
, 33 kilometers south-west of Poligiros, it was founded in 1922 and today has a population of 900.
History
The history of Potidea, which existed on the spot, goes back to the early 7th century B.C. when it was a CorinthCorinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
ian colony. The place held a strategic position in ancient times. The village of Nea Potidea (New Potidea) as it exists was founded in 1922 by refugees from Eastern Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
and Kololimnos.
In 1960, archeologists discovered the bones of a young girl believed to have died almost 700,000 years ago. These are the oldest skeletal remains ever found in Greece.
Economy
Nea Potidea is an important harbor, being the only point of access to the Kassandra Peninsula.History
Taxiarches
Taxiarches or its variant taxiarchos , anglicized taxiarch, may refer to:* taxiarch, equivalent to brigadier in ancient and modern Greek military terminology...
founded in 1591. The church is dependent on Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
and the Dochiariou monastery
Dochiariou monastery
Dochiariou monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery at the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece.It was founded in the 10th century, and is dedicated to the memory of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. It celebrates its patronal feastday on November 8th...
. Others come to see the marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, built in memory of the philosophers born in the nearby village of Stageira
Stageira
Stageira was an ancient Greek city on the Chalkidiki peninsula and is chiefly known for being the birthplace of Aristotle. The city lies approximately 8 kilometres north northeast of the present-day village of Stagira, close to the town of Olympiada....
.
Ancient Potidea was founded in 600 BC on the saddle of the Pallini Peninsula. As the name of the city denotes, its patron was Poseidon. During the expedition of Xerxes against Greece in 480 BC, the city was defeated following a siege. However, a year later it gathered forces and resisted the siege of Artavazos. In the same year, it was the only city of Macedonia which, along with other Greek cities, took part in the battle of Platees.
Its history goes back a long way in the depths of the centuries. Potidea was a member of the first Alliance between Athens and Delos. It seceded from the alliance in 432/1 BC with the support of the Corinthians and King Perdikas II. In 431 BC, after the siege by the Athenian general Kallias, it was subjugated and subsequently forced to take in settlers from Athens. When the Peloponnesian war was over, Potidea was freed from the domination of Athens and received a second wave of Athenian settlers in 362/1 BC. In 356 BC, it was ruined by the king of Macedonia, Philip II and was turned over to the Olynthians.
In 349/8 BC the city had the fate of the other cities of Chalkidiki, that is, it became part of the Macedonian Kingdom.
After a period of desertion of about 40 years, in 316 BC, Kassandros built on the site of Potidea a new city, which was named after him, Kassandria. In the following period until the taking of Macedonia by the Romans (168 BC), Kassandria developed into one of the most powerful cities of Macedonia. It was almost certainly during this time that the canal was opened up, which facilitated navigation and boosted trade and economic development.
In 168 BC, the city came under Roman rule and flourished a new. Potidea's decay is linked to the invasions of the Huns, who invaded Macedonia in 540 AD. Consequently, despite Justinian's efforts in the 6th century AD, the city was completely deserted, according to historical sources. Its castle, being of great importance for the security of the whole peninsula, was repaired by Ioannis VII, Paleologos, in 1407 and later by the Venetians. In 1430 it came under Turkish domination.
With the Greek Revolution of 1821, the old fortification was repaired and reused, while in the same period the new cutting of the canal was made.
In 1821, the revolting people of Chalkidiki entrenched themselves in the castle. They fought hard until the ”turmoil of Kassandra“, the well-known "holocaust" which is commemorated with big official celebrations every year on its anniversary, November 14.
Tourism
Nea Potidea is an attractive place for holidays with many inns and an important harbor. There are many hotels, rooms and apartments for the visitor's accommodation as well as many restaurants, bars, super markets, and several stores. In the village live around 900 inhabitants and it is only 33 km south-west of Poligiros.Nea Potidea is a very beautiful place.
External links
- http://kassandra.in-chalkidiki.com/nea_potidea.htm
- http://www.e-city.gr/chalkidiki/home/view_en/2101.php