Azoros (Greek: Άζωρος, Greek pronunciation: ['azoɾos]) is a village and a community of the Elassona municipality in the Larissa regional unit.[2] Before the 2011 local government reform it was a part of the municipality of Sarantaporo, of which it was a municipal district.[2] The community of Azoros covers an area of 20.308 km2.[3]

Azoros
Άζωρος
Azoros is located in Greece
Azoros
Azoros
Coordinates: 40°0′N 22°4.7′E / 40.000°N 22.0783°E / 40.000; 22.0783
CountryGreece
Administrative regionThessaly
Regional unitLarissa
MunicipalityElassona
Municipal unitSarantaporo
Area
 • Community
20.308 km2 (7.841 sq mi)
Elevation
520 m (1,710 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community
256
 • Density13/km2 (33/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
402 00
Area code(s)+30-2493
Vehicle registrationPI

Geography

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Azoros is built at an altitude of 520 meters[4] at the foot of Mount Amarbeis, at a distance of 18 kilometers from Elassona, near the ruins of the ancient thessalian city of Azorus.

Near the city flows the river Titarisios, an important tributary of the Pineios. There are also natural springs in the nearby areas of Tsouknida, Tsimpitoura and Tsimpitoroula (Greek: Τσουκνίδα, Τσιμπιτούρα, Τσιμπιτορούλα).[5]

Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, is situated about 25km Northeast of Azoros.

History

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The ancient citadel of Azoros[6] and the walls of the Hellenistic and mid-Byzantine period are situated Southeast of the town, on the hill named "Kastri".[7]

The area was controlled by the Byzantine Empire, until 1420 when Turahan Bey, an Ottoman military Commander, conquered the mountainous Perrhaebia.[8]

Until 1991 the town was called Vouvala or Vuvala (Βουβάλα), but was renamed to reflect the ancient city of Azorus which is located within the community. The town was liberated by the Greek Army during the Balkan Wars and was extensively destroyed during the Axis occupation of Greece and the Greek Civil War.

Economy

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The population of Azoros is occupied in animal husbandry and agriculture.[8]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1928484—    
1940619+27.9%
1951681+10.0%
1961739+8.5%
1971608−17.7%
1981529−13.0%
1991724+36.9%
2001[3]499−31.1%
2011[9]333−33.3%
2021[1]256−23.1%

Culture

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The main events of the village take place on January 7 (procession from the Olympiotissa monastery), July 26 (Feast of St. Paraskevi) and Clean Monday with the custom of representing a traditional wedding attract visitors to the area.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b Kallikratis law Government’s Gazette (in Greek)
  3. ^ a b "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-21.
  4. ^ Μιχαήλ Σταματελάτος - Φωτεινή Βαμβά Σταματελάτου, Γεωγραφικό Λεξικό της Ελλάδας, ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 2012, Α' τόμος, σ. 46.
  5. ^ "Ιστορία Αζώρου - Elassona-City.gr - Η #1 ηλεκτρονική εφημερίδα της επαρχίας Ελάσσονας". Elassona-city.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  6. ^ "2000-2010 ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΑΝΑΣΚΑΦΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΤΩΝ ΕΦΟΡΕΙΩΝ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ" (PDF). Athens: ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΜΟΥ (MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM) ΓΕΝΙΚΗ ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΣΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΛΗΡΟΝΟΜΙΑΣ. 2012.
  7. ^ "Ακρόπολη Αζώρου". Archived from the original on 2007-05-16.
  8. ^ a b c "Άζωρος (Βουβάλα)". elassona.com.gr. Archived from the original on 2006-02-26. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.