Ptolemaida
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For other ancient city of the same name see Ptolemais (Cyrenaica).
  Ptolemaida (Πτολεμαΐδα) |
|
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°31′ N 21°41′ E |
| Country | Greece |
| Periphery | West Macedonia |
| Prefecture | Kozani |
| Population | 36,393 source (2001) |
| Elevation | 600 m |
| Postal code | 502 00 |
| Area code | 24630 |
| Licence plate code | ΚΖ |
| Website | ptolemaida.gr |
Ptolemaida (modern Greek Πτολεμαΐδα or ancient Greek Πτολεμαΐς) is a city in Northern Greece. It lies in the prefecture of Kozani, which is part of Western Macedonia.
It is known for the coal mimes -(Lignit) and the factories of electricity as well.
It is also known as the center and the basic human and cultural source of the ancient Macedonian - Greek state.
Contents |
[edit] Name
- Modern Greek: Πτολεμαΐδα - Ptolemaida
Ptolemaida :Central Square
- Ancient Greek/Katharevousa: Πτολεμαΐς - Ptolemais
- Turkish: Kayılar, Kaylar or Kayalar – Kailar (from the Turkish word for relative, cf. kainpeder, "father in law". -lar is the plural suffix)
- in the Ottoman alphabet: قایلر :
- Slavic: Кајлари – Kailari or Кајљар – Kailyar
The city is named after a soldier (general, bodyguard and schoolmate) of Alexander the Great named Ptolemaeus the Lagos, who was also a beloved student of Aristotle and later became the King of Egypt, known as Ptolemy I Soter. His statue stands in the central square of the city. Many places and cities in western Macedonia were named after soldiers and generals of Alexander the Great.
The previous name of the city was Kailar because it was constituted by a lot of villages linked among them.
[edit] Location
The city lies in the valley of Eordaia and on the mountain slopes of Askio, to the southwest and Vermio to the northeast. It is located norht of Kozani, east of Kastoria, south of Florina and south-west of Edessa. Since the 1960s, GR-3/E65 bypasses it to the east. It is the seat of the province of Eordea.
The city is in the valley and the mountains of Askio to the southwest and Vermio to the northeast. It is located N of Kozani, E of Kastoria, S of Florina and SW of Edessa. Since the 1960s or the 1970s, GR-3/E65 bypassed it to the east.
[edit] History
According to archaeologists, the Ptolemaida region has been occupied since 6000 BCE.[1]
[edit] Ancient times
Archaeologists, in November of 2005, discovered the remains of two farming villages dating back to the Neolithic period. A press report notes that such farming villages were trading centres and had a "developed knowledge of metalworking"[1].
[edit] Ottoman rule
During Ottoman rule, Ptolemaida was called Kailar. It had two parts: Aşağı Kayılar and Ukarı Kayılar.
The area of Ptolemaida became famous for its contribution to the Macedonian Struggle, as well as the historic battles in the areas of Komanos[citation needed] and Perdika[citation needed] during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. Ptolemaida was occupied by Greek forces on October 15, 1912.
[edit] Greek times
In the 1920s, Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontos, as well as a smaller number of refugees from Thrace, arrived during the Greco-Turkish War and the population expanded. On September 8, 1942, Ptolemaida became a municipality with a population of 8000, whose main occupation was agriculture and livestock farming.
[edit] Culture
Ptolemaida's culture has a long history. In addition to the Neolithic archaeological sites, a golden necklace dating to roughly 4500 BCE was discovered by a resident on February 16, 2006.[1]
Associated Press reporter 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."[1]
Ptolemaida's football club is called "Eordaikos" (in Greek "Εορδαϊκός"). Other teams include AE Ptolemaidas.
Ptolemaida has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, a post office, a train station (Kozani - Florina), a police station, a water tower, and squares (plateies). There is the potential of a university being established by the state in the near future, which will raise the standard of life in Ptolemaida.
[edit] Economy
It is considered a highly industrial area. There are 4 power plants in this area producing 70% of Greece's electrical power. In its subsoil, there are huge amounts of lignite which is the raw material of the power plants. The plants are owned by the Public Power Corporation (DEI) , who is the major employer in the city. The plant was first tested by the prime minister of Greece at that time, Constantine Karamanlis. The other two are in Amyntaio in Florina and in Agios Dimitrios.
[edit] Demographics
The current Municipality of Ptolemaida is constituted by the city of Ptolemaida and 12 small communities which all together cover an extent of 2.179 square kilometres. At the 2001 census, the population of the city was 30,017 residents. The total population of the municipality in 1991 was 32,775 residents. However, it is likely that these elements underestimate the real population because of the tendency of certain residents to be recorded at the national censi in their home village.
Thus, the real Population of Ptolemaida is around 50.000
| Year | Communal Population | Change | Municipal population | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 7,719 | - | - | - |
| 1951 | 8,816 | - | - | - |
| 1961 | 12,747 | - | - | - |
| 1971 | 16,588 | - | - | - |
| 1981 | 22,109 | - | - | |
| 1981 | 22,109 | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 25,125 | +3,016(+13.6% ) | 32,775 | - |
| 2001 | 30,017 | +4,892(+19.5% ) | 36,393 | +518(+1.6%) |
[edit] Ethnic groups
A substantial proportion of Ptolemaida's residents are Pontic Greek or their descendants. These were refugees from Asia Minor who first arrived in Macedonia during the 1920s as a result of the population exchange according to the Treaty of Lausanne. These replaced the Turkish population in the area in much larger numbers, resulting in the doubling of the general population.[citation needed]
Another major ethnic group in the city are Greek Vlachs.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- Ptolemaida news
- http://hellas.teipir.gr/Thesis/Eordaia/english/Ptolemaida.htm
- Mapquest - Ptolemaida, street map not yet available
- Coordinates:
[edit] See also
- List of communities of Kozani
- Karafere war
- Gianittsa war
- Kumanova war
- Lozan
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b c d Kantouris, Costas. "Greek Hiker Finds 6,500-Year-Old Pendant", AP, February 16, 2006.
| Municipalities and communities of the Kozani Prefecture |
|---|
| Agia Paraskevi • Aiani • Askio • Dimitrios Ypsilantis • Elimeia • Ellispontos • Kamvounia • Kozani • Mouriki • Neapoli • Ptolemaida • Servia • Siatista • Tsotyli • Velventos • Vermio |
| Vlasti • Livadero • Pentalofos |
