Aigeira

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Aigeira
name_local = Αιγείρα


periph = West Greece
prefec = Achaea
province =
population = 4512
population_ref = [http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_1_TB_DC_01_03_Y.pdf source]
population_as_of = 2001
pop_dens = 44
area = 103.65
elevation = 5
lat_deg = 38
lat_min = 9
lat_hem = N
lon_deg = 22
lon_min = 21
lon_hem = E
postal_code = 250 10
area_code = 26960
licence = ΑΧ
mayor =
website = [http://www.aigeira.gr/ aigeira.gr]


caption_skyline =
city_

city_

districts =
party =
since =
elevation_min =
elevation_max =

Aigeira or Aegira ( _el. Αιγείρα, older: _el. Αίγειρα), also Egira, Eyira, Aiyira is a community located about 500 m SW of the Gulf of Corinth in the northeastern part of the prefecture of Achaea. It is located in GR-8 and has an interchange connecting the new highway with GR-8A and E65. Distance from Patras is 67 km E, about 4 km NE of Akrata and 148 km W of Athens. The municipality is the easternmost in the prefecture.__NOTOC__

Nearest places

*Akrata (west)
*Seliana (west)
*Sinevro (northwest)

Communes:

*Aigeira
*Aiges
*Ampelokipoi
*Chrysanthio
*Exochi
*Monastiri
*Oasi
*Perithori
*Seliana
*Sinevro
*Vella

Historical population:

The community has a school, a gymnasium, a church, a post office and a("plateia"). It has a train station with no building connecting the railway line with Patras - Aigio - Aigira - Derveni - Xylokastro - Kiato - Corinth. The origin of the name comes from the Ancient Greek word "aiges" for goats.

The place has 8-story buildings and hotels founded around the city and newer ones in the west. Aigeira also has a traffic light.

Mountains are founded to the south. Forests are founded to the west and east. One of the hill foundede south is named Palaiokastro.

North of Aigeira is a beach which includes spas.

In the archaeological site, the city had a temple during ancient times. It has an antefix decorated with a painted palmette dating back to 500 BC. It also had a harbor.

History

The area was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. The city was known as Hyperesia (Greek: Υπερησία, "Hyperesia") during Homeric times. In 688 BC, Hyperesia changed to Aegira.

The legend Hyperesia was threatened once, as Pausanias reported by a hostile army from Sicyon.

It changed its name to the present name as the defenders achieved victory and the people bounded for the goats and attacked the enemies.

The city was prosperous and was one of the twelve most important cities in the Achaean League. It was also a member of the Achaean league. According to Pausanias, there was a statue of Zeus and Athena as well as a temple of Artemis Agrotera.

The city was destroyed when Achaea became part of the Roman Empire. Allegedly it was destroyed by a flood. Since then, the city is 400 m above sea level. Others said it was destroyed by an earthquake.

Archaeology

The Österreichische Archäologische Institut, lit. the Austrian Archaeological Institute in 1916 made excavations in Aegira. The team along with Otto Walter (pronunciation: VAHL-tehr) found the head of the statue of Zeus which was sculpted by Euclid. Walter also found the left arm, the finger at the right hand later. In 1972, excavations continued by Wilhelm Alzinger and excavated the ancient theatre and a Naiskos (small temple). The soil was decorated with mosaic which showed an eagle.

Other

Its major soccer team is Thyella Aigira, its uniform is black and white. Egira is also home to non-league amateur football club Panegiratikos.

Egira also has a parking area 1 km E of the National Road interchange.

External links

* [http://www.oeai.at/eng/ausland/aigeira.html OeAL - Aigeira]
* [http://www.oeaw.ac.at/myken/Alraminternet.pdf The Acropolis of Aigeira]
* [http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=600001 GTP - Ancient Aegira]
* [http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=3350 GTP - Aigeira]
* [http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=3351 GTP - Municipality of Aigeira]

ee also

*Communities of Achaia