 Poros island | Poros island is 31 square kilometers with a population of 4000 people. It is located 32 nautical miles South from Pireaus. It's a volcanic island very green with hills and an interesting coastline. The highest peak in the island is at Vigla which is 358 meters above level. The climate of Poros has a cool summer followed by a mild winder and there's constant breeze blowing from the North which ensures a clear horizon. Poros is the island of peace, romance and jauntiness. It is overgrown with pine trees which reach the rugged shores or the sandy beaches. The residents of Poros are like all islands, spontaneous, decent and hospitable. Many of the houses of Poros are samples of the neoclassical architecture. One can distinguish the Deimezi building made of grey and red stone and Grivas' shop, with its wide doors and the very beautiful interior decoration. Villa Galini, among the most beautiful houses of Poros, has hosted great personalities of the Arts and Literature. |
| Poros History | Poros is comprised of two islands Sphairia and Kalavria (the name Kalavria means "gentle Breeze"). Kalavria at first was offered to the god Apollo and he made it over to the god Poseidon in return for Delphi. Kalavria is quite larger than Sphairia and is planted all over. Sphairia is a volcanic rock. In mythology times Aithra founded in Sphairia the temple of Athena Apatoria in honor of her encounter with the god Poseidon. In the north part of the island there are the ruins of Poseidon's Temple , which was built in 520BC. The main Temple was built in Doric style, though some of its columns were Ionian. Nearly the Temple there was the built up area of Kalavria. Such was the place's importance that it functioned as the center for the Amphictyonic League (amphictionnes: dwellers around") a voluntary "cooperative" of city-states in both civic and religious matters, which included Hermione, Epidauros, Aigina, Prassies, Athens and Orhomenos. At the Poseidon's Temple came Demosthenes the ancient great orator availing himself of its right of sanctuary as Philip the King of Macedonia chased him. Poros played a significant role in 1821 Revolution. It was placed on the map of history in 1828 where rival assemblies met to make important decisions, which set the Constitution in a positive direction. In 1830 the building of the shipyard and naval station at Poros began. |
|
