Larissa (; el, Λάρισα, , ) is the capital and largest city of the
Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 144,651 according to the 2011 census.
[ It is also capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transport hub, linked by road and rail with the port of ]Volos
Volos ( el, Βόλος ) is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about north of Athens and south of Thessaloniki. It is the sixth most populous city of Greece, and the capital of the Magnesia regional unit ...
, the cities of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
and Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
. The municipality of Larissa has 162,591 inhabitants, while the regional unit of Larissa reached a population of 284,325 ().[
Legend has it that ]Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...
was born here. Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Kos (; grc-gre, Ἱπποκράτης ὁ Κῷος, Hippokrátēs ho Kôios; ), also known as Hippocrates II, was a Greek physician of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of ...
, the "Father of Medicine", died here. Today, Larissa is an important commercial, transportation, educational, agricultural and industrial centre of Greece.
Geography
There are a number of highways including E75 and the main railway from Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
(Salonika) crossing through Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
. The region is directly linked to the rest of Europe through the International Airport of Central Greece
Nea Anchialos National Airport ( gr, Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Νέας Αγχιάλου) is an airport located near the town of Nea Anchialos in Greece. It serves the department of Magnesia and is also known as ''Central Greece A ...
located in Nea Anchialos
Nea Anchialos ( el, Νέα Αγχίαλος) is a town and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Volos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated southwest ...
a short distance from Larissa (about ). Larissa lies on the river Pineios.
The municipality of Larissa has an area of , the municipal unit Larissa has an area of , and the community Larissa has an area of .
The Larissa Chasma
Larissa (; el, Λάρισα, , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 144,651 according to the 2011 census. It is also capital of the Larissa regiona ...
, a deep gash in the surface of Dione, a natural satellite of Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...
, was named after Larissa.
Climate
The climate of Larissa is cool semi-arid
A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...
(Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
: ''BSk'') but it is close to a hot summer Mediterranean climate (''Csa''). The winter is fairly mild, and some snowstorms may occur. The summer is particularly hot, and temperatures of may occur. Thunderstorms or heavy rain may cause agricultural damage. Larissa receives of rain per year.
Mythology
According to Greek mythology
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of Ancient Greek folklore. These stories concern the Cosmogony, origin and Cosmology#Metaphysical co ...
it is said that the city was founded by Acrisius
In Greek mythology, Acrisius (; Ancient Greek: Ἀκρίσιος means 'ill-judgment') was a king of Argos. He was the grandfather of the famous Greek demi-god Perseus.
Family
Acrisius was the son of Abas and Aglaea (or Ocalea, depending on th ...
, who was killed accidentally by his grandson, Perseus
In Greek mythology, Perseus (Help:IPA/English, /ˈpɜːrsiəs, -sjuːs/; Greek language, Greek: Περσεύς, Romanization of Greek, translit. Perseús) is the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus ...
. There lived Peleus
In Greek mythology, Peleus (; Ancient Greek: Πηλεύς ''Pēleus'') was a hero, king of Phthia, husband of Thetis and the father of their son Achilles. This myth was already known to the hearers of Homer in the late 8th century BC.
Biogra ...
, the hero beloved by the gods, and his son Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...
.
In mythology, the nymph Larissa was a daughter of the primordial man Pelasgus
In Greek mythology, Pelasgus ( grc, Πελασγός, ''Pelasgós'' means "ancient") was the eponymous ancestor of the Pelasgians, the mythical inhabitants of Greece who established the worship of the Dodonaean Zeus, Hephaestus, the Cabeiri, and ot ...
.
The city of Larissa is mentioned in Book II of ''Iliad
The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...
'' by Homer
Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...
: "Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who dwelt in fertile Larissa- Hippothous
In Greek mythology, Hippothous ( grc, Ἱππόθοος, meaning "swift-riding") is the name of seven men:
* Hippothous, an Egyptian prince as one of the sons of King Aegyptus. Apollodorus, 2.1.5 He suffered the same fate as his other brothers, s ...
, and Pylaeus In Greek mythology, Pylaeus (Ancient Greek: Πύλαιος), son of Lethus, son of Teutamides, descendant of Pelasgus. He was one of the allies to King Priam in the Trojan War; he commanded the Pelasgian contingent together with his brother Hippot ...
of the race of Mars, two sons of the Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus.
The Internet Classics Archive , The Iliad by Homer
In this paragraph, Homer shows that the Pelasgians, Trojan allies, used to live in the city of Larissa. It is likely that this city of Larissa was different to the city that was the birthplace of Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...
. The Larissa that features as a Trojan ally in the ''Iliad'' was likely to be located in the Troad
The Troad ( or ; el, Τρωάδα, ''Troáda'') or Troas (; grc, Τρῳάς, ''Trōiás'' or , ''Trōïás'') is a historical region in northwestern Anatolia. It corresponds with the Biga Peninsula ( Turkish: ''Biga Yarımadası'') in the ...
, on the other side of the Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea ; tr, Ege Denizi (Greek language, Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος: "Egéo Pélagos", Turkish language, Turkish: "Ege Denizi" or "Adalar Denizi") is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It ...
.
History
Antiquity
Pre-history
Traces of Paleolithic
The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic (), also called the Old Stone Age (from Greek: παλαιός ''palaios'', "old" and λίθος ''lithos'', "stone"), is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone too ...
human settlement have been recovered from the area, but it was peripheral to areas of advanced culture. The area around Larissa was extremely fruitful; it was agriculturally important and in antiquity was known for its horses.
Archaic Era
The name Larissa (Λάρισα ''Lárīsa'') is in origin a Pelasgian
The name Pelasgians ( grc, Πελασγοί, ''Pelasgoí'', singular: Πελασγός, ''Pelasgós'') was used by classical Greek writers to refer either to the predecessors of the Greeks, or to all the inhabitants of Greece before the emergenc ...
word for "fortress". There were many ancient Greek cities with this name.
The name of Thessalian Larissa is first recorded in connection with the aristocratic Aleuadai family. It was also a polis
''Polis'' (, ; grc-gre, πόλις, ), plural ''poleis'' (, , ), literally means "city" in Greek. In Ancient Greece, it originally referred to an administrative and religious city center, as distinct from the rest of the city. Later, it also ...
(city-state).
Classical Era
Larissa was a polis
''Polis'' (, ; grc-gre, πόλις, ), plural ''poleis'' (, , ), literally means "city" in Greek. In Ancient Greece, it originally referred to an administrative and religious city center, as distinct from the rest of the city. Later, it also ...
(city-state) during the Classical Era. Larissa is thought to be where the famous Greek physician Hippocrates
Hippocrates of Kos (; grc-gre, Ἱπποκράτης ὁ Κῷος, Hippokrátēs ho Kôios; ), also known as Hippocrates II, was a Greek physician of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of ...
and the famous philosopher Gorgias of Leontini died.
When Larissa ceased minting the federal coins it shared with other Thessalian towns and adopted its own coinage in the late fifth century BC, it chose local types for its coins. The obverse depicted the nymph of the local spring, Larissa, for whom the town was named; probably the choice was inspired by the famous coins of Kimon
Cimon or Kimon ( grc-gre, Κίμων; – 450BC) was an Athenian '' strategos'' (general and admiral) and politician.
He was the son of Miltiades, also an Athenian ''strategos''. Cimon rose to prominence for his bravery fighting in the naval Bat ...
depicting the Syracusan nymph Arethusa. The reverse depicted a horse in various poses. The horse was an appropriate symbol of Thessaly, a land of plains, which was well known for its horses. Usually there is a male figure; he should perhaps be seen as the eponymous hero of the Thessalians, Thessalos, who is probably also to be identified on many of the earlier, federal coins of Thessaly.
Larissa, sometimes written Larisa on ancient coins and inscriptions, is near the site of the Homeric Argissa. It appears in early times, when Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
was mainly governed by a few aristocratic families, as an important city under the rule of the Aleuadae
The Aleuadae ( grc, Ἀλευάδαι) were an ancient Thessalian family of Larissa, who claimed descent from the mythical Aleuas. The Aleuadae were the noblest and most powerful among all the families of Thessaly, whence Herodotus calls its membe ...
, whose authority extended over the whole district of Pelasgiotis
Pelasgiotis ( grc, Πελασγιῶτις, Pelasgiōtis) was an elongated district of ancient Thessaly, extending from the Vale of Tempe in the north to the city of Pherae in the south. The Pelasgiotis included the following localities: Argos Pela ...
. This powerful family possessed for many generations before 369 BC the privilege of furnishing the ''tagus'', the local term for the '' strategos'' of the combined Thessalian forces. The principal rivals of the Aleuadae were the Scopadae of Crannon
Cranon ( grc, Κρανών) or Crannon (Κραννών) was a town and polis (city-state) of Pelasgiotis, in ancient Thessaly, situated southwest of Larissa, and at the distance of 100 stadia from Gyrton, according to Strabo. Spelling differ ...
, the remains of which are about 14 miles south west.
Larissa was the birthplace of Meno
''Meno'' (; grc-gre, Μένων, ''Ménōn'') is a Socratic dialogue by Plato. Meno begins the dialogue by asking Socrates whether virtue is taught, acquired by practice, or comes by nature. In order to determine whether virtue is teachabl ...
, who thus became, along with Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; grc, wikt:Ξενοφῶν, Ξενοφῶν ; – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected commander of one of the biggest Anci ...
and a few others, one of the generals leading several thousands Greeks from various places, in the ill-fated expedition of 401 (retold in Xenophon's ''Anabasis
Anabasis (from Greek ''ana'' = "upward", ''bainein'' = "to step or march") is an expedition from a coastline into the interior of a country. Anabase and Anabasis may also refer to:
History
* ''Anabasis Alexandri'' (''Anabasis of Alexander''), a ...
'') meant to help Cyrus the Younger, son of Darius II, king of Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, overthrow his elder brother Artaxerxes II
Arses ( grc-gre, Ἄρσης; 445 – 359/8 BC), known by his regnal name Artaxerxes II ( peo, 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂 ; grc-gre, Ἀρταξέρξης), was King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 405/4 BC to 358 BC. He was the son and suc ...
and take over the throne of Persia (Meno is featured in Plato
Plato ( ; grc-gre, Πλάτων ; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was a Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He founded the Platonist school of thought and the Academy, the first institution ...
's dialogue bearing his name, in which Socrates
Socrates (; ; –399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no te ...
uses the example of ''"the way to Larissa"'' to help explain Meno the difference between true opinion and science
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
(Meno, 97a–c); this "way to Larissa" might well be on the part of Socrates an attempt to call to Meno's mind a "way home", understood as the way toward one's true and "eternal" home reached only at death, that each man is supposed to seek in his life).
The constitution of the town was democratic, which explains why it sided with Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
in the Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) was an ancient Greek war fought between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies for the hegemony of the Greek world. The war remained undecided for a long time until the decisive intervention of th ...
. In the neighbourhood of Larissa was celebrated a festival which recalled the Roman Saturnalia
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple ...
, and at which the slaves were waited on by their masters. As the chief city of ancient Thessaly, Larissa was taken by the Thebans
Thebes (; ell, Θήβα, ''Thíva'' ; grc, Θῆβαι, ''Thêbai'' .) is a city in Boeotia, Central Greece. It played an important role in Greek myths, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus, Heracles and others. Archaeolo ...
and later directly annexed by Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 382 – 21 October 336 BC) was the king ('' basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the ...
in 344. It remained under Macedonian control afterwards, except for a brief period when Demetrius Poliorcetes
Demetrius I (; grc, Δημήτριος; 337–283 BC), also called Poliorcetes (; el, Πολιορκητής, "The Besieger"), was a Macedonian nobleman, military leader, and king of Macedon (294–288 BC). He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty ...
captured it in 302 BC.
Hellenistic Era
Roman Era
It was in Larissa that Philip V of Macedon
Philip V ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 238–179 BC) was king ( Basileus) of Macedonia from 221 to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of the Roman Republic. He would lead Macedon ag ...
signed in 197 BC a treaty with the Romans after his defeat at the Battle of Cynoscephalae
The Battle of Cynoscephalae ( el, Μάχη τῶν Κυνὸς Κεφαλῶν) was an encounter battle fought in Thessaly in 197 BC between the Roman army, led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, and the Antigonid dynasty of Macedon, led by Phil ...
, and it was there also that Antiochus III the Great
Antiochus III the Great (; grc-gre, Ἀντίoχoς Μέγας ; c. 2413 July 187 BC) was a Greek Hellenistic king and the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire, reigning from 222 to 187 BC. He ruled over the region of Syria and large parts of the res ...
, won a great victory in 192 BC. In 196 BC Larissa became an ally of Rome and was the headquarters of the Thessalian League
The Thessalian League (Thessalian Aeolic: , ''Koinòn toûn Petthaloûn''; Attic: , ''Koinòn tôn Thettalôn''; Ionic and Koine Greek: , ''Koinòn tôn Thessalôn'') was a ''koinon'' or loose confederacy of feudal-like ''poleis'' and tribes in a ...
.
Larissa is frequently mentioned in connection with the Roman civil wars
This is a list of civil wars and organized civil disorder, revolts and rebellions in ancient Rome ( Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and Roman Empire) until the fall of the Western Roman Empire (753 BCE – 476 CE). For the Eastern Roman Empire or ...
which preceded the establishment of the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
and Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey or Pompey the Great, was a leading Roman general and statesman. He played a significant role in the transformation of ...
sought refuge there after the defeat of Pharsalus
''Pharsalus''Melichar L (1906) ''Monographie der Issiden. (Homoptera). Abhandlungen der K. K. Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien.'' Wien 3: 1-327 21 is the type genus of planthoppers in the subfamily Pharsalinae (family Ricaniidae); it ...
.
Middle Ages and Ottoman period
Larissa was sacked by the Ostrogoths
The Ostrogoths ( la, Ostrogothi, Austrogothi) were a Roman-era Germanic peoples, Germanic people. In the 5th century, they followed the Visigoths in creating one of the two great Goths, Gothic kingdoms within the Roman Empire, based upon the larg ...
in the late 5th century, and rebuilt under the Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
emperor Justinian I
Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565.
His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovat ...
.
In the eighth century, the city became the metropolis
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big c ...
of the theme
Theme or themes may refer to:
* Theme (arts), the unifying subject or idea of the type of visual work
* Theme (Byzantine district), an administrative district in the Byzantine Empire governed by a Strategos
* Theme (computing), a custom graphical ...
of Hellas. The city was captured in 986 by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria
Samuel (also Samuil; bg, Самуил, ; mk, Самоил/Самуил, ; Old Church Slavonic: Самоилъ; died October 6, 1014) was the Tsar (''Emperor'') of the First Bulgarian Empire from 997 to 6 October 1014. From 977 to 997, he was a ...
, who carried off the relics of its patron saint, Saint Achilleios, to Prespa
Prespa ( mk, Преспа, sq, Prespa, el, Πρέσπα) is a region shared between North Macedonia, Albania and Greece. It shares the same name with the two Prespa lakes which are situated in the middle of the region. The largest town is Rese ...
. It was again unsuccessfully besieged by the Italo-Norman
The Italo-Normans ( it, Italo-Normanni), or Siculo-Normans (''Siculo-Normanni'') when referring to Sicily and Southern Italy, are the Italian-born descendants of the first Norman conquerors to travel to southern Italy in the first half of th ...
s under Bohemond I in 1082/3.
After the Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was a Latin Christian armed expedition called by Pope Innocent III. The stated intent of the expedition was to recapture the Muslim-controlled city of Jerusalem, by first defeating the powerful Egyptian Ayyubid S ...
, the King of Thessalonica
The King of Thessalonica was the ruler of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, one of the crusader states founded in Greece in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204). The King of Thessalonica was not an independent ruler; the Kingdom of Thess ...
, Boniface of Montferrat
Boniface I, usually known as Boniface of Montferrat ( it, Bonifacio del Monferrato, link=no; el, Βονιφάτιος Μομφερρατικός, ''Vonifatios Momferratikos'') (c. 1150 – 4 September 1207), was the ninth Marquis of Montferrat ( ...
, gave the city to Lombard baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
s, but they launched a rebellion in 1209 that had to be subdued by the Latin Emperor
The Latin Emperor was the ruler of the Latin Empire, the historiographical convention for the Crusader realm, established in Constantinople after the Fourth Crusade (1204) and lasting until the city was recovered by the Byzantine Greeks in 126 ...
Henry of Flanders
Henry (c.1178 – 11 June 1216) was Latin emperor of Constantinople from 1205 until his death in 1216. He was one of the leaders of the Fourth Crusade in which the Byzantine Empire was conquered and Latin Empire formed.
Life
Henry was born i ...
himself. The city was recovered by Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
soon after.
It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
in 1386/87 and again in the 1390s, but only came under permanent Ottoman control in 1423, by Turahan Bey
Turahan Bey or Turakhan Beg ( tr, Turahan Bey/Beğ; sq, Turhan Bej; el, Τουραχάνης, Τουραχάν μπέης or Τουραχάμπεης;PLP 29165 died in 1456) was a prominent Ottoman military commander and governor of Thessaly ...
. Under Ottoman rule, the city was known as ''Yeni-şehir i-Fenari'', "new citadel". As the chief town and military base of Ottoman Thessaly
The Sanjak of Tirhala or Trikala ( Ottoman Turkish: ; el, λιβάς/σαντζάκι Τρικάλων) was second-level Ottoman province ( or ) encompassing the region of Thessaly. Its name derives from the Turkish version of the name of the tow ...
, Larissa was a predominantly Muslim city. During Ottoman rule the administration of the Metropolis of Larissa The Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos ( el, Ιερά Μητρόπολις Λαρίσης και Τυρνάβου) is a Greek Orthodox metropolitan see in Thessaly, Greece.
History
Christianity penetrated early to Larissa, though its first bishop ...
was transferred to nearby Trikala
Trikala ( el, Τρίκαλα; rup, Trikolj) is a city in northwestern Thessaly, Greece, and the capital of the Trikala regional unit. The city straddles the Lithaios river, which is a tributary of Pineios. According to the Greek National Stati ...
where it remained until 1734, when Metropolitan Iakovos II returned the see from Trikala to Larissa and established the present-day metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos.
The town was noted for its trade fair in the 17th and 18th centuries, while the seat of the pasha of Thessaly was also transferred there in 1770. Larissa was the headquarters of Hursid Pasha
Hurshid Ahmed Pasha (sometimes written Khurshid Ahmad Pasha; tr, Hurşid Ahmed Paşa, ; died 30 November 1822) was an Ottoman- Georgian general, and Grand Vizier during the early 19th century.
Early life
He was born in the Caucasus and was of ...
during the Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...
. It was also renowned for its mosque
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
s (four of which were still in use in the late 19th century) and its muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
cemeteries.
The city remained in Ottoman hands until Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
became part of the independent Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece ( grc, label= Greek, Βασίλειον τῆς Ἑλλάδος ) was established in 1832 and was the successor state to the First Hellenic Republic. It was internationally recognised by the Treaty of Constantinople, wh ...
in 1881, except for a period where Ottoman forces re-occupied it during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897
The Greco-Turkish War of 1897 or the Ottoman-Greek War of 1897 ( or ), also called the Thirty Days' War and known in Greece as the Black '97 (, ''Mauro '97'') or the Unfortunate War ( el, Ατυχής πόλεμος, Atychis polemos), was a w ...
. In the late 19th century, there was still a small village in the outskirts of the town inhabited by Africans from Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
, a curious remnant of the forces collected by Ali Pasha.
In the 19th century, the town produced leather
Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hogs, ...
, cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus ''Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor perce ...
, silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the coc ...
and tobacco
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
. Fevers and agues were prevalent owing to bad drainage and the overflowing of the river; and the death rate was higher than the birth rate.
Modern Greek era
In 1881, the city, along with the rest of Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
, was incorporated into the Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece ( grc, label= Greek, Βασίλειον τῆς Ἑλλάδος ) was established in 1832 and was the successor state to the First Hellenic Republic. It was internationally recognised by the Treaty of Constantinople, wh ...
during the prime ministry of Alexandros Koumoundouros
Alexandros Koumoundouros ( el, Αλέξανδρος Κουμουνδούρος, 4 February 1815 – 26 February 1883) was a Greek politician. Born in Kampos, on the Messenian side of the Mani Peninsula, he was the son of Spyridon-Galanis Koumoun ...
. On 31 August 1881 a unit of the Greek Army headed by General Skarlatos Soutsos Skarlatos is a Greeks, Greek surname and forename.
People with the name include: Surname
*Alek Skarlatos (born 1992), American soldier, Knight of the French Legion of Honour
*Konstantinos Skarlatos (1872-1969), Greek army officer and Olympic sport ...
entered the city. A considerable portion of the Turkish population emigrated into the Ottoman Empire at that point. In this new era the city starts gradually to expand and to be rebuilt by the Greek authorities.
During the Greco-Turkish War of 1897
The Greco-Turkish War of 1897 or the Ottoman-Greek War of 1897 ( or ), also called the Thirty Days' War and known in Greece as the Black '97 (, ''Mauro '97'') or the Unfortunate War ( el, Ατυχής πόλεμος, Atychis polemos), was a w ...
, the city was the headquarters of Greek Crown Prince Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
. The flight of the Greek army from here to Farsala
Farsala ( el, Φάρσαλα), known in Antiquity as Pharsalos ( grc, Φάρσαλος, la, Pharsalus), is a city in southern Thessaly, in Greece. Farsala is located in the southern part of Larissa regional unit, and is one of its largest towns. ...
took place on April 23, 1897. Turkish troops entered the city two days later. After a treaty for peace was signed, they withdrew and Larissa remained permanently in Greece. This was followed by a further exodus of Turks in 1898. The Hassan Bey mosque (which was built in the early 16th century) was demolished in 1908.
During the Axis Occupation of the country, the Jewish community of the city (dated back to second BC, see Romaniotes
The Romaniote Jews or the Romaniotes ( el, Ῥωμανιῶτες, ''Rhomaniótes''; he, רומניוטים, Romanyotim) are a Greek-speaking ethnic Jewish community native to the Eastern Mediterranean. They are one of the oldest Jewish comm ...
) suffered heavy losses. Today in the city there is a Holocaust memorial and a synagogue.
After WWII
After WWII the city was expanded rapidly. Today Larissa is the fourth largest Greek city with many squares, taverns and cafes. It has three public hospitals with one being a military hospital. It hosts the Hellenic Air Force
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 8 November
, equipment =
, equipment_label ...
Headquarters and NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
Headquarters in Greece. It has a School of Medicine and a School of Biochemistry – Biotechnology and the third largest in the country Institute of Technology. It occupies the first place among Greek cities into green coverage rate per square-metre urban space and the first place with the highest percentance of bars-taverns-restaurants per capita in Greece. It also has two public libraries and five museums.
Ecclesiastical history
Christianity penetrated early to Larissa, though its first bishop is recorded only in 325 at the Council of Nicaea. St. Achillius of the fourth century, is celebrated for his miracles. Le Quien
Michel Le Quien (8 October 1661, Boulogne-sur-Mer – 12 March 1733, Paris) was a French historian and theologian. He studied at Plessis College, Paris, and at twenty entered the Dominican convent in Faubourg Saint-Germain, where he made his p ...
cites twenty-nine bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
s from the fourth to the 18th centuries; the most famous is Jeremias II, who occupied the see until 733, when the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian
Leo III the Isaurian ( gr, Λέων ὁ Ἴσαυρος, Leōn ho Isauros; la, Leo Isaurus; 685 – 18 June 741), also known as the Syrian, was Byzantine Emperor from 717 until his death in 741 and founder of the Isaurian dynasty. He put an e ...
transferred it from the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
to the Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ( el, Οἰκουμενικὸν Πατριαρχεῖον Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, translit=Oikoumenikón Patriarkhíon Konstantinoupóleos, ; la, Patriarchatus Oecumenicus Constanti ...
. In the first years of the tenth century it had ten suffragan sees; subsequently the number increased and about the year 1175 under the Emperor Manuel I Comnenus
Manuel I Komnenos ( el, Μανουήλ Κομνηνός, translit=Manouíl Komnenos, translit-std=ISO; 28 November 1118 – 24 September 1180), Latinized Comnenus, also called Porphyrogennetos (; " born in the purple"), was a Byzantine empero ...
, it reached twenty-eight. At the close of the 15th century, under the Ottoman domination, there were only ten suffragan sees, which gradually grew less and finally disappeared.
Larissa is an Orthodox Metropolis of the Church of Greece
The Church of Greece ( el, Ἐκκλησία τῆς Ἑλλάδος, Ekklēsía tē̂s Helládos, ), part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the autocephalous churches which make up the communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Its ...
.
It was also briefly a Latin archbishopric in the early 13th century, and remains a Latin Metropolitan (top-ranking) titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular metropolitan" (highest rank), "titular archbis ...
of the Roman Catholic Church, which must not be confused with the Latin episcopal (low-ranking) titular see Larissa in Syria. Today there is a Catholic church in the city (Sacred Heart of Jesus).
Administration
The municipality Larissa was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
*Giannouli
Giannouli ( el, Γιάννουλη) is a town and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the s ...
*Koilada
Koilada ( el, Κοιλάδα) is a village and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the sout ...
*Larissa
Districts
The municipal unit of Larissa is divided into four city-districts or municipal communities (29 city areas) plus 2 suburban communities (Amphithea and Koulourion). The municipality includes also the Community of Terpsithèa (with the suburban community of Argyssa).
1st Municipal District
(pop. 26,035)
# Papastàvrou
# Saint Athanàsios
# Alkazàr
# Hippocrates-Pèra
# Potamòpolis
# Philippòpolis
# Livadàki
# Saint Thomas
# Saint Paraskevi-Mezourlo
# Neàpolis
2nd Municipal District
(pop. 41,816)
# Saint Achellios
# Saint Nikòlaos
# Ambelòkipoi
# Saints Sarànta
# Saint Konstantinos
# Stathmòs
3rd Municipal District
(pop. 30,121)
# Lachanòkipoi
# Nèa Smyrne-Kamynia
# Kalyvia-Saint Marina
# Saint Geòrgios
# Anatoli
# Koulouri
# Amphithèa
4th Municipal District
(pop. 26,814)
# Charavgi-Toumba-OKE
# Pyrovolikà-Pharos
# Avèrof-Sèkfo
# Nèa Politia
# Epiròtika
# Anthoupolis
# Neràida
# Kàmpos
Community of Terpsithèa
(pop. 1,290)
# Terpsithèa
# Argyssa
From 1 January 2011, in accordance with the Kallikratis Plan
The Kallikratis Programme ( el, Πρόγραμμα Καλλικράτης, Prógramma Kallikrátis) is the common name of Greek law 3852/2010 of 2010, a major administrative reform in Greece. It brought about the second major reform of the coun ...
(new administrative division of Greece), the new municipality of Larissa includes also the former municipalities of Giannouli
Giannouli ( el, Γιάννουλη) is a town and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the s ...
and Koilada
Koilada ( el, Κοιλάδα) is a village and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the sout ...
.
Province
The province of Larissa ( el, Επαρχία Λάρισας) was one of the provinces
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of the Larissa Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipalities Larissa (except the municipal unit Giannouli
Giannouli ( el, Γιάννουλη) is a town and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the s ...
) and Tempi (except the municipal units Gonnoi
Gonnoi ( el, Γόννοι, before 1927: Δερελί - ''Dereli'') is a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tempi, of which it is a municipal u ...
and Kato Olympos).[ ] It was abolished in 2006.
Main streets
* Anthimou Gazi Street
* Kouma Street
* Roosevelt Street
* 31 August Street
* Karamanli Avenue
* Koumoundourou
* Mandilara
* Rizopoulou
* Papanastasiou
* Venizelou (former Makedonias)
* Kyprou (Alexandras)
* Polykarpou
* Asclepiou Street
* Iroon Polytechniou Avenue
* Lambraki Street
* Thetidos Street
* Korai
* Ipsilanti
* Tsimiski
* Sklirou
* Panagouli
* Ioanninon
* Kolokotroni
* Manolaki
* Nikitara
Economy
Larissa is a major agricultural center of Greece, due to the plain of Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
.
In manufacturing sector, Larissa is among others home to Biokarpet carpet company (whose owners were also major shareholders of AEL FC in the past) and Orient Bikes
Orient Bikes is a Greek manufacturer of bicycles established in Larissa
Larissa (; el, Λάρισα, , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 144,65 ...
.
It comes also in first place with the highest percentage of bars-taverns-restaurants per capita in Greece. Mikel Coffee Company and Bruno Coffee Stores chains started and have also their base in the city.
Culture
Theatres and Odeons
*Municipal Conservatory of Larissa
*Pappas's Mile Theatre
*Municipal Theatre OUHL of Larissa (Thessalian Theatre)
*Hatzigianeio Cultural Centre
*Tiritomba Shadows Theatre
Landmarks
* Second Ancient Theatre
*Cenotaph monument of Hippocrates
*Frourio Hill
The Frourio Hill () is the historical acropolis of the city of Larissa, Greece. It was the citadel of the city in antiquity as well as in Byzantine times, and features a number of important archaeological sites.
The only height in the wider area ...
** First Ancient Theatre
** Basilica of St. Achillios
** Bezesten of Larissa
The bedesten ( el, μπεζεστένι, bezesteni) is an Ottoman enclosed market (''bedesten'') in the city of Larissa, Greece.
The bedesten is located on the top of the Frourio Hill, the city's ancient acropolis, and was erected in the late 1 ...
* Yeni Mosque (a rare example of mosque built in neoclassical style)
*Alkazar Park
Some historical buildings that have been listed as architecturally preserved, include the Cine Palace (architect Colonello), the Charokopos tower (arch. Anastasios Metaxas
Anastasios Metaxas ( el, Αναστάσιος Μεταξάς; 27 February 1862 – 28 January 1937) was a Greek architect and shooter.
Biography
Metaxas was the royal architect of George I of Greece and is best known for being the architect cho ...
, endangered to collapse as 2019), the old Mills of Pappas, such as the complex of the Averofeios Agricultural School.
Cuisine
Local specialities:
*''Batzina'' (Μπατζίνα) pie baked in the oven
*''Kelaidi'' (Κελαηδί)
*''Pita'' (Πίτα, traditional pies with pasta phyllo, baked in the oven) like ''Kreatopita'', ''Loukanikopita'', ''Melintzanopita'', ''Tyropita
Tiropita or tyropita (Greek: τυρóπιτα, "cheese-pie") is a Greek pastry made with layers of buttered phyllo and filled with a cheese-egg mixture. It is served either in an individual-size free-form wrapped shape, or as a larger pie that i ...
'', ''Spanakopita''
*''Plastós'' (Πλαστός) pie
*''Lahanópsomo'' (Λαχανόψωμο) cabbage bread
*'' Halvas'' (Χαλβάς) sweet
Museums
*Diachronic Museum of Larissa / Archaeological and Byzantine Myseum of Larissa
*Municipal Gallery of Larissa – G.I. Katsigras Museum
*Folklore and Historical Museum of Larissa
*Military Veterinary Museum of Larissa
*Museum of the Folklore Society of Larissa
*Museum of Grain and Flours
Media
*TV: Thessalian Radio Television (TRT), Astra TV, ForMedia TV
*Press: ''Eleftheria, Politia Larisseon (newspaper)''
Festivals
Among the notable festivals that the city hosts, is the "Pineiou Festival" (music) and "AgroThessaly", a major agricultural fair.
Organizations
*
In popular culture
*A notable film of the Greek cinema
The cinema of Greece has a long and rich history. Though hampered at times by war or political instability, the Greek film industry dominates the domestic market and has experienced international success. Characteristics of Greek cinema include ...
partially shot in the area of Larissa and referred to the history of the region is ''Blood on the Land
''Blood on the Land'' ( el, Το χώμα βάφτηκε κόκκινο, To homa vaftike kokkino, The earth was painted red) is a 1966 Greek western drama film directed by Vasilis Georgiadis. Its subject is conflict between landowners and agricul ...
'' (1966) by Vasilis Georgiadis
Vasilis Georgiadis ( el, Βασίλης Γεωργιάδης; 12 August 1921 – 30 April 2000) was a Greek film director and actor. His films '' The Red Lanterns'' (1963) and ''Blood on the Land'' (1966) were nominated for the Academy Award f ...
.
Transport
Larissa sits in the middle of the plain of Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
, with connections to Motorway A1 and national roads EO3 and EO6.
*Larissa's Urban Bus System
*Larissa's Interurban System (Ktel Larissas)
* Larissa Central Railway Station Station at
*Mezourlo Freight Railway station at
*Larissa National Airport
Larissa State Airport "Thessaly" ( el, Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Λάρισσας "Θεσσαλία") was built in 1912. It was the commercial airport of Larissa until 1997 when it closed for civilian traffic. Currently the airpor ...
(military)
Close destinations
The city is in close proximity of many interesting destinations in the region (Mount Olympus, Mount Kissavos, Meteora, Lake Plastira, Pilio, etc.) suitable for daily trips.
Sports
The local football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
club AEL FC currently participates in Superleague Greece
The Super League Greece 1 ( el, Ελληνική Σούπερ Λιγκ 1), or Super League 1, is the highest professional association football league in Greece. The league was formed on 16 July 2006 and replaced ''Alpha Ethniki'' at the top of ...
. The team won the Greek Championship
The Super League Greece 1 ( el, Ελληνική Σούπερ Λιγκ 1), or Super League 1, is the highest professional association football league in Greece. The league was formed on 16 July 2006 and replaced ''Alpha Ethniki'' at the top of ...
, in 1988, and won the Greek Cup
The Greek Football Cup ( el, Κύπελλο Ελλάδος Ποδοσφαίρου), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Kypello Elladas is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation.
The Greek Cup is the second most ...
in 1985 and 2007. These titles place AEL among the five most important football clubs in Greece.
Two other professional football clubs with long histories also represent the city: Apollon and Iraklis.
AEL has hosted its home games at the AEL FC Arena
AEL FC Arena is a football stadium in Larissa, Greece, with a current seating capacity of 16,118. Since its completion in 2010 and for 8 seasons, it has been the home ground of AΕL. Owner of the ground is Gipedo Larissa A.E.
The stadium was de ...
, a UEFA
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA ; french: Union des associations européennes de football; german: Union der europäischen Fußballverbände) is one of six continental bodies of governance in association football. It governs f ...
3-star-rated football ground, since November 2010. Other important sport venues are the ''National Sport Center of Larissa'' (EAK Larissas), which includes the Alcazar Stadium
Alcazar Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Larissa, Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossr ...
and the Neapoli Indoor Hall.
The National Sports Center of Larissa can accommodate a number of sports and events (football, basketball, wrestling, swimming, boxing, martial arts, handball, water polo, etc.), while the Sports Hall has hosted important athletic events (the 1995 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, the 1997 Women's EuroLeague Final Four, the 2003 Greek Basketball Cup Final Four, martial arts events, etc.), and it is also used for cultural events, such as dance festivals.
Historical population
Notable people
Ancient
*Campaspe
Campaspe (; Greek: Καμπάσπη, ''Kampaspē''), or Pancaste (; Greek: Πανκάστη, ''Pankastē''; also ''Pakate''), was a supposed mistress of Alexander the Great and a prominent citizen of Larissa in Thessaly. No Campaspe appears in ...
, mistress of Alexander the Great
*Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus ( grc-gre, Ἀχιλλεύς) was a hero of the Trojan War, the greatest of all the Greek warriors, and the central character of Homer's ''Iliad''. He was the son of the Nereid Thetis and Peleus, k ...
(mythology)
* Gorgias of Leontinoi (483 BC–375 BC), sophist, worked and died in Larissa
*Hippocrates of Kos
Hippocrates of Kos (; grc-gre, Ἱπποκράτης ὁ Κῷος, Hippokrátēs ho Kôios; ), also known as Hippocrates II, was a Greek physician of the classical period who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of ...
(460 BC–370 BC), physician, worked and died in Larissa
*Medius
''Medius'' is a genus of moths of the family Erebidae
The Erebidae are a family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea. The family is among the largest families of moths by species count and contains a wide variety of well-known macromoth ...
(4th century BC), officer of Alexander the Great
*Philinna
Philinna (Greek: ) or Philine (Greek: {{lang, grc, Φιλίνη) was the name of many Greek females, as, for instance, of the female dancer Philinna of Larissa in Thessaly, who was the mother of Philip III Arrhidaeus by Philip II. A first century ...
(4th century BC), dancer, mother of Philip III Arrhidaeus
Philip III Arrhidaeus ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος Ἀρριδαῖος ; c. 359 BC – 25 December 317 BC) reigned as king of Macedonia an Ancient Greek Kingdom in northern Greece from after 11 June 323 BC until his death. He was a son of King P ...
*Philo
Philo of Alexandria (; grc, Φίλων, Phílōn; he, יְדִידְיָה, Yəḏīḏyāh (Jedediah); ), also called Philo Judaeus, was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who lived in Alexandria, in the Roman province of Egypt.
Philo's de ...
(1st century BC), philosopher
*Heliodorus of Larissa Heliodorus of Larissa (fl. 3rd century?) was a Greek mathematician, and the author of a short treatise on optics which is still extant.
Biography
Nothing is known about the life of Heliodorus.John Aikin, William Enfield, et al., (1804), ''General ...
, mathematician
*Achillius of Larissa
Saint Achillius of Larissa, also known as Achilles, Ailus, Achillas, or Achilius ( el, Άγιος Αχίλλειος, ''Ágios Achílleios'') (died 330 AD), was a 4th century bishop of Larissa and one of the 318 persons present at the First Counc ...
(270–330), first bishop and patron saint of the city
Medieval
*Irene of Larissa
Irene of Larissa ( bg, Ирина от Лариса) was the second wife and empress-consort (tsaritsa) of tsar Gavril Radomir of Bulgaria.
John Skylitzes reports Irene was a "beautiful captive from Larissa", and nothing else is known about her ...
, empress consort of Bulgaria
*Agatha (wife of Samuel of Bulgaria), Agatha, wife of Samuel of Bulgaria
*Nikoulitzas Delphinas, Byzantine lord of Larissa
Modern
*Alexander Helladius, scholar
*Giorgakis Olympios (1772–1821), commander of the Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...
*Theoklitos Farmakidis (1784–1860), scholar, figure of the Modern Greek Enlightenment
*Moshe Pesach (1869-1955), rabbi
*Michail Sapkas, mayor of Larissa and MP
*Achilleas Protosyngelos, Army officer
*M. Karagatsis (1908–1960), novelist, journalist
*Sofia Vembo (1910-1978), singer and actress
*Eleni Zafeiriou (1916–2004), actress
*Antonis Vratsanos (1919–2008), resistance figure during WWII
*Kostas Gousgounis (1931–2022), porn actor
*Athena Tacha (1936–), artist
*Efthymios Christodoulou (1932–), economist
*Georgios Souflias (1941–), politician
*Angela Kokkola, politician
*Petros Efthymiou, Petros Efthimiou (1950–), politician
*Lakis Lazopoulos (1956–), actor, comedian, script author & director
*Thanasis Papakonstantinou (1959–), poet, songwriter, singer, musician
*Georgios Mitsibonas (1962–1997), footballer
*Maria Papayanni (1964–), writer
*Vassilis Karapialis (1965–), footballer
*Christos Papoutsis, politician
*Maria Spyraki, politician
*Ekaterini Voggoli (1970–), discus thrower
*Alexis Georgoulis (1974–), actor
*Kostas Chalkias (1974–), footballer
*Giannis Goumas, Yannis Goumas (1975–), footballer
*Dimos Dikoudis, Dimosthenis Dikoudis (1977–), basketball player
*Nestoras Kommatos (1977–), basketball player
*Fani Chalkia, Fani Halkia (1979–), hurdler
*Dimitrios Spanoulis, Dimitris Spanoulis (1979–), basketball player
*Theofanis Gekas (1980–), footballer
*Vangelis Moras (1981–), footballer
*Vassilis Spanoulis (1982–), basketball player
*Georgios Tsiaras, Giorgos Tsiaras (1982–), basketball player
*Vasilios Koutsianikoulis (1988–), footballer
*Haido Alexouli (1991-), long jumper
*Chrysoula Anagnostopoulou (1991-), discus thrower
*Vasileia Zachou, (1994-), gymnast
Mayor history
* Hasan Etem Aga (1881 - 1882)
* Argyrios Didikas
* Christos Georgiadis
* Dionysios Galatis
* Achilleas Asteriadis
* Achilleas Logiotatou
* Konstantinos Anastasiadis
* Konstantinos Markidis
* Vasileios Sylivridis
* Anastasios Zarmanis
* Michail Sapkas (1914 - 1917, 1925 - 1934)
* Konstantinos Vlachos
* Christos Koutsoubas
* Dimitris Papageorgiou
* Vasileios Arsenidis
* Stylianos Asteriadis
* Nikolaos Tzavellas
* Dimitrios Karathanos
* Sotirios Zazias
* Dimitrios Hatzigiannis
* Athanasios Messinis
* Stylianos Zografidis
* Agamemnon Blanas (1975 - 1978)
* Alexandros Chondronasios (1978 - 1980)
* Aristeides Labroulis (1980 - 1994)
* Christodoulos Kafes (1994 - 1998)
* :el:%CE%9A%CF%89%CE%BD%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%82 %CE%A4%CE%B6%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%82, Konstantinos Tzanakoulis (1998 - 2014)
* :el:%CE%91%CF%80%CF%8C%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82 %CE%9A%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82, Apostolos Kalogiannis (2014-)
Twin towns – sister cities
Larissa is Sister city, twinned with:
* Anapa, Russia (2016)
* Bălți, Moldova (1986)
* Banská Bystrica, Slovakia (1985)
* Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1994)
* Knoxville, Tennessee, Knoxville, United States (1996)
* Kos, Greece (1978)
* Larnaca, Cyprus (1990)
* Rybnik, Poland (2003)
* Stara Zagora, Bulgaria (1985)
Gallery
File:Larissa1920.jpg, Central square (Themidos), 1920
File:Λάρισα κεντρικη πλατεία προτομη Κουμουνδούρου 1.jpg, A bust of Alexandros Koumoundouros, Koumoundouros in central square
File:Larisa1940.jpg, Photo of Larissa, 1940
File:Oldlarissa.jpg, View of the city in the 1940s
File:Oldlarissasquare.jpg, Tachidromiou Square in 1950s
File:Исторически паметник в чест на загиналите в Балканската война, Лариса, Гърция.jpg, War memorial
File:Larissa Holocaust memorial.jpg, Holocaust memorial
File:Larisa%2C_Greece_-_City_with_snow_in_winter_2.jpg, City with snow in winter
File:20111009_Yeni_Tzami_former_seat_of_the_Archeological_Museum_Larissa_Thessaly_Greece.jpg, Yeni Tzami, the former seat of the Archeological Museum of Larissa
File:ΠΛΑΤΕΙΑ ΣΙΔΗΡ. ΣΤΑΘΜΟΥ - panoramio.jpg, Rail Station Square
See also
*Ampelakia, Larissa
*Vale of Tempe
*University of Thessaly
*CERETETH, Center of Technology Thessaly
References
External links
*
Source
Official Website
Region of Thessaly Official Website
International airport of Central Greece
Larissa on Web
Larissa
The Official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation
Larissa Photos
{{Authority control
Larissa,
Municipalities of Thessaly
Greek regional capitals
Provinces of Greece
Pelasgian words
Pelasgiotis
Populated places in ancient Thessaly
Cities in ancient Greece
Thessalian city-states
Populated places in Larissa (regional unit)