Farsala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Farsala (Φάρσαλα) |
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| Coordinates | 39°18′ N 22°23′ E | |
| Country | Greece | |
| Periphery | Thessaly | |
| Prefecture | Larissa | |
| Population | 10,812 source (2001) | |
| Elevation | 160 m | |
| Postal code | 403 00 | |
| Area code | 24910 | |
| Licence plate code | ΡΙ | |
| Website | farsala.gr/ | |
Farsala (Greek: Φάρσαλα, Turkish: Çatalca), ancient times: Pharsalus a city in Thessaly, in central Greece. It is one of the largest cities in its prefecture and is also a municipality as well as a province. Farsala is located in southern Thessaly as well as southern Larissa Prefecture. Farsala is linked with GR-3, the old highway linking Larissa and Lamia and is al accessed with GR-30 linking Karditsa and Volos. The superhighway, GR-1/E65 and E75 runs to the east. Farsala is not bypassed. The mountains that are made up of several ranges are to the south while the Thessalian Plain lies to the north, some hills to the east and the Pharsalean Fields in the central part. Farsala is located SE of Karditsa, S of Larissa, W of Volos and N of Lamia.
The area is an economic and the agricultural centre of the province. The population are mainly rural especially with cotton production and breeding, one of the many are in local production units in agricultural production as well as clothing and textile industries. The main production in Farsala is halva. The population (2006) is about 13,500. The population in 1981 was 7,094, in 1991 8,413 and in 2001 9,801.
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[edit] Ancient Pharsalus
Pharsalus (Greek: Φάρσαλος) was built over a hillside of Narthakios mountains at the elevation of 160 m. In the Mycenean period, the city was treated with the Homeric Phthia, capital city of the Kingdom of the Myrmidons and father of Achilles. The Cyclopeian Wall still exists today which protected the city. A vaulted tomb existed from that period.
In the historic era, the city was known as Pharsalus and was one of the main cities in Thessaly and was the capital of the Phthotian tetrarch. In the Persian Wars, it battled with the Atheneans. A distinctive tribe of the city were the tribes of Echecratidon. In the early-4th century BC, the city was a part of the Thessalian Commons. Later, joined the Macedonian Kingdom under Philip II. The beautiful area became a theatre where the Aetolians and the Thessalians clashed against the Macedonians especially during the Second and the Third Macedonian Wars. After the end of the Macedonian Kingdom, Farsala and the whole area became a part of the Roman Republic. The whole area suffered destruction over the duration of the Roman Civil War, due to the passing out of the army and to the Thracians and other income tax that serviced the soldiers in the civil war.
Pharsalus was the site of the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC located near Pharsalus in the fields where Julius Caesar defeated Pompey.
[edit] Modern Farsala
Farsala was liberated from the Ottoman Empire in 1881 and together with the rest of Thessaly became part of Hellenic Kingdom. During the first Greco-Turkish War (1897), a major battle took place in the vicinity of Pharsala.
[edit] Subdivisions
- Stathmos Farsalon (Farsala Train Station) - located near Farsala
[edit] Other
Farsala has schools, lyceums, a few gymnasia, a church, banks, a post office, a train station (Athens - Lamia - Larissa - Thessaloniki) and a square (plateia).
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal population | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 7,211 | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 8,457 | 1,202/16.67% | 9,464 | - |
[edit] Books
Hilari Bell has written a series of three books called; Fall of a Kingdom, Rise of a Hero and Forging the Sword, which take place in a fictional location called Farsala.
[edit] External links
- In Greek:
- Coordinates:
[edit] See also
| Municipalities and communities of the Larissa Prefecture |
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| Agia • Ampelonas • Antichasia • Armenio • Elassona • Enippeas • Evrymenes • Farsala • Giannouli • Gonnoi • Kato Olympos • Kileler • Koilada • Krannonas • Lakereia • Larissa • Livadi • Makrychori • Melivoia • Narthaki • Nessonas • Nikaia • Olympos • Platykampos • Polydamantas • Potamia • Sarantaporo • Tyrnavos |
| Ampelakia • Karya • Verdikousa |
