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- Coordinates: 38°30'40'' N 23°40' 41'' E
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Ptolemaida (Greek, Modern: Πτολεμαΐδα, Ancient/Katharevousa: Πτολεμαΐς), older form: Ptolemais is a city in Northern Greece. It lies in the prefecture of Kozani, which is part of Western Macedonia. It is the seat of the province of Eordea. It is considered a highly industrial area. There are 4 power plants in this area producing 70% of Greece's electrical power. In its subsoil, there are huge amounts of lignite which is the raw material of the power plants. The plants are owned by the Public Power Corporation (DEI) , who is the major employer in the city. The plant was first tested by the prime minister of Greece that time Constantine Karamanlis. The other two are in Amyntaio in Florina and in Agios Dimitrios. The city is in the valley and the mountains of Askio to the southwest and Vermio to the northeast. It is located N of Kozani, E of Kastoria, S of Florina and SW of Edessa. Since the 1960s or the 1970s, GR-3/E65? is bypassed to the east.
History According to archaeologists, the Ptolemaida region has been occupied since 6000 BC [1] Ancient times Archaeologists, in November of 2005, discovered the remains of two farming villages dating back to the Neolithic period. A press report notes that such farming villages were trading centres and had a "developed knowledge of metalworking"[1]. The city is named after a soldier of Alexander the Great named Ptolemaeus the Lagos, who was a student of Aristotle as well. Many places and cities in western Macedonia were named after soldiers of Alexander the Great. Ptolemaida is also the capital of Eordea province (Eordea means loved, and was taken from the name of the ancient goddess Eorda, or Mother Earth ).
Turkish rule In 1389 Ptolemaida was destroyed by Turks, who pillaged and burned the houses of the settlement[citation needed]. During Turkish rule, Ptolemaida was called Kailari (from the Turkish word which means dirt-road). The first "Underground School" in Macedonia functioned in Saint Nicholas Church, in Vlasti[citation needed]. The area of Ptolemaida became famous for its contribution to the Macedonian Struggle, as well as the historic battles in the areas of Komanos and Perdikkas, during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. Ptolemaida was liberated from Turkish rule on October 15, 1915. Ptolemaida was once a large commercial and enterprise center, but after Turkish rule fell into economic decline . Settlement of new population In the 1920s, the Pontic refugees from Asia Minor and from Pontos, as well as a smaller number of refugees from Thrace, arrived during the Greco-Turkish War and the population expanded. On September 8, 1942, Ptolemaida became a municipality with a population of 8000, whose main occupation was agriculture and livestock farming.
The 70 m cooling tower and the 110 m chimney of the powerstation of Ptolemais 1959
A Greek stamp of the Ptolemais powerstation
Culture Ptolemaida's culture has a long history. In addition to the Neolithic archaeological sites, a golden necklace dating to roughly 4500 BC was discovered by a resident on February 16, 2006[1]. Associated Press reporter Costas Kantouris describes the item as a "flat, roughly ring-shaped prehistoric pendant [which] probably had religious significance and would have been worn on a necklace by a prominent member of society."[1]. Today, Ptolemaida is rich in football talent[citation needed] and there was a football club called "Eordaikos" (in Greek "Εορδαϊκός"). Other teams include AE Ptolemaidas. Ptolemaida has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, a post office, a train station (Larissa - Kozani - Florina) a police station, a water tower, and squares (plateies). There is the potential of a university being established by the state in the near future, which will raise the standard of life in Ptolemaida . Ethnic groups A substantial proportion of Ptolemaida's residents are Greek-speaking Pontic refugees from Asia Minor who first arrived in Macedonia during the late 1920's. Another major ethnic group in the city are Greek Vlachi. A small ethnic group who inhabit the city are ethnic Macedonians, sometimes referred to as "local natives" or "Slavomacedonians" by the Greeks. Historical population
Ptolemais, Satellite Images, Greece Division of the municipality
Links See also: Notes and references
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