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For the bird genus see Paramythia

Paramythia (Template:Lang-el, Medieval Greek: Άγιος Δονάτος Agios Donatos, Template:Lang-sq) is a municipality in Thesprotia, Greece. Population 7,859 (2001).

The etymology of the name comes from the Paramythia's Virgin Mary's name ("Paramythia" in Greeks means comforter) From the word 'comforter', "Paramythia", the second name predominated since for many centuries the Church of Virgin Mary in the town has been mentioned with the two names: "Agios Donatos" and "Paramythia" where and the medieval monastery, which stands in perfect condition in the middle of the town.

Geography

The town's area is about 79,200 acres, while its population is about 10,000. Today, the city is the headquarter of the Paramythia's Municipality which includes 22 municipal departments. Paramythia was a small Byzantine town built in 1,000 A.D. Lies simile to an amphitheatre at the altitude of 750 m, at Korila's mountain foothill, between the Acheron and Kalamas rivers. The mountain chain Koryla (altitude 1,658 m) lies on the eastern side of the city and Chionistra (1,644 m) on the Northeast. On the city limits is the Kokytos River, known from mythology. Among the city's attractions are the Byzantine bath, the Koulia tower, the castle of Paramythia and the Elea's castle, unique for its structure watch, while you'll never forget the thesprotian highlands, at the Souli village, but also the near littoral regions as Parga, Syvota, Perdika.

Archeology

The Paramythia's valley is one of the largest in Thesprotia Prefecture and one of the major residential and cultural area in Epirus. The archaeological remainder - stone tools, ceramics from the Paramythia's valley, of the richest area in Greece in stone tools date from the latest Paleolithic till the copper age- attest the uninterrupted inhabitancy in all Stone age. Southern by the Paramythia, in the Tsardakia area, on polygonal wall and one tomb with shape of box date in the latest Copper age, are among the few samples of the Mycenaean culture in Thesprotia.

Recording the historical ages, in the eastern side of Kalamas river, among natural fortified hills, or mountains' foothills, was constructed fortified settlements (Five churches, Petrovitsa, Gousbany, Plakoti, Kallithea etc.), which controlled the Kalamas' valley. In the same period grow a settlements' chain in the Valley of Kokytos River (Paramythia, Elea, St. Donatos of Zervochori), a few others in the western side of the Kokytos' Valley (Grika, Sevasto, Kyra Panagia) and, some other, smaller settlements on the highlands of Paramythia (Saloniki, St. Kyriaki). The Municipal area, which, in the largest part, covers the ancient Eleatida, where lived Thesprotian Eleates, was one of the most densely populated Thesprotian area and flourished in the Hellenistic ages.

In 1796, at Liboni of Paramythia (the ancient Fotiki), were found 21 bronze sculptures made by the Lissipos School (3rd century BC). Today, we can see these sculptures in several museums in London, Russia and Constantinople. It was not part of Greece until the Balkan Wars when the Greek Army entered the area on February 13, 1913.

The Roman colony Fotiki stands on the today’s region of St. Donatos (Sametia), and was established in 167 BC. There, was found the sarcophagus of King Pyrrhus of Epirus. There are also other cities, as Nikopolis, built during Roman period. There was a movement of population from the surrounding region to new built Thesprotian cities. The exact placement of Fotiki (Liboni), was revealed by 2 inscriptions. The first one referred to the Roman commander Pompeeo Sabino, and was found in 1890. It is written in Latin and was dated at the end of the 3rd century BC. In 1906 was found the second inscription, written in Greek. Its content is about citizens’ of Fotiki decisions.

There are some Latin inscriptions from 2nd and 3rd century, when the local Parliament of Fotiki was active, meanwhile it seems that the city was active also during the period after. In the area were found, besides the Latin inscriptions, some other ancient findings testimonial of a great cultural activity. Today, all findings are kept in the museum of Epirus, and in other museums abroad.

History

The city of Fotiki was named after Fotios, the leader of Chaons. Fotiki became Christian during 1st century. There was involvement in world and local meetings. After Christian religion spread in the area, some cities were used as bishop’s quarters (Nikopolis, Dryinoupolis, Fotiki, Apollonia etc)

When the Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Crusaders (1204), the Comnenus family established Despotate of Epirus, in which Paramythia was incorporated. The Despotate remained independent during the next two centuries, maintaining the Greek Byzantine traditions. The old greatness came back when Ioustinianos built the castle, afterwards named the castle of Aghios (Saint) Donatos, from which, the Albanian form of the name derives. For a brief period in the 14th century (1358-1367), Paramythia came under the rule of the Albanian chieftain Gjin Bua Shpata, but returned to the Despotate of Epirus by despot Thomas II Preljubović (Thomas Komnenos Palaiologos), before the Ottoman occupation (1449).

Until the Second World War the town had a mixed population of Greeks and Cham Albanians.

Notable inhabitants

• Sotirios Voulgaris, the notable Greek who founded the jewelry and luxury goods company Bulgari. His jewelry store in Paramythia survives. Following his wish, his sons funded the building of the elementary school of the town.

Municipal districts

• Agia Kyriaki
• Ambelia
  • Agios Panteleimonas
  • Rapi
• Chrysavgi or Hrisavgi
• Elataria
• Grika
• Kallithea
  • Avaritsa
  • Vrysopoula
• Karvounari
  • Kyra Panagia
• Karioti
• Krystallopigi
  • Kefalovrysso
• Neochori
  • Agios Georgios Neochori
• Pagrati
• Paramythia
  • Agios Georgios
  • Agios Donatos
• Pente Ekklisies
• Petousi
• Petrovitsa
• Plakoti
• Polidroso
• Prodromi
  • Dafnoula
• Psaka
  • Nounesati
• Saloniki
• Sevasto
• Xirolofos
  • Rachouli
• Agia kyriaki
  • Asfakia
  • Asfakia

References

1. De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
2. Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization M. V. Sakellariou. Ekdotike Athenon, 1997. ISBN 9789602133712, p. 183 "modern Paramythia bore the Saint's name for many centuries..." (ca. from 7th to 15th cent.)
3. Duka, Ferit; Society and Economy in Ottoman Çameria: Kazas of Ajdonat and Mazrak (Second Half of the 16th Century) p.3, periodic Historical Studies (Studime historike) issue: 3­4 / 2004
4. paramythia.gr
5. Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization M. V. Sakellariou. Ekdotike Athenon, 1997. ISBN 9789602133712, p. 212-219.
6. http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/NewFashion/Bulgari.html

External links

• http://www.paramythia.gr

Template:Thesprotia

• Articles needing cleanup from August 2008
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• Thesprotia
• Cities, towns and villages in the Thesprotia Prefecture