Jump to content

Ptolemaida

Coordinates:40°31′N21°41′E/ 40.517°N 21.683°E/40.517; 21.683
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ptolemaida
Πτολεμαΐδα
Aerial view of Ptolemaida
Aerial view of Ptolemaida
Official seal of Ptolemaida
Ptolemaida is located in Greece
Ptolemaida
Ptolemaida
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates:40°31′N21°41′E/ 40.517°N 21.683°E/40.517; 21.683
CountryGreece
Geographic regionMacedonia
Administrative regionWestern Macedonia
Regional unitKozani
MunicipalityEordaia
Area
• Municipal unit217.901 km2(84.132 sq mi)
• Community57.508 km2(22.204 sq mi)
Elevation
600 m (2,000 ft)
Population
(2021)[1]
• Municipal unit
35,334
• Municipal unit density160/km2(420/sq mi)
• Community
31,575
• Community density550/km2(1,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal code
502 00
Area code(s)24630
Vehicle registrationKZ
Websitewww.ptolemaida.gr

Ptolemaida(Greek:Πτολεμαΐδα,romanized:Ptolemaïda,Katharevousa:Πτολεμαΐς,Ptolemaïs) is a town and a formermunicipalityinKozani regional unit,Western Macedonia,Greece.Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipalityEordaia,of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[2]It is known for its coal (lignite) mines and itspower stations.

Name

[edit]

During theOttomanperiod the city was called Kayılar (English: Kailar, German: Kajilar), rendered into English asKaïlar.[3]This name was retained in Greek asKailaria(Καϊλάρια) until 1927.[4]Kailar refers to theKayı tribe,the tribe ofOsman I,the founder of the Ottoman Empire. The modern name Ptolemaida was introduced by decree on January 20, 1927, honoringPtolemy I Soter,son ofLagus,comrade-in-arms ofAlexander the Greatand founder of thePtolemaic dynasty,and his daughter Ptolemaïs, who are said to originate fromthat region.[5]His statue stands in the central square of the city.

History

[edit]

According to archaeologists, the Ptolemaida region has been occupied since 6000 BC.[6]

Neolithic period

[edit]

Archaeologists, in November 2005, discovered the remains of two farming villages dating back to theNeolithicperiod. A press report notes that such farming villages were trading centres and had a "developed knowledge of metalworking".[6]

A golden necklace dating to roughly 4500 BC was discovered on February 16, 2006.[6]Associated Pressreporter Costas Kantouris describes the item as a "flat, roughly ring-shaped [which] probably had religious significance and would have been worn on a necklace by a prominent member of society."[6]

Lately in the lake Zazari near Ptolemaida there were found 16 houses that belong in the Neolithic era due to archaeologists. These houses were in the lake and were exposed because of the decreased water level of the lake. That particular small settlement gives information about the society and the people in the Neolithic era.

Archaic period

[edit]
Ancient ceramic plate from Ptolemaida
Ancient Macedonian grave in Ptolemaida

In the area of Ptolemaida many archeological findings have occurred in the last 30 years due to mining operations. Ceramic artifacts, dating to the 6th century BC have been found at two sites nearGrevenaand Ptolemaida. Archaeologists found the artifacts at two prehistoric farming settlements. TwoAncient Macedoniangraves have also been found in the area of Ptolemaida, dated from the 5th century BC.

Macedonian Period

[edit]

In 336 BCE the area around Ptolemaida came under the control of expandingKingdom of MacedonunderPhilip II.The Land of the Chords and the whole region of Eordea was fully incorporated into Macedon under Philip II and later his successorAlexander.Two of the six generals of Alexander the Great,Ptolemy I Soter,founder of thePtolemaic Kingdom,andAristonesare claimed to hail fromEordaia.[citation needed]

Hellenistic period

[edit]

With the death of Alexander, his empire was divided andMacedoncame under the control ofAntigonus I.Macedon remained an important and powerful kingdom during bothWars of the Diadochiand later thePunic warswith Rome. There were many clashes during the long struggle between theMacedoniansand theRomanswho tried to enter the basin of Eordea and promote it into mainlandGreece,but also because the area was a focal point as a secondary road passed through it. Macedon remained a force to be reckoned with until theBattle of Pydna(22 June 168 BC), in which the Roman generalAemilius Paulusdefeated KingPerseus of Macedon,ending the reign of theAntigonid dynastyover Macedonia.

Roman period

[edit]

For the period of Roman times we have a lot of information from historians referring to the region of Ptolemais and Eordaia. The Roman Egnatia highway, which was detached from the main artery after leaving the Straits of the Key, led to present-day Kozani and then, through the Sarantaporos Strait, to Thessaly. In 395, Ptolemaida and all of Macedonia became part of theEastern Roman Empire.

Byzantine period

[edit]

At various times, Ptolemaida was part of theFirst Bulgarian Empire,Latin Empire,theKingdom of Thessalonica,Second Bulgarian Empire,theEmpire of Nicaea,theDespotate of EpirusandSerbian Empire.[citation needed]

Ottoman period

[edit]

During the Ottoman period, Ptolemaida was called Kayılar, and it had two parts: Aşağı Kayılar and Yukarı Kayılar. Aşağı Kayılar was Bektaşi[citation needed]and Yukarı Kayılar was Rufai,[citation needed]Hanefi.[citation needed]

Before 1360, large numbers ofnomadshepherds,orYörüks,from the district ofKonya,inAsia Minor,had settled inMacedonia;their descendants were known asKonariotes.[3]Further immigration from this region took place from time to time up to the middle of the 18th century. After the establishment of thefeudal systemin 1397, many of theSeljuknoblefamilies came over from Asia Minor; their descendants may be recognized among theBeysorMuslimlandownersaround Kayılar.[3]At the beginning of the 18th century, theTurkish populationwas quite considerable, but since that time until at least the early 20th century it continuously decreased.[3]A low birth rate, the exhaustion of the male population bymilitary service,and a large mortality fromepidemicsbrought about a decline which has lately been hastened byemigration.[3]The Turkish rural population around Kayılar was mainly composed ofKonariotshepherds.[3]In the late 19th and early 20th century, Ptolemaida was part of theManastir Vilayetof theOttoman Empire.

Modern period

[edit]

Ptolemaida was occupied by the Greek forces on 15 October 1912 during theFirst Balkan War,and later incorporated intoGreece.In 1924, the Turkish population was exchanged with Greeks fromAnatoliafollowing thepopulation exchangebetween Greece and Turkey. Since then, Ptolemaida became a majority Greek city once again. In the 1970s, Greece's largest coal-fired power plants were built in the region of Ptolemaida, these increased pollution and it is expected these will be shut down by the year 2028.[7]

Culture

[edit]
The municipal library

Ptolemaida's football club is called "Eordaikos"(Greek:Εορδαϊκός). Other teams includeAE Ptolemaidas.Ptolemaida has schools,lyceums,gymnasia,churches, banks, a post office, a train station (Kozani-Florina), a police station, a water tower, and squares (plateia). There is the potential of a university being established by the state in the near future. TheAnthropological and Folklore Museumis based in the town.

Economy

[edit]
Electric power plant of Ptolemaida
Ptolemaida-Florina coal mine

The most important lignite deposits in Greece are located in the north of the country at Ptolemais-Amynteon andFlorina(approximately 1.5 billion tonnes) which contribute around 80% of national production. Other than its highly lignite-rich reserves, Ptolemaida is a highly industrialized area. The fourpower plantsin this area produce 70% of Greece's electrical power, using the large local deposits ofligniteas fuel. The plants are owned by thePublic Power Corporation(DEI), the major employer in the city. The plant was inaugurated by the Prime minister of Greece at that time,Constantine Karamanlis.The other two are inAmyntaioinFlorina regional unitand inAgios Dimitrios.

Education

[edit]

The School of Health Sciences ofUniversity of Western Macedoniawith two departments (Occupational Therapy and Midwifery) based in the city.[8]

Climate

[edit]
Askio mountain near the city

The city, situated in the middle of the Eordaia plain ofWestern Macedonia,has ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa) withcontinental(Dfa) influences. Summers can be hot with thunderstorms in unsettled spells, whereas winters are among the coldest inGreece.It was here that the absolute low temperature record of Greece was recorded (−27.8 °C (−18 °F) on 27 January 1963).[9]

Demographics

[edit]

According to the 1911 edition of theEncyclopædia Britannica,the first settlers of the city were Turks following the conquest of Macedonia by the Ottoman Empire. The Turks remained the majority until thepopulation exchangeof 1924. Between 1924 and 1926, Greeks escaping fromAnatoliasettled here and became the majority.

The current municipal unit of Ptolemaida is constituted by the city of Ptolemaida and 11 small communities. At the2021 census,the population of the city was 31,575 residents. The total population of the municipalityEordaiain 2021 was 42,515 residents.[1]

Year Community Municipal unit
1940 7,719 -
1951 8,816 -
1961 12,747 -
1971 16,588 -
1981 22,109 -
1991 25,125 32,775
2001 30,017 36,393
2011[10] 32,142 37,289
2021[1] 31,575 35,334

Geography

[edit]
Train station

The city lies in the valley of Eordaia, between theAskiomountains to the southwest and theVermio mountainsTurkish:Karlıdağto the northeast. It is located north ofKozani,east ofKastoria,south ofFlorina,and south-west ofEdessa.The municipal unit has an area of 217.901 km2,the community (the city proper) has an area of 57.508 km2.[11]Motorway 27(Kozani-Florina, part ofE65) passes east of the city. Ptolemaida was the seat of the former province ofEordaia.

Friendship towns

[edit]

Ptolemaida is twinned with:[12]

People

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abc"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό"[Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^"ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities"(in Greek).Government Gazette.
  3. ^abcdefBourchier, James David (1911)."Macedonia".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 217.
  4. ^"Πανδέκτης: Kailaria -- Prolemais".pandektis.ekt.gr.Retrieved2022-01-12.
  5. ^"Ptolemaida Web Portal"(in Greek). Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-09.Retrieved2008-01-10.
  6. ^abcdKantouris, Costas (February 16, 2006)."Greek Hiker Finds 6,500-Year-Old Pendant".AP.
  7. ^Todorović, Igor (2021-04-08)."Greece officially writes off four coal-fired thermal power units".Balkan Green Energy News.Retrieved2022-09-21.
  8. ^"Schools and Departments".
  9. ^Group), Radiotileoptiki S. A. (OPEN Digital (January 1, 1980)."-27,8 βαθμοί: Η περιοχή με τη χαμηλότερη θερμοκρασία στην ιστορία της Ελλάδας τον «χειμώνα των πάγων»".ΕΘΝΟΣ.
  10. ^"Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός"(in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  11. ^"Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)"(PDF)(in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  12. ^"Twinnings"(PDF).Athens: Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece.Retrieved2015-06-16.
[edit]