Ptolemaida

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Coordinates: 40°31′N 21°41′E

Ptolemaida (Πτολεμαΐδα)
Coordinates	40°31′ N 21°41′ E
Country	Greece
Periphery	West Macedonia
Prefecture	Kozani
Population	36,393 source (2001)
Elevation	600 m
Postal code	502 00
Area code	24630
Licence plate code	ΚΖ
Website	ptolemaida.gr

Ptolemaida (modern Greek Πτολεμαΐδα or Katharevousa Πτολεμαΐς) is a city in Northern Greece. It lies in the prefecture of Kozani, which is part of Western Macedonia.

It is known for its coal (lignite) mines and its power stations. It was also a cultural centre of the ancient Macedonian state.

Contents 1 Name 2 Location 3 History 3.1 Neolithic times 3.2 Ancient period 3.3 Ottoman period 3.4 Balkan wars 3.5 Civil war 3.6 Modern times 4 Culture 5 Economy 6 Demographics 6.1 Ethnic groups 6.2 Famous people 7 External links 8 See also 9 Notes and references

[edit] Name

• Modern Greek: Πτολεμαΐδα Ptolemaida
• Katharevousa: Πτολεμαΐς Ptolemais
• Turkish: Kayılar, Kaylar, Kayalar, Kailar, Ottoman قایلر (Turkish 'brothers-in-law, referring to the multiple villages constituting the town).
• South Slavic language: Кајлари – Kailari or Кајљар – Kailyar

The original Greek name of the city was Kailaria (Καϊλάρια). The modern name Ptolemaida was introduced by decree on 20 January 1927 following a suggestion by Pantelis Melanofrydis [2]. The name was chosen in honour of Ptolemaeus the Lagos, a soldier (general, bodyguard and schoolmate) of Alexander the Great, a beloved student of Aristotle who became King of Egypt, known as Ptolemy I Soter. His statue stands in the central square of the city.

[edit] Location

The city lies in the valley of Eordaia and on the mountain slopes of Askio, to the southwest and Vermio to the northeast. It is located norht of Kozani, east of Kastoria, south of Florina and south-west of Edessa. Since the 1960s, GR-3/E65 bypasses it to the east. It is the seat of the province of Eordea.

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 bypassed it to the east.

[edit] History

According to archaeologists, the Ptolemaida region has been occupied since 6000 BCE.^[1]

[edit] Neolithic 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]

[edit] Ancient period

[edit] Ottoman period

The Ottoman period was a time of peace for the Balkans in general and Kayılar in particular.

During the Ottoman period, Kayılar was populated entirely by Muslims. Lower Kayılar (Aşağı Kayılar was Bektashi and Ukari Kayılar was Rüfai and Hanafi.^{[citation needed]}

The Turkish rural population around Kailar was mainly composed of Konariot shepherds from Konya; they had started arriving by 1360, before the Ottoman conquest.^[2]

[edit] Balkan wars

Kailar was occupied by Greek forces on October 15, 1912. A large part of the population escaped into the mountains. Their houses were burned and distroyed by Greek soldiers during the war. Most well-educated intellectuals of Kailar were killed while in Atin Exile, although some of them, such as Cevdet Hodja, could escape. During the Balkan wars, many Turkish civilians were killed, especially hafids and hodjas. With the population exchange, all less educated men as well as the woman and children were forced to leave and to settle in Turkey.^[3]

[edit] Civil war

[edit] Modern times

[edit] Culture

Ptolemaida's culture has a long history. In addition to the Neolithic archaeological sites, a golden necklace dating to roughly 4500 BCE was discovered by a resident on February 16, 2006.^[1]

Associated Press reporter Costas Kantouris describes the item as a "flat, roughly ring-shaped [which] probably had religious significance and would have been worn on a necklace by a prominent member of society."^[1]

Ptolemaida's football club is called "Eordaikos" (Greek: Εορδαϊκός). Other teams include AE Ptolemaidas.

Ptolemaida has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, a post office, a train station (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.

[edit] Economy

Ptolemaida is considered a highly industrialized 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 for 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 at that time, Constantine Karamanlis. The other two are in Amyntaio in Florina and in Agios Dimitrios.

[edit] Demographics

The current Municipality of Ptolemaida is constituted by the city of Ptolemaida and 12 small communities which all together cover an extent of 2.179 square kilometres. At the 2001 census, the population of the city was 30,017 residents. The total population of the municipality in 1991 was 32,775 residents. However, it is likely that these elements underestimate the real population because of the tendency of certain residents to be recorded at the national censi in their home village.

Thus, the real Population of Ptolemaida is around 50.000

Year	Communal Population	Change	Municipal population	Change
1940	7,719	-	-	-
1951	8,816	-	-	-
1961	12,747	-	-	-
1971	16,588	-	-	-
1981	22,109	-	-
1981	22,109	-	-	-
1991	25,125	+3,016(+13.6% )	32,775	-
2001	30,017	+4,892(+19.5% )	36,393	+518(+1.6%)

[edit] Ethnic groups

A substantial proportion of Ptolemaida's residents are Pontic Greek from Sourmene or Sürmene, Turkey^{[citation needed]} or their descendants. These were refugees from Asia Minor who first arrived in Macedonia during the 1920s as a result of the population exchange according to the Treaty of Lausanne. These replaced the Turkish population in the area in much larger numbers, resulting in the doubling of the general population.^{[citation needed]}

Another major ethnic group in the city are Greek Vlachs.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Famous people

• Pantelis Kapetanos

[edit] External links

• Ptolemaida news
• http://hellas.teipir.gr/Thesis/Eordaia/english/Ptolemaida.htm
• Mapquest - Ptolemaida, street map not yet available
• Coordinates: 40°30′40″N, 21°40′41″E

[edit] See also

• List of communities of Kozani
• Karafere war
• Gianittsa war
• Kumanova war
• Lozan

[edit] Notes and references

Municipalities and communities of the Kozani Prefecture
Agia Paraskevi • Aiani • Askio • Dimitrios Ypsilantis • Elimeia • Ellispontos • Kamvounia • Kozani • Mouriki • Neapoli • Ptolemaida • Servia • Siatista • Tsotyli • Velventos • Vermio
Vlasti • Livadero • Pentalofos