Phthiotis

Phthiotis (Greek: Φθιώτιδα, Fthiótida, [ˈfθjɔtiða]; ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Φθιῶτις) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. The capital is the city of Lamia. It is bordered by the Malian Gulf to the east, Boeotia in the south, Phocis in the south, Aetolia-Acarnania in the southwest, Evrytania in the west, Karditsa regional unit in the north, Larissa regional unit in the north, and Magnesia in the northeast. The name dates back to ancient times. It is best known as the home of Achilles.

Phthiotis
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Φθιώτιδας
Municipalities of Phthiotis
Municipalities of Phthiotis
Phthiotis within Greece
Phthiotis within Greece
Phthiotis is located in Greece
Phthiotis
Phthiotis
Coordinates: 38°54′N 22°32′E
RegionCentral Greece
CapitalLamia
Government
  Vice GovernorEfthymios Karaiskos (Changing the Heart of Greece)
Area
  Total4,440 km2 (1,710 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total158,231
  Density36/km2 (92/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal codes
35x xx
Area codes223x0
ISO 3166 codeGR-06
Car platesΜΙ
Websitewww.nafthiotidos.ondsl.gr

Geography

Phthiotis covers the northern and southern shorelines of the Malian Gulf, an inlet of the Aegean Sea. It stretches inland towards the west along the valley of the river Spercheios. In the south it covers the upper part of the Cephissus valley. There are several mountain ranges in Phthiotis, including the Othrys in the northeast, the Tymfristos in the west, the Vardousia in the southwest, Oeta in the south and the Kallidromo in the southeast.

History

"Phthiotis" means "the region of Phthia", the southernmost region of ancient Thessaly around Pharsalus and home of Achilles. In Classical times, it also referred to the region of Achaea Phthiotis, which bordered on Thessalian Phthiotis to the south and east. Achaea Phthiotis covered the northern part of the present regional unit Phthiotis and the southern part of present Magnesia. The southeastern part of present Phthiotis was covered by the ancient region Locris, and the southwestern part was ancient Malis and Ainis.

Transport

Administration

The regional unit Phthiotis is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[1]

Prefecture

The prefecture Phthiotis and Phocis was created in 1845. In 1947 this prefecture was split into the southern part Phocis and the northern part Phthiotis. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Phthiotis was created out of the former prefecture Phthiotis (Greek: Νομός Φθιώτιδας). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[1]

New municipalityOld municipalitiesSeat
Amfikleia-ElateiaAmfikleiaKato Tithorea
Elateia
Tithorea
DomokosDomokosDomokos
Thessaliotida
Xyniada
Kamena VourlaAgios KonstantinosKamena Vourla
Kamena Vourla
Molos
LamiaLamiaLamia
Gorgopotamos
Leianokladi
Pavliani
Ypati
LokroiAtalantiAtalanti
Dafnousia
Malesina
Opountioi
MakrakomiMakrakomiSpercheiada
Agios Georgios Tymfristou
Spercheiada
Tymfristos
StylidaStylidaStylida
Echinaioi
Pelasgia

Provinces

  • Province of Domokos - Domokos
  • Province of Phthiotis - Lamia
  • Province of Locris - Atalanti

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

Persons

Sporting teams

See also

References

  • Media related to Phthiotis at Wikimedia Commons
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