Mithymna
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Mithymna parish Δημοτική Ενότητα Μήθυμνας (Μήθυμνα) |
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| Basic data | |||
| State : |
 Greece
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| Region : |
North Aegean
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| Regional District : | Lesbos | ||
| Municipality : | Dytiki Lesvos | ||
| Geographic coordinates : | 39 ° 22 ′ N , 26 ° 10 ′ E | ||
| Height above d. M .: | 51 m (average) |
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| Area : | 50.166 km² | ||
| Residents : | 2,243 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 44.7 inhabitants / km² | ||
| Code No .: | 530110 | ||
| Structure: |
1 city district 3 local communities |
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| Located in the municipality of Dytiki Lesvos and in the regional district of Lesvos | |||
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Mithymna ( Greek Μήθυμνα ( f. Sg. )), Also Methymna , is a small town with 1,390 inhabitants (2011) and a municipality of the municipality of Dytiki Lesvos in the north of the Greek island of Lesbos . Despite the official designation with the ancient name since 1919, the name Molyvos (Μόλυβος ( m. Sg. )), Which has been used since the Middle Ages, is still used in everyday language.
Location and cityscape
The city is on the north coast of the island of Lesbos , only about 5 nautical miles (9.5 km) from the Turkish mainland, but turned away from it, built on a mountain with a medieval castle on the top. It is located 62 km northwest of Mytilene , the capital of the island 6 km north of the popular seaside resort of Petra .
The car-free city has many small staircases that lead up the mountain and overgrown streets in the center - the Agorá with numerous shops and bars - an original, almost medieval appearance.
The townscape is still clearly marked by the time of the Turkish rule. Numerous houses built in the traditional Turkish style from the 18th century have been preserved. The lower floor is made of exposed stones, the upper floor consists of jointed wooden planks, protrudes - partly supported by carved beams - over the front of the ground floor and thus forms a bay window equipped with windows.
To the west below the city is a small natural harbor, which was provided with a pier and is used as a fishing port.
Mithymna Castle and City
traditional houses in Mithymna
View from the harbor to the castle and city of Mithymna
history
The settlement, which has existed since prehistoric times, experienced a rapid upswing in archaic times. In the 8th century BC With the founding of Assos the polis participated in the colonization of the opposite coast of Asia Minor and expanded around 600 BC. Chr. With the conquest of Arisbe his property around one of the most fertile areas of the island. The Arion of Lesbos , who came from Mithymna, was considered the most important Kitharöde of his time. In the 5th century BC The city was a member of the Attic League and provided its own ship contingent. In the Peloponnesian War Mithymna opposed 428 BC. BC the amalgamation of the island cities and took part - as the only city on Lesbos - not in the revolt against Athens. The rivalry with the larger Mytilene , which, in contrast to the democratically composed Mithymna , was ruled oligarchically , may have been a reason for this. It wasn't until 412 BC. Mithymna fell away from Athens , but was forced to re-enter the League. 406 BC The city was conquered by Sparta , in whose sphere of influence it was until 386 BC. Chr. Stayed. A few years later it allied itself again with Athens and belonged to 377 BC. BC to the founding members of the Second Attic Sea Confederation . Under the tyrant Cleomis , Mithymna turned around 340 BC. BC again from Athens and refused active support in the war against Philip II of Macedonia , which led to an unsuccessful military intervention by Athens. In the 3rd century BC In Ptolemaic possession , Mythymna leaned in the 2nd century BC. Close to Rome , whose benevolent support it enjoyed a long time until the Roman interest concentrated more on Mytilene. In the Middle Ages the city was renamed Molybos . In 1373 the Acropolis was expanded by the Genoese Gattilusio family . In 1450 their area was badly devastated when Turkish troops landed, in 1457 they successfully resisted the siege by Admiral Ismael, but had to be surrendered to the Turks without a fight after the capitulation of Mytilenes in 1462.
Parts of the archaic polygonal city wall from the 6th century BC are from the ancient city . Preserved, remnants of the pier from the ancient harbor .
Administrative division
The independent rural community of Molyvos (Κοινότητα Μολύβου), founded in 1918, was renamed Mithymna (Κοινότητα Μήθυμνης) the following year . Received the status of a municipality (Δήμος Μήθυμνης) Mithymna 1947. The incorporation of Efthalou took place in 1971 as well as Árgennos, Lepetymnos and Sykamineas 1997. Since the administrative reform in 2010 Mithymna forms Árgennos, Lepetymnos and Sykaminea the district Mythimna (Δημοτική Ενότητα Μήθυμνας Dimotiki Enotita Mithymnas ) initially in the municipality of Lesvos (Δήμος Λέσβου), since the correction of the administrative reform in 2019 in the municipality of Dytiki Lesvos . In terms of area and inhabitants, it is the smallest municipality in the municipality.
| District local community |
Greek name | code | Area (km²) | 2001 residents | Residents 2011 | Villages and settlements |
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| Mithymna | Δημοτική Κοινότητα Μηθύμνης | 53011001 | 28.132 | 1667 | 1570 | Mithymna, Vafios, Efthalou |
| Argennos | Τοπική Κοινότητα Αργέννου | 53011002 | 9.479 | 240 | 209 | Argennos |
| Lepetymnos | Τοπική Κοινότητα Λεπετύμνου | 53011003 | 4,526 | 155 | 167 | Lepetymnos |
| Sykaminea | Τοπική Κοινότητα Συκαμινέας | 53011004 | 8.029 | 371 | 309 | Sykaminea, Skala Sykamineas |
| total | 530110 | 50.166 | 2433 | 2255 | ||
tourism
The community has a long beach where there are various leisure activities such as B. kite surfing, and a port, from which small ships go to Skála Sikaminiás (dial. Skamjá). There is also a hot spring nearby (in Eftalóu). In the summer months a bath bus runs several times a day between Anaxos-Petra-Molivos-Eftalou and back. Although Mithymna and Petra represent the main tourist center of the island - this is evident from the numerous hotel complexes scattered around the area - the place has remained very original. Mytilene can be reached in about 1.5 hours by bus.
Web links
Single receipts
- ↑ Results of the 2011 census, Greek Statistical Office (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
- ↑ Thucydides, Peloponnesian War 3.2.1.
- ^ Wolfgang Günther: Methymna. In: Siegfried Lauffer (Ed.): Greece. Lexicon of Historic Places. CH Beck, Munich 1989, pp. 430-432.
- ↑ Μόλυβος - Μήθυμνα, Μετονομασίες των οικισμών της Ελλάδας (Greek).