Korissia (Kea)

Local community Korissia Τοπική Κοινότητα Κορησσίας (Κορησσία)
Basic data
Country	Greece
region	South Aegean
Regional district	Kea-Kythnos
local community	Kea
Geographic coordinates	37 ° 39 ′  N , 24 ° 18 ′  E Coordinates: 37 ° 39 ′  N , 24 ° 18 ′  E
Height above d. M.	24  m
surface	40.234 km²
Residents	1049 (2011)
LAU-1 code no.	63010002
Local division	11 settlements and one island
Post Code	84002
Telephone code	22880

Korissia ( Greek Κορησσία ( f. Sg. )) Is the port of the Greek Cyclades island and municipality of Kea . Together with some smaller settlements and the uninhabited island of Makronisos , Korissia in the northwest of the island forms the local community of the same name ( Topiki Kinotita Korissias Τοπική Κοινότητα Κορησσίας). The place is located in the southern part of the very protected double bay of Agios-Nikolaos and is also called Livadi (Λιβάδι 'meadow') - like the heavily sprawled coastal plain . The harbor is secured by a massive concrete pier.

The port of Korissia

Despite the many white houses in cube architecture, the place does not look much Cycladic due to the red tile roofs. The red dome of the Holy Trinity Church ( Agia Triada Αγία Τριάδα) is striking . The relics of three saints are kept in a shrine of Byzantine handicrafts.

An eye-catcher in the townscape is the 45 m high chimney of a decaying factory, where enamel dishes were made. The only Greek enamel factory was in operation from 1927 to 1957 and was of great importance to the people of Kea both financially and socially. It was the largest factory of its kind in the Mediterranean. About 300 people were employed in the factory. Before the outbreak of war, household appliances and signs (street signs, advertising signs) were mainly produced. In 1936 the first government order for the manufacture of helmets and drinking bottles for the military came. From 1939 to 1941 it was produced exclusively for the war industry.

In 1957 the factory had to shut down. In 1991 the factory was placed under monument protection by the responsible monuments office. In 2002 a small group of former workers founded the Friends of the Enamel Factory. After an arduous search, the association was able to acquire many machine parts, production plans and products. The aim of the Friends of the Enamel Factory Association is to establish an exhibition center on the factory premises.

All streets converge in the modern center of the island and most of the hotels, guesthouses and taverns are here. Most of the agencies, a large supermarket and other retail stores can also be found here.

There are ferry connections to Lavrio and to Kythnos and - especially in summer - other islands in the western Cyclades.

history

The oldest detectable settlement around Korissa is Agia Irini on what is now a small peninsula in the north of the Agios Nikolaos Bay. The city comes from the Keros-Syros culture of epoch FK II of the Cycladic culture from 2500 BC. Chr.

To the south of today's town, on the slope that culminates in a striking rocky dome made of compact, dark dolomite, are the remains of the ancient city ​​of Korissía. The bay was used as a port even then. The Ptolemies also used the port around 200 BC. And called him Arsinoe . The city wall and remains of a temple have been preserved from the settlement. However, as early as Strabon's time, around the turn of the times, the city there no longer existed.

The port in Agios Nikolaos Bay was still important. During the Ottoman rule, the port was the main base of the Levant shipping of European states, many of which had consulates on Kea.

The leaders of the overthrown colonel's junta were briefly detained in Korissía in 1974 before the trial in Athens began.

Local community Korissia

According to the 2011 census, the local community has 1,049 inhabitants, who are spread over the following villages and settlements:

• Korissia (Κορησσία ( f. Sg. )), 711 inhabitants
• Fotimari (Φωτημάρι ( n. Sg. )), 11 inhabitants
• Kalamos (Κάλαμος ( m. Sg. )), 6 inhabitants
• Koukouvagia (Κουκουβαγιά ( f. Sg. )), 32 inhabitants
• Marades (Μαράδες ( m. Pl. )), 8 inhabitants
• Mavro (Μαύρο ( f. Sg. )), 35 inhabitants
• Melissaki (Μελισσάκι ( n. Sg. )), Uninhabited
• Makronisos (Μακρόνησος ( f. Sg. )), 9 inhabitants
• Mylopotamos (Μυλοπόταμος ( m. Sg. )), 28 inhabitants
• Otzias (Οτζιάς ( m. Sg. )), 87 inhabitants
• Vourkari (Βουρκάρι ( n. Sg. )), 121 inhabitants
• Xyla (Ξύλα ( n. Pl. )), 1 inhabitant

Individual evidence

1. ↑ National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ) according to 2001 census , p. 113 (PDF, 793 kB)
2. ↑ ^{a b} Results of the 2011 census, Greek Statistical Office (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
3. ↑ http://www1.imara.de/greece/regionen-und-karte-von-kea.php#Korissia
4. ^ Ernst Meyer : Keos 1. In: Der Kleine Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, Sp. 184-186, here Sp. 185.
5. ↑ Paul Werner: On the steps of a forgotten city . Die Zeit , issue 29, July 12, 1991