SALAMIS ISLAND

''For other meanings of Salamis, see Salamis''
'Salamis' (Greek, Modern: Σαλαμίνα ''Salamína'', Ancient/Katharevousa: Σαλαμίς ''Salamís'') is the largest Greek island in the Saronic Gulf, about 1 nautical mile (2 km) off-coast from Piraeus and about 16km west of Athens. Due to its roughly crescent shape, the island is also locally known as Koulouri, after the bread roll of this form. Salamis, Howstuffworks encyclopedia The chief city, Salamis or Salamina, lies in the west-facing core of the crescent on Salamis Bay, which opens into the Saronic Gulf. The island's main port, Paloukia, in size second only to Piraeus, is on the eastern side.

Contents

History

Geography and administration

Population

Culture

Famous mythological and ancient people

Modern celebrities

Education

Recreational areas

Sports

Local newspapers

Landmarks

Sister Cities

Photo Gallery

See also

References

External links

History

The name Salamis is probably derived from ''Salam'' (''chalam''), Phoenician for ''peace'',^[1] under which it was mentioned in Homer's writings. Some sources, however, say it was named after the nymph Salamis, according to legend the mother of Cychreus, the first king of the island).^[2]
Salamis was probably first colonised by Aegina and later occupied by Megara, but became an Athenian possession in the time of Solon and Peisistratos, during the war between Athens and Megara around 600 BC."Salamis", ''Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World'', Ed. John Roberts. Oxford University Press, 2007.
Salamis island is known for the Battle of Salamis, the decisive naval victory of the allied Greek fleet, led by Themistocles, over the Persian Empire in 480 BC. It is said to be the birthplace of Ajax and Euripides, the latter's birth being popularly placed on the day of the battle. In modern times, it is home to a Greek naval base which serves as headquarters for the Hellenic Navy.
During the German invasion of Greece in World War II, the harbor was bombed by the Luftwaffe on April 23, 1941, sinking the Greek battleships ''Kilkis'' and ''Lemnos''.^[3][4]
In the 1960s and 1970s, during the military junta period, changes in land legislation allowed the subdivision of land plots.^[5] This opened the island to massive unplanned and unregulated urban and suburban development, including many weekend homes, especially along the northern and eastern coasts. The lack of corresponding investment in infrastructure, combined with heavy industry, has led to sea and beach pollution on this side of the island. There are, however, ongoing initiatives such as help from the European Union’s Cohesion Fund toward improving sewerage by 2008.

Geography and administration

Salamis map

Much of Salamis Island is rocky and mountainous. On the south of the island is a pine forest, unusual in western Attica, which is frequently the location of fires.Salamina, so near yet so unknown, Polyxeni Athanassoulia, ''Kathimerini'', 9-7-2006 While there is some agriculture inland, the majority of inhabitants work in maritime occupations (fishing, ferries, and the island's shipyards) or commute to work in Athens.Salamis official website The maritime industry is focused on the north-east coast of the island at the port of Paloukia, where ferries to mainland Greece are based, and in the dockyards of Ampelakia and the north side of the Kynosoura (Greek: Κυνοσούρα = "dog tail") peninsula.
Salamis Island is very popular for holiday and weekend visits from the Athens and Piraeus area; its permanent population of some 31,000 rises to 300,000 in peak season. This supports a strong service industry sector, with many cafes, bars, ''ouzeries'', tavernas and consumer goods shops throughout the island. On the south of the island, away from the port, there are a number of less developed areas with good swimming beaches including those of Aianteio, Maroudi, Perani, Peristeria, Kolones, Saterli, Selenia and Kanakia.^[6]
Salamis Island belongs to the Piraeus Prefecture of the Attica periphery.^[7]
It is divided into two municipalities: Salamis and Ampelakia. The current mayor of Salamis is Spyros Sofras and of Ampelakia Marios Travlos, both elected in the Hellenic municipal election of October 2006. Spyros Sofras is the first time as mayor of Salamis, and Marios Travlos is the second turn as mayor of Ampelakia.
The chief population centre is the city of Salamina (also called Salamis, Salamis City or Koulouris), containing the districts Alonia, Agios Minas, Agios Dimitrios, Agios Nikolaos, Boskos, Nea Salamina, Tsami and Vourkari.

Population

Year	Municipal population	Municipal and Island population	Population of Capital
1981	20,807	25,215	5,143
1991	22,567	27,582	6,316
2001	30,022	37,091	9,259
2007		c.38,000

Culture

Euripides

Famous mythological and ancient people

★ Ajax the Great, the legendary king of Salamis island, son of Telamon and half-brother of Teucer

★ Cychreus, the first king of Salamis Island

★ Euripides, tragedian (485 or 480 B.C. - 406 B.C.)

★ Telamon, the king of Salamis Island , father of Ajax the Great and Teucer

★ Teucer, the half-brother of Ajax the Great, son of Telamon, warrior of Trojan War, and founder of the city-state of Salamis, Cyprus.

Modern celebrities

★ Georgios Karaiskakis (c.1780-1827), Greek War of Independence hero, is buried on Salamis.

★ Dimitrios Mpogris (1890-1964), playwright

★ Polychronis Lempesis (1848-1913), painter

★ Angelos Sikelianos (1884–1951), poet and playwright, whose cottage was near the Monastery of Faneromeni.

★ Giorgos Papasideris (1902-1977), country singer, composer and lyricist

★ Memos Mpegnis (1974-), actor

★ Giorgos Vasileiou, politician, deputy of the Greek Parliament and former actor, has his permanent residence in the Batsi area.

Education

Salamis island has eleven primary schools (ten public and one private), four high schools and four lycees. The majority of students are proficient in school, and usually the pupils (above age 13) have acquired diplomas and certificates in English, French or in German like ECCE, FCE, CPE, ECPE and others. Many students from Salamis island also possess many computer skills. Many students also study abroad, usually in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France. In the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the pupils went to Italy for studies since it was close to Greece.

Recreational areas

Ajax

On Salamis island, a visitor can find many bars, cafeterias, beaches, shops, with different views of Salamis Bay. The main cafeterias and bars are based at the area of Agios Nikolaos, which is at the west suburbs of Salamis city. The district took its name from the homonymous church. Taverns and inns are in every place of the island with their local food and dishes. The shops are opened from 8:00 up until 2:00 in the morning and at 5:30 to 9:00 in the afternoons during weekdays (also open from 9:00 to 1:30 in the mornings and 6:00 to 8:30 in the afternoons during Saturdays). Salamina has a plethora of shops for clothes, souvenirs, appliances, vehicles, and computers.

Sports

Salamis island has two football teams, Aias (Ajax) Salaminas and Ampelakiakos F.C.

Local newspapers

★ ''Anatropes tis Salaminas'' (Tippings of Salamis)

★ ''I Enotita tis Salaminas'' (The Unity of Salamis)

★ ''I Nea Salamina'' (The New Salamis)

★ ''I Foni tis Salaminas'' (The Voice of Salamis)

★ ''Neo Ithos tis Salaminas'' (New Morale of Salamis)

★ ''Apopsi'' (Opinion)

★ ''Palmos tis Salaminas'' (Pulse of Salamis)

★ ''Athlitikoi Palmoi'' (Athletic Vibrations)

★ ''Politis me dikaioma'' ( Citizen with rights)

Landmarks

Landmark	Year of construction	Location
Faneromeni Monastery	15th century	Faneromeni
Chantry of Saint George	around 1250	Agios Georgios
Euripideio Theatre	1993	in suburbs of Salamis City (in hill Patris)
Church of Saint Dimitrios	1806	center of Salamis City (in hononymous district)
The Cave of Euripides	450 BC	at south Salamis Island (near Peristeria)
The Cottage of Angelos Sikelianos	1935	Faneromeni
The Stone Lighthouse	1901	Peristeria
The bust of Georgios Karaiskakis	1982	center of Salamis City (in Vourkari district)
The Windmills	19th century	in suburbs of Salamis City (in a hill)
Chantry of Prophet Elias	early of 20th century	Salamis City (in a stone hill)
Chantry of Saint Grygorios	12th century	Psili Ammos
The Stony small Theater	1990	Selinia
The City Hall of Salamis	2000	Salamis City
The Monastery of Saint Nicolaos	17th century	at south Salamis Island (near Kanakia)
The Church of Saint John the Kalyvitis	11th century	at south Salamis Island (near Kanakia)
The Folklore Museum	2000	it ' s lodging at Salamis City Hall
The Mansion of Galeos Family	19th century	at Salamis center (at Agios Minas district)
The Church of Saint Minas	1869	at Salamis City (at Agios Minas district)

Sister Cities

★ Famagusta, Cyprus (1998)

Photo Gallery

See also

★ Trojan War

★ Greek Revolution

★ Aeacus

References

1. ''Placenames of the World'', Adrian Room, McFarland & Company, 2006, ISBN 0786422483
2. ''Place-Names in Classical Mythology: Greece'', Robert Eugene Bell, ABC-CLIO, 1989, ISBN 0874365074
3. Kilkis (Battleship, 1914-1941), Naval Historical Center
4. Lemnos (Battleship, 1914-1941), Naval Historical Center
5. One-sixth of houses are for vacation use, ''Kathimerini'', 4-19-2006
6. Salamina, ''Anatropes'' newspaper site (in Greek)
7. Salamina, Greek Travel Pages

External links

★ Official Website of the Salamis Municipality

'North West:' ''Vasilika''	'North:' ''Batsi''
'West:' ''Agios Georgios Bay''	''Salamis Island''	'East:' ''Paloukia''
	'South:' ''Aianteio''	'South East:' ''Ampelakia''