Lamia (Greek: Λαμία) is a city in central Greece (population 75,000). It is a site of archaeological excavation (a castle dating from the pre-classical years, reconstructed in the early middle ages). Lamia is the capital of the prefecture of Fthiotis and the region of "Eastern Sterea Ellada" (comprising 5 prefectures). It is the provincial capital of Fthtiotis.

Historical population

Name

One account says that the city was named after the mythological figure of Lamia, the daughter of Poseidon queen of the Trachineans. Another says that it is named after the Malians, the inhabitants of the surrounding area. In the middle ages (AD 869) Lamia was called Zetounion being the seat of a bishop.

Conquered by the Latins after 1204, the city was known as Zirtounion, Zitonion, Girton (during the Frankish rule), and (under the Catalan rule) El Cito. The Turks called it Iztin.

History

Although inhabited since the 5th millennium BC, the city was first mentioned after the earthquake of 424 BC, when it was an important Spartan military base. It was occupied by Alexander king of Macedonia; the Athenians rebelled at his death. His successor Antipatros after losing the fight against the Athenians and their allies, took refuge behind the substantial walls of the city (Lamian war 323 BC–322 BC). The war ended at the death of the general of the Athenian troops, Leosthenes , and the arrival of a 20,000-strong Macedonian army. Lamia afterwards propered in the third century BC under Aetolian hegemony, which came to an end when Acilius Glabrio sacked the city in 190 BC.

See also

• Communities of Fthiotis