Municipality of Lefktra,Plataies,e.t.c.

INFORMATIONS ABOUT TOWN OF PLATAIES


"MUNICIPALITY OF LEFKTRA, KAPARELI, PLATAIES AND MELISOXORI"

KAPARELI AND LEFKTRA were seperated munipalities and Plataies and Melisoxori as well were seperated communities until 1997, when the ministry of internal affairs was decided to make a town unification. The townseat is based in Kapareli for population reasons and the new Municipality was taken the name of Plataies for historical reasons. These communtites are away from each other approximately six miles (9 Klm).

The part of munipality of Plataies that i come from is named Lefktra. The population of Lefktra is 1,300 people nowdays. Lefktra is located in this part of Boiotias from the ancient years. The Battle of Lefktra in 371 BC, made Lefktra very well known in the ancient hellenic world.

A new era started in the hellenic world after that battle. The Spartans were defeated by Thebeans. The Spartian hegemony was fallen after that battle, and the Theabean hegemony was rised as the new superpower in the hellenic world, for the next seventy years. Until Philip the second, and Great Alexander invated in Boiotian Federation and destroyed Thebes.

LEFKTRA TODAY

Lefktra is a traditional greek village of Central Greece (Roumeli) , located in the foothill of Kithairon (300 meters attribute).Thebes (the capital town of county Thivon)is sixteen kilometers away and Athens 70 km away, from the old national road. There are bus lines from Thebes to Lefktra and vice versa daily, and from Athens to Lefktra at the weekends.

Residents main occupation are argiculture and stockbreeding. There is a traditional Greek hospitality. Livadostra and Koromili beaches are ten minutes away by car. The road for Livadostra is in a very good condition, I can recommend to visit Koromili beach by boat from Livadostra. It is a beutifull virgin place, pine trees and olive trees get at the beach. Curative water can be found to the shore, a visitor needs food supplies and a tend for a great camping expierience. The majority of people that pass the holidays there are the locals, residence of Thebes and Lefktrians that lives permanitely to Athens.

FOOD: There four tavernas, and they serve food that is made locally, goat meat and lamp meat are one of the best specilities, feta cheese and a lot of vegetables, vegeterian food is serve in the summer, visit my ancle's Aggelo Roka taverna "Athanasia", it will be a great experience. In Livadostra beach there is a taverna that is serve a variety of fishes dishes. Lefktra's wine one of the best in Greece but they produced just for local consumption, so visit and taste it !!!. Have a great time.

 

MYTHOLOGY

The ancient city of Plataies gets its name from the renown daugther of the river or of King Aesop. In the same town, as well as in the outskirts of the town, there is evidence that there were a variey of gods and goddesses that were worshipped.

FROM THE ANCIENT TOWN

The same mountain Kithairon, was devoted to the God "Zeus" of Kithairon. At the sping that exists today alled

"Vergoutiani", located on the mountainside, between the town of Erythres and Plataies, one notices the sping of Artemis and the adjacent ded of the river Aktaiona. Nevertheless the same town become a especially well know, because of the first divine couple,Zeus and Hera. At the top of mount Kithairon, there is a evidence of the cave of the " Sphragition Nymphhs"

HISTORICAL DATA

Just outside the walls of the ancient town, where the tombs exist of the historal ansestors who fell during the battle of Plataies of 479 B.C., fighting against the Medes, they celebrated every 4 years, the "Liberation" in victory to the Greeks. The festival was carried out near the sanctuary and altar of Zeus the Liberator. Within the walls they warshipped the wife of Zeus, Hera, in her temple as "an eligible bride" i.e. as a married woman. Whithin the temple of Hera there were statues made of marble, works of the sculptours Kallimahos and Raxiteli. In the town of Plataies, the goodess Hera was connected especially with the festivities of the "Dedala", which is described in detail by the traveller Paphsanias. In the town the goodess Athena was also especially worshipped. After the victory of 479 B.C. the goodess was honored as "Arian" There was an altar and temple within the walls. The town of Plataies was destroyed many times and rebuilt buring the final years of the Roman Empire by Justinian. The church assign a bishop to the area under the jurisdiction of the Mitropolis of Athens.

BYZANTINE HISTORY

At the distance of 4 Kilomertres from the Municipality of Plataies on the northern slopes of Mount Kithairon and at a height of 580 metres, the Holy Monastery of Agia Triada carries on the rich historical and religious tradition. Built during the 15th century A.D. it is under the jurisdiction of the Holy Mitropolis of the cities of Thebes and Livadia. In the dilapidated ancient Temple there still exist two layers of Holy paintings from the 16th and 18th centures. The church of Panagia Eleousa, exists in the town of Plataies, and was built with ancient construction material.

TODAY

At a distance of 12 Kilometers from te town of Plataies, there are the clean shores of Agio Vassili, Kalamaki and Livadostra and the roads leading there are in very good condition. The beautiful forest of the fir trees of Mount Kithairon is located couth of the town of Plataies, where the visitor can enjoy the beauty of nature and the clean air.

HOTELS and rooms can be found on the border of the township. At the AIRSPORTS CENTER (altitude 750m) there is a cafeteria - snack bar in operation.

FOOD: there are 10 traditional tavernas that serve meat,cheese,bread and vegetables that are produced locally. The area is also very well know for the magnificent wine they produced.

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TOWN OF PLATAIES Ph:(0262)97242, 97444 Fax:(0262)97262 Email :a.piliouris@mdx.ac.uk