PelionorPelium(ModernGreek:Πήλιο,Pílio;Ancient Greek/Katharevousa:Πήλιον,Pēlion) is a mountain at the southeastern part ofThessalyin northernGreece,forming a hook-like peninsula between thePagasetic Gulfand theAegean Sea.Its highest summit,Pourianos Stavros,is 1,624 metres (5,328 ft)amsl.[1]TheGreek National Road 38(GR-38) runs through the southern portion of the peninsula and GR-38A runs through the middle.
| Pelion | |
|---|---|
| Πήλιο Pilio | |
 Southern hook | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,624 m (5,328 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,473 m (4,833 ft) |
| Listing | Parkland |
| Coordinates | 39°26′19″N23°2′47″E/ 39.43861°N 23.04639°E |
| Naming | |
| Pronunciation | Greek:[ˈpiʎo] |
| Geography | |
  Pelion Greece | |
| Location | EasternMagnesia,Greece |
| Parent range | Pilio |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Fold |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Road, climbing |
Geography and economy
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The mountain is thickly forested, with both deciduous and perennial forests, mainly ofbeech,oak,mapleandchestnuttrees, witholive,apple,peartrees andplane treegroves surrounding places with water. Pelion is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in Greece and is a popular tourist attraction throughout the year: hiking trails and stone paths give access to springs, coves and numerous beaches, sandy or pebbly, set among lusciously green slopes. Pelion is an amply watered mountain with an abundance of springs, gorges, streams and rivulets; many streams are routed in carved-stone artificial beds to bring water to the villages and their thriving orchards. The higher elevations of the mountain receive enough snowfall so as to host skiing facilities that operate fromChristmastoEaster.
Pelian cuisine specializes incharcuterie,its most famed dish beingspentzofáï,a hearty stew made of sliced pork sausage that is first cooked on its own, then stewed with green and redpeppers,mild or hot as the case may be, andshallotsor smallonions;aubergine or tomatoes are added when seasonally available. Pelion is also renowned for its orchard fruit, with pride of place going to thefiríki,an originally Egyptianapplevarietal of very small, oval-shaped, intensely fragrant, crisp and slightly tart apples that withstand long storage without refrigeration. There is also wide cultivation ofplums,especiallymirabellesandgreengages.
Mythology
editInGreek mythology,Mount Pelion (which took its name from the mythical kingPeleus,father ofAchilles) was the homeland ofChirontheCentaur,tutor of many ancient Greek heroes, such asJason,Achilles,TheseusandHeracles.On Mount Pelion, near Chiron's cave, the marriage ofThetisandPeleustook place. The uninvited goddessEris,to take revenge for having been kept outside the party, brought a golden apple with the inscription "To the Fairest". The dispute that then arose between the goddessesHera,AphroditeandAthenaresulted in events leading to theTrojan War.
When the twinsOtus and Ephialtesattempted to stormOlympus,they piled Mount Pelion uponMount Ossa(whence the idiom, to "pile Pelion on Ossa" ).[2]
In Literature
editWilliam Shakespearereferences the mountain in Act II, scene i ofThe Merry Wives of Windsor:"He will print them, out of doubt; for he cares not what he puts into the press, when he would put us two: I had rather be a giantess, and lie under Mount Pelion."
Herman Melvilleuses its mythological images in Book XXV ofPierre: or, The Ambiguities:"You saw Enceladus the Titan, the most potent of all the giants, writhing from out the imprisoning earth;—turbaned with upborn moss he writhed; still, though armless, resisting with his whole striving trunk, the Pelion and the Ossa hurled back at him;—turbaned with upborn moss he writhed; still turning his unconquerable front toward that majestic mount eternally in vain assailed by him, and which, when it had stormed him off, had heaved his undoffable incubus upon him, and deridingly left him there to bay out his ineffectual howl."
Recent history
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ThePelion railway,dating back to 1892–1903, was the first serious public investment in the area. Electricity, radio and automobiles were first introduced in the 1950s except for Volos, which had those utilities from earlier times. Television arrived in the 1970s and the 1980s and computers and Internet in the late 1990s. The northern part of the Pelion mountains was struck by a forest fire (seeSummer 2007 Wildfires in Greece) on June 26, 2007, which started in Siki and damaged its forests, mostly at the middle part of the mountain. The fire lasted for several days and stopped on July 1. Several villages were damaged. As of late August, however, a natural rebirth of the forest was already being noticed, with several trees gradually turning green again, as well as bushes appearing on the ground.
Communications
editThe mountain has a telecommunications tower that broadcasts radio and television includingANT1,Mega,ERT,Star Channel,Alter,TRTand more and radio includingERA,ANT1 FMand many more.
Panorama
editA panorama from Pelion offers a views of the valley, the mountains of western Magnesia,Mount Olympus,the plain ofThessalyand its nearby mountains, Mavrovouni,Euboea,Central Greeceand thenorthern Sporadesislands. Depending on the humidity of the atmosphere, visitors can view the mountains of Agio Oros.
Places
editModern Pelion's twenty-four villages retain traditional Pelian architecture and construction, with stone buildings made out of expertly carved local grey, blue, or greenslateand redclay.They are built on terraces on the slopes and offer stunning vistas of the surrounding slopes and the sea. Houses are usually multi-storied and feature the characteristic Pelianorielconstruction, with tall windows and abundant painted ornamentation. Pelian tradition calls for three-level houses, with the ground floor used for work (tools, kitchen, storage, washing, weaving), the middle floor used for socializing (common rooms), and the top floor for private rooms (bedrooms). Heat is provided by fireplaces, the chimneys of which run through the walls to provide heat to the upper levels, whereas the top level, being well ventilated, provides for summertime cooling. Interior construction is usually ofchestnuttimber, stained dark brown and often elaborately carved. Many of the larger Pelian mansions (thearkhontikáor "lordly mansions" ) have been converted into boutique hotels and hostels. The largest of all the stone buildings, which serve as points of reference for the locals, are the Pelion Towers. These are huge 300-year-old buildings with exquisite visual characteristics that combine building elements of Mountain Pelion of the 17th, 18th and 19th century.
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Mt.Pelion is covered in forest -
Beach ofAgios Ioannis -
The Pelion towers (Olympiou tower-Russian consulate during Ottoman era) -
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Today, Mt. Pelion is part of theMagnesia regional unit(capital city:Volos) and embraces twenty-six villages including:
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abOreivatein.com
- ^ "Pelion | Encyclopedia.com".www.encyclopedia.com.Retrieved2019-06-19.
External links
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