MAGNESIA

:''This article is about the region of Greece. For other meanings, see Magnesia (disambiguation)''
'Magnesia' (Greek: Μαγνησία ''Magnisia''; see also List of traditional Greek place names), deriving from the Macedonian tribe name ''Magnetes'', is the name of the southeastern area of Thessaly in central Greece. The modern prefecture was created in 1947 out of the Larissa prefecture. About 70% of the population live in the Greater Volos area which is the second-largest city in Thessaly and the third busiest commercial port in Greece. Much of the population lives near the Pagasetic Gulf and in the eastern part.
According to Hesiod's (probably) "Eoiae" (Greek : Ηοίαι) or "Catalogue of Women"^[1] on the origin of the Greeks, Pandora (named after her grandmother Pandora, sister of Hellen and daughter of Deukalion and Pyrrha) together with Zeus had one son Graecus, while Zeus had two more with Thyia, another of Deukalion's daughter: Magnes and Macedon who together with Hellen's three sons Dorus, Xuthus (with his sons Ion and Achaeus) and Aeolos, comprised the set of progenitors of the ancient tribes that formed the Greek/Hellenic nation, with Magnes ruling the area and people under his name. Magnesia is also homeland of the mythical heroes Jason, Peleus and his son Achilles. The word magnet comes from the Greek "magnítis líthos" (μαγνήτης λίθος), which means "magnesian stone". The names for the elements magnesium and manganese are also derived from this region, which in addition to the magnetic magnetite (an iron ore), produces certain ores of magnesium and manganese that were known to alchemists. The Magnetes contributed to the Greek colonization, with their main colonies being established before the 7th century BC, under the names of Magnesia beside Sipylus in Lydia and Magnesia on the Maeander in Ionia.
The modern Magnesian capital is the city of Volos, and the homonymous prefecture includes the Almyros plain, Nea Anchialos archaeological excavations, the Pagasetic Gulf, the Mount Pelion peninsula and the Northern Sporades islands. The prefecture was flooded on October 10, 2006, one of the prefecture's worst recorded floods. The flood devastated crops and groves and nearly 100,000 homes. The city of Volos was flooded. A railroad bridge connecting Volos and Larissa collapsed when the central stone support was ruined by a combination of rocks, mud and debris carried by a swollen river. Several mudslides were reported.

Contents

Geography

Municipalities and communities

Former communities

Archaeological sites

Media

Transport

History

Persons

Hotels

Notes

References

External links

Geography

It is bounded by Phthiotis region in the southwest, the Larissa in the west and north and the Aegean Sea in the east. The lagoon of Lake Voiviis or Karla is to the north and is surrounded with farmlands to the west and mountains to the east. It is one of the prefectures that is bounded with only two prefectures.

Municipalities and communities

Municipality	YPES code	Seat (if different)	Postal code	Area code
Afetes	3708	Neochori	370 10	24230-
Agria	3701		373 00	24280-
Aisonia	3702	Dimini	385 00	24210
Almyros	3703		371 00	24220-
Alonnisos	3704		370 05	24240-
Argalasti	3706		370 06	24230-
Artemida	3707	Ano Lechonia	385 00	24280-
Feres	3726	Velestino	375 00	24250-
Iolkos	3711		385 00	24210-
Karla	3712	Stefanovikeio	375 00	24250-
Milies	3715		370 10	24230-
Mouresi	3716	Tsagkarada	370 12	24260-
Nea Anchialos	3717		374 00	24280-
Nea Ionia	3718		383 & 384	24210
Portaria	3719		370 11	24280-
Pteleos	3720		370 07	24220-
Sipiada	3721	Lafkos	370 06	24230-
Skiathos	3722		370 03	24240-
Skopelos	3723		370 03	24240-
Sourpi	3724		370 08	24220-
Volos	3709		380-382	24210
Zagora	3710		370 01	24260-
Community	YPES code	Seat (if different)	Postal code	Area code
Anavra	3705		350 10	22320-9
Keramidi	3713		385 00	24280-7
Makrinitsa	3714		370 11	24280-99
Trikeri	3725		370 09	24230-91

Former communities

★ Agios Georgios Nileias

★ Agios Vlassios

★ Ano Lechonia

★ Pinakates
See also: List of settlements in the Magnesia prefecture

Archaeological sites

★ Pagasae

★ Iolcus

★ Demetrias

★ Nea Anchialos

Media

TRT TV
ASTRA TELEVISION

Transport

★ Greek National Road 1/E75, SW, W, NW

★ Greek National Road 6, Cen., NW

★ Greek National Road 30, W, Cen.

History

The first paved roads appeared in the 20th century as part of the program to have all city streets paved. The prefecture was to be linked with the railway in the late-19th century. In 1964, the GR-1 superhighway was opened to traffic and also additional roads were to be paved. The secondary ones were paved in the 1960s and the tertiary ones were paved in the late-20th century.

Persons

★ Jason, ancient hero

★ Peleus, ancient hero

★ Rigas Feraios, the first Greek revolutionary and poet, national hero

★ Giorgio de Chirico, (1888-1978)

★ Anthimos Gazis, (--1828)

★ Sofia Vembo, (1910-1978), musician

★ Tzimis Armaos, (Volos--Athens1999), world champion wrestler

★ Vangelis, composer, born 1943

★ Phaidon Gizikis (June 13, 1917 - July 17, 1999 in Athens), Greek politician

★ Laurentis Macheritsas, composer, musician

★ Paraskevi Tsiamita, 1st World Champion 1999, Seville, Spain, triple jump

★ Olga Vasdeki, 3rd World Champion 1999, Seville, Spain, triple jump

★ Vasilis Polimeros, 3rd Olympic Champion 2004, Athens Greece, sculling

★ Nikos Skiathitis, 3rd Olympic Champion 2004, Athens Greece, sculling

★ Lavrentis Dianellos, a Greek actor

Hotels

★ Laodamia Hotel - 4 star

★ Protessilaos Hotel - 3 star

Notes

1. Hesiod (probably), "Eoiae" (Greek : Ηοίαι) or "Catalogue of Women", c.650 BC.

References

★ Hesiod (probably), "Eoiae" or "Catalogue of Women", c.650 BC.

External links

★ Homepage of the Magnesia prefecture

★ History of Magnesia

★ Another page of the Magnesia Prefecture

★ Volos Cultural Portal

★ Nea Anchialos Tourist Guide

★ Nea Anchialos Municipality

★ History of Magnesia

★ Pelion Accommodation Apartments Studios

★ Pelion Pages (Skopelos.net)

★ Hotels Guide of Magnesia

★ Hotels Association Of Magnesia

★ Information Guide for Magnesia and Pelion