Farsala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Farsala Φάρσαλα |
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| Location | |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 160 m (525 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | Thessaly |
| Prefecture: | Larissa |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[1]) | |
| City Proper | |
| - Population: | 10,812 |
| Codes | |
| Postal: | 403 00 |
| Area: | 24910 |
| Auto: | ΡΙ |
| Website | |
| www.farsala.gr | |
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Pharsala (Greek: Φάρσαλα, Turkish: Çatalca), antiquity: 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. Pharsala is located in southern Thessaly as well as southern Larissa Prefecture. Pharsala 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. Pharsala is not bypassed. Mountains made up of several ranges are to the South, while the Thessalian Plain lies to the North, some hills to the East and the Pharsalian Fields in the central part. Pharsala is located SE of Karditsa, S of Larissa, W of Volos and N of Lamia.
The area is an economic and 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. Pharsala is famous for its distinctive 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] History
[edit] Ancient Pharsalus
Pharsalus (Greek: Φάρσαλος) was built over a hillside of the Narthacius mountains at an elevation of some 160 m. In the Mycenaean period, the city was grouped with the Homeric Phthia, capital of the Kingdom of the Myrmidons and of Peleus, father of Achilles. The Cyclopean 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 Phthian tetrarch. In the Persian Wars, it battled with the Athenians. 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, it joined the Macedonian Kingdom under Philip II. The beautiful area became a theatre where the Aetolians and the Thessalians clashed with the Macedonians, especially during the Second and the Third Macedonian Wars. After the end of the Macedonian Kingdom, Pharsala and the whole area became a part of the Roman Republic. The whole area suffered great destruction during the Roman Civil War. The Battle of Pharsalus took place in 48 BC in the fields near the city, where Julius Caesar defeated Pompey.
[edit] Modern Pharsala
Pharsala was liberated from the Ottoman Empire in 1881 and together with the rest of Thessaly became part of the Hellenic Kingdom. During the first Greco-Turkish War (1897), a major battle took place in the vicinity of Pharsala.
[edit] Subdivisions
- Stathmos Farsalon (Pharsala Train Station) - located near Pharsala
[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] See also
[edit] References
- ^ PDF (875 KB) 2001 Census (Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ). www.statistics.gr. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
[edit] External links
"Pharsalus". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.- Farsala - News and Forum
- e-city.gr Farsala Directory
- Livius.org: Pharsalus (in antiquity)
- Coordinates:
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