Amfissa

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Amfissa (Άμφισσα)

Location

Coordinates	38°32′N 22°22′E / 38.533, 22.367Coordinates: 38°32′N 22°22′E / 38.533, 22.367
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	180 m (591 ft)
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	Central Greece
Prefecture:	Phocis
Districts:	8
Population statistics (as of 2001^[1])
City Proper
- Population:	9,248
- Area:^[2]	315.174 km² (122 sq mi)
- Density:	29 /km² (76 /sq mi)
Codes
Postal codes:	331 00
Area codes:	22650
License plate codes:	ΑΜ
Website
amfissa.gr

Amfissa (Greek: Άμφισσα) is a Greek town and municipality, the capital of the prefecture of Phocis and the province of Parnassida, in the so-called Roumeli. The area was known as Salona (Σάλωνα) since the medieval period until the 19th century. Amfissa sits on the northern edge of the farmlands of the Crisaean plain, and lies between two mountains; close by to the west is mount Giona and farther east the Parnassos mountains. The town (pop. 6,946) itself is surrounded by forest, and located south of Lamia, northwest of Livadeia and Delphi, 13 km north of the port of Itea, 30 km north of Desfina, northeast of Nafpaktos and east of Lidoriki. The town has access to GR-27, and the old GR-48 links it to Lidoriki. The municipality (pop. 9,248) is the smallest prefectural capital in Greece (just edging out Karpenisi). Its largest other towns are Agía Efthymía (pop. 597), Elaió (478), Sernikáki (394), and Drosochóri (336).

Much of the population engages in agriculture and traditional crafts, such as tanning, bell and rope making. The primary agricultural products are olives and goat milk ; Amfissa leads Greece in goat milk production and its olive groves are nicknamed " The Olive Groves of Greece", protected as "places of Delphian Landscape". A variety of olive is named after the city, "Olives of Amfissa" (Elies Amfissis).

1 Origin of the name
2 History
3 Culture and Sites of Interest
4 Historical population
5 See also
6 External links

It is believed that the name of the city derives from the ancient Greek verb αμφιέννυμι (amfiennymi), meaning surround, as it is surrounded by mountains. In Greek mythology, Amfissa, the daughter of Makaros (son of Aeolus) and mistress of the god Apollo, gave her name to the city.

During the 13th century the city became known as Salona. There are two versions of the name's origin ; it either derives from the word salos (σάλος), meaning shake, as the region was frequently hit by earthquake, or is a comptroller of the word Saloniki (Thessaloniki), after which the king of Thessaloniki, Vonifatios Momferatikos, named Amfissa. In 1833 the initial name of the city, Amfissa, was brought into use once more.

Amfissa has been settled since ancient times, and was mentioned by Pausanias. It once served as a city-state in Ozolian Locris and was home to the Esperian or Ozolian Locrians ; this was a large city, with a population of around 70,000 according to Pausanias in 180 BC. Since the 8th century BC Amfissa had developed commercial affairs with the city-states of northern Peloponnesus, especially with Corinth, while in 653 BC some residents of the city settled Magna Grecia in southern Italy, and founded the colony of Locri Epizephyrii, a town which still exists under the name Locri, recalling the name of its ancient Locrian founders. During the Peloponnesian War, Amfissa fought on Sparta's side. In 338 BC, Philip II of Macedon destroyed Amfissa because the residents had illegally cultivated part of the Crisaian plain which belonged to Delphi.

Amfissa has been under the rule of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Crusaders and the Ottomans before joining Greece in 1821. During the Greek War of Independence, Amfissa was liberated under the leadership of various soldiers, including Panourgias and the local bishop. The anniversary of the seizure of the Salona fortress by these men on April 10, 1821 is celebrated every year by the residents of the city. Amfissa formerly served as a capital of the Eastern Terrestrial Greece.

Much of the city's culture is the result of private legacies left to the city ; benefactors include Markidis, Giagtzis, and Stallos. The city contains an odeon, a chorus, a presentative library with a collection of rare books, a children's library and public philharmonic, but is also known for its annual carnival. A city square, or plateia lies at the intersection of GR-27 and old GR-48.

Landmarks includes the Salona fortress, also known as the Frankish castle Orias or Orgia, the Archaeological Museum of Amfissa, the Annunciation Cathedral with its murals by Spiros Papaloukas, and several smaller museums. The Municipal Library of Amfissa, which was founded in 1957, hosts, apart from its large number of books, an impressive collection of folkore paintings of Phocis. Other older sites nearby include the Byzantine Sotrios Church from the 12th century]]. Amfissa also has a unified lyceum, T.E.I, I.E.K (an affiliate of TEI in Lamia. There are ample opportunities for hiking and camping in the mountains.