Ermoupoli ( el, Ερμούπολη), also known by the formal older name Ermoupolis or Hermoupolis ( el, < "Town of Hermes"), is a town and former municipality on the island of Syros, in the Cyclades, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the South Aegean region. The municipal unit has an area of 11.181 km².

History

Ermoupoli was founded during the Greek Revolution in the 1820s, as an extension to the existing

Ano Syros Ano Syros ( el, Άνω Σύρος, “Upper Syros”) is a town and a former municipality on the island of Syros, in the Cyclades, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli, of which it is a muni ...

township, by refugees from other Greek islands because of the War. It soon became the leading commercial and industrial center of Greece, as well as its main port. The renowned

Greek Steamship Company The Greek Steamship Company (sometimes, The Hellenic Steam Navigation Company) was the first steamship company in modern Greece. Established on the Aegean island of Syros, the company provided transportation links within Greece and to Europe and ...

was founded in the city in 1856. Thousands of ships were built in the various Syros

shipyard A shipyard, also called a dockyard or boatyard, is a place where ships are built and repaired. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance a ...

s. Eventually Ermoupoli was eclipsed by Piraeus in the late 19th century. In the following decades the city declined, remaining the administrative center of the Cyclades islands. In the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century, its economy has significanty improved, based on the sectrors of services, industry, education and turism. Syros emoupolis agios nikolaos 240707

Geography

Climate

Notable people

* Emmanouil Benakis (1843–1929), merchant and politician *

Olga Broumas Olga Broumas (born 6 May 1949, Hermoupolis) is a Greek poet, resident in the United States. She has been Poet-in-Residence and Director of Creative Writing at Brandeis University since 1995. Biography Born and raised on the island of Syros, Brouma ...

(1949), poet and translator *

Manos Eleutheriou Manos Eleftheriou ( el, Μάνος Ελευθερίου; 12 March 1938 – 22 July 2018), was a Greek poet, lyricist and prose writer. He had written poetry collections, short stories, a novella, two novels and more than 400 songs. At the same ...

, lyricist *

Stelios Mainas Stelios Mainas ( el, Στέλιος Μάινας; born 1 October 1957 in Ermoupoli, Syros) is a Greek actor. He graduated Veakis Drama School in 1982 and has been working as a stage, cinema and television actor ever since. His first film role was ...

(1957), actor *

Michael Melas Michael Friedrich Benedikt Baron von Melas (12 May 1729 – 31 May 1806) was a Transylvanian-born field marshal for the Austrian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in Radeln, Transylvania (nowadays Roadeș, part of Bunești commune ...

, father of Pavlos Melas, fighter of the Greek Struggle for Macedonia *

Emmanuel Rhoides Emmanuel Rhoides ( gr, Ἐμμανουὴλ Ῥοΐδης; 28 June 1836 – 7 January 1904) was a Greek writer and journalist. Biography Born in Hermoupolis, the capital of the island of Syros, to a family of rich aristocrats from Chios — ...

(1836–1904), writer and journalist *

Georgios Souris Georgios (, , ) is a Greek name derived from the word ''georgos'' (, , "farmer" lit. "earth-worker"). The word ''georgos'' (, ) is a compound of ''ge'' (, , "earth", "soil") and ''ergon'' (, , "task", "undertaking", "work"). It is one of the most ...

, poet *

Markos Vamvakaris Márkos Vamvakáris ( el, Μάρκος Βαμβακάρης; 10 May 1905 – 8 February 1972), was a ''rebetiko'' musician. He is universally referred to by ''rebetiko'' writers and fans simply by his first name, Márkos. The great significance ...

(1905–1972), rebetiko musician *Demetrius Vikelas (1835–1908), businessman, writer and the first president of the International Olympic Committee

Gallery

File:Posidonos, Ermoupoli 841 00, Greece - panoramio (1).jpg, Ermoupolis File:Syros Ano Syros u Ermoupolis140707.jpg, Ano Syros und Ermoupolis File:Syros1904.jpg, Postcard of Ermoupoli, 1904 File:Syros emoupolis rathaus 240707.jpg, The City Hall, Miaoulis Square File:Dimarxeio Ermoupolis night.jpg, Ermoupoli town hall at night, Syros, 2019
File:Street in Ermoupolis, Syros, Greece 2.jpg, Eleutheriou Venizelou street File:Apollon Theater.JPG, Apollon Theater, Syros, Apollo Theatre File:Ermoupoli, a view of the city and Didymi.jpg, Ermoupoli, Agios Nikolaos & Didymi File:St. Nicolas and Vaporia district, Syros island, Greece - panoramio.jpg, Seaside view of Saint Nicholas Cathedral File:Ermoupoli in syros.jpg, Vaporia district File:Syros ermoupolis 140707.jpg, City view from the port File:ERMOUPOLIS-SYROS.jpg, Ermoupolis & Ano Syros File:Anastaseos Church, Ermoupolis, Syros (September 28, 2014).jpg, Resurrection Church File:Ermoupolis panorama, Syros, Greece - panoramio.jpg, Ermoupolis panorama, Syros, Greece

References

External links

Official website of Ermoupoli

University of the Aegean in Ermoupoli
{{Authority control Greek prefectural capitals Greek regional capitals Populated places in Syros Populated places established in the 1820s