Servia
Encyclopedia
Servia is a town and was a former municipality
in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia
, Greece
. Since the local government reform of 2011, it is now part of the larger municipality of Servia-Velventos. Servia today forms a municipal unit and is seat of the municipality. Τhe town itself has a population of 3,290 people (2001).
verb servo, meaning "to watch over" and it was given by the Romans, approximately during the 2nd century A.D., replacing what is thought to be the ancient name of the town "Phylacae" (Greek
: Φυλακαί) from the Greek
verb 'φυλάσσω'.
The ancient name of the town of Servia is also mentioned by Roman writer Pliny the Elder
as well as on an ancient Greek
inscription found at the city of Veroia which reads: "Παρμενίων Γλαυκία Φυλακήσιος νικητής εν Δολίχω", i.e. 'Parmenion son of Glauceas from Phylacae winner at Doliche'.
and Thessaly
, hence its name. As time passed people settled around the area and a town was created. People that have passed through the then town of Servia, include Alexander the Great, on his way to Thebes
in 335 B.C. and Apostle Paul during his journey to Macedonia
in the first century A.D. Servia reached its peak as part of the Eastern Roman Empire when it developed as a strong castle-city (Greek
: καστροπολιτεία) guarding the ancient passage from Macedonia
to Thessaly
. It fell under the Ottoman rule in 1393. Servia was the seat of the Bishop of Servia and Kozani until 1745; after that year the seat was moved to Kozani
. The Greek army entered Servia on 10 October 1912, during the First Balkan War
, after its victory against the Ottoman army in the Battle of Sarantaporo
and liberated the town. On the same day, 117 prominent citizens of Servia were gathered and executed by the Ottomans who were leaving the city. During the Second World War
, on 6 March 1943, German and Italian troops set the town on fire in response to the strong resistance they were facing in the region.
Today Servia stands as one of the main towns and agricultural centres of the surrounding region, with its municipality (prior to the government reform of 2011) having a population of 10,001 (2001). The town itself has a population of 3,290 inhabitants.
A recent historical event that occurred in Servia, was a holy liturgy, performed by Metropolitan Paulos of Servia and Kozani at the 7th century Metropolitan Church of St. Demetrius (now in ruins). The event which took place during the summer of 2008 was the first liturgy at the site after 600 years. The patron Saint of the town is Aghia Kyriake.
Main road access into Servia is provided by Greek National Road 3
which passes through the town and is part of European route E65
, connecting the cities of Florina
and Kozani
with Larissa
.
under the direction of Walter Heurtley in 1930. Renewed excavations were jointly conducted by the Greek Archaeological Service and the British School at Athens under the direction of Aikaterina Rhomiopoulou and Cressida Ridley between 1971 and 1973; in advance before the completion of the Polyphytos hydro-electric dam and the flooding of the valley, to create Polyphytos lake.
The site is a low mound created by the debris of successive phases of human occupation, starting in the Middle Neolithic period before 5000 BCE. The square or rectangular buildings, one or two storeys in height, were framed with massive oak posts and the walls were created with wattle and daub
. The 'classic' red on cream ceramic repertoire of this phase is closely related to that of Thessaly
at such sites as Sesklo
and Achilleion
. Typical shapes are fruitstands, shallow bowls and beakers. Bone and stone tools are frequent while ornaments of stone and sea shell (Spondylus gaederopus and Glycimeris) are quite frequent. Occupation continued for a thousand years until the early stages of the Late Neolithic period, characterised by black burnished and grey-on-grey pottery. Occasional fragments of pottery of other styles, together with occasional pieces of obsidian
from Melos show that long distance 'trade' links had been established with coastal Thessaly and Eastern Macedonia. After a long interval, occupation resumed in the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC)when the ceramic repertoire suggests a cultural orientation towards Central Macedonia
rather than Thessaly.
Palaeobotanical studies of seeds and other plant remains recovered from all periods at the site and studied by R. Housely and R. Hubbard provide important information about early Greek agricultural practices.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia
West Macedonia
West Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.-Geography:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the local government reform of 2011, it is now part of the larger municipality of Servia-Velventos. Servia today forms a municipal unit and is seat of the municipality. Τhe town itself has a population of 3,290 people (2001).
Etymology
Its name derives from the LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
verb servo, meaning "to watch over" and it was given by the Romans, approximately during the 2nd century A.D., replacing what is thought to be the ancient name of the town "Phylacae" (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Φυλακαί) from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
verb 'φυλάσσω'.
The ancient name of the town of Servia is also mentioned by Roman writer Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
as well as on an ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
inscription found at the city of Veroia which reads: "Παρμενίων Γλαυκία Φυλακήσιος νικητής εν Δολίχω", i.e. 'Parmenion son of Glauceas from Phylacae winner at Doliche'.
History
During ancient times, Servia served as a fort for the passage-way between MacedoniaMacedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
and Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
, hence its name. As time passed people settled around the area and a town was created. People that have passed through the then town of Servia, include Alexander the Great, on his way to Thebes
Thebes, Greece
Thebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others...
in 335 B.C. and Apostle Paul during his journey to Macedonia
Macedonia (Roman province)
The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon, the last Ancient King of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics established by Rome in the region were dissolved...
in the first century A.D. Servia reached its peak as part of the Eastern Roman Empire when it developed as a strong castle-city (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: καστροπολιτεία) guarding the ancient passage from Macedonia
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
to Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. It fell under the Ottoman rule in 1393. Servia was the seat of the Bishop of Servia and Kozani until 1745; after that year the seat was moved to Kozani
Kozani
Kozani is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of West Macedonia region. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley...
. The Greek army entered Servia on 10 October 1912, during the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
, after its victory against the Ottoman army in the Battle of Sarantaporo
Battle of Sarantaporo
The Battle of Sarantaporo, variously also transliterated as Sarantaporon or Sarandaporon took place on October 9-10 , 1912...
and liberated the town. On the same day, 117 prominent citizens of Servia were gathered and executed by the Ottomans who were leaving the city. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, on 6 March 1943, German and Italian troops set the town on fire in response to the strong resistance they were facing in the region.
Today Servia stands as one of the main towns and agricultural centres of the surrounding region, with its municipality (prior to the government reform of 2011) having a population of 10,001 (2001). The town itself has a population of 3,290 inhabitants.
A recent historical event that occurred in Servia, was a holy liturgy, performed by Metropolitan Paulos of Servia and Kozani at the 7th century Metropolitan Church of St. Demetrius (now in ruins). The event which took place during the summer of 2008 was the first liturgy at the site after 600 years. The patron Saint of the town is Aghia Kyriake.
Main road access into Servia is provided by Greek National Road 3
Greek National Road 3
Greek National Road 3 begins from Eleusis and heads north, passing Larissa, Florina and terminates at the border with the Republic of Macedonia in Niki, which from there links with the M3. The road is part of the E65. In the late 1980s, motorway bypasses have been constructed for the towns...
which passes through the town and is part of European route E65
European route E65
European route E 65 is a north-south Class-A European route that begins in Malmö, Sweden and ends in Chaniá, Greece. The road is about in length.-Itinerary:* Sweden** E 65: Malmö – Ystad* Baltic sea, ferry Ystad-Świnoujście* Poland...
, connecting the cities of Florina
Florina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
and Kozani
Kozani
Kozani is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of West Macedonia region. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley...
with Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
.
Prehistoric settlement
Servia has also given its name to the prehistoric settlement site beside the former bridge across the Haliakmon river to the west and now submerged deep below the surface of Lake Polyphytos. This was first reported by Alan John Bayard Wace and first excavated by the British School at AthensBritish School at Athens
The British School at Athens is one of the 17 Foreign Archaeological Institutes in Athens, Greece.-General information:The School was founded in 1886 as the fourth such institution in Greece...
under the direction of Walter Heurtley in 1930. Renewed excavations were jointly conducted by the Greek Archaeological Service and the British School at Athens under the direction of Aikaterina Rhomiopoulou and Cressida Ridley between 1971 and 1973; in advance before the completion of the Polyphytos hydro-electric dam and the flooding of the valley, to create Polyphytos lake.
The site is a low mound created by the debris of successive phases of human occupation, starting in the Middle Neolithic period before 5000 BCE. The square or rectangular buildings, one or two storeys in height, were framed with massive oak posts and the walls were created with wattle and daub
Wattle and daub
Wattle and daub is a composite building material used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw...
. The 'classic' red on cream ceramic repertoire of this phase is closely related to that of Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
at such sites as Sesklo
Sesklo
Sesklo is a village nearby the city of Volos, in Thessaly , in the prefecture of Magnesia. It is part of the municipality Aisonia...
and Achilleion
Achilleion (Thessaly)
Achilleion is an early Neolithic site in Thessaly, Greece. It was partly excavated by the American archaeologist Marija Gimbutas. She claims to have reached aceramic layers, similar to those at Argissa Magoula, but this interpretation has been disputed due to the small extent of the...
. Typical shapes are fruitstands, shallow bowls and beakers. Bone and stone tools are frequent while ornaments of stone and sea shell (Spondylus gaederopus and Glycimeris) are quite frequent. Occupation continued for a thousand years until the early stages of the Late Neolithic period, characterised by black burnished and grey-on-grey pottery. Occasional fragments of pottery of other styles, together with occasional pieces of obsidian
Obsidian
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock.It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth...
from Melos show that long distance 'trade' links had been established with coastal Thessaly and Eastern Macedonia. After a long interval, occupation resumed in the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC)when the ceramic repertoire suggests a cultural orientation towards Central Macedonia
Central Macedonia
Central Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the central part of the region of Macedonia. With a population of over 1.8 million, it is the second most populous in Greece after Attica.- Administration :...
rather than Thessaly.
Palaeobotanical studies of seeds and other plant remains recovered from all periods at the site and studied by R. Housely and R. Hubbard provide important information about early Greek agricultural practices.
Notable people
- St. TheodoraTheodora of ArtaTheodora Petraliphaina , canonized as Saint Theodora of Arta , was a consort of Epirus and an Orthodox Christian saint.- Life :Her life is known mostly from a short hagiography written by the monk Job, sometimes identified with the late-13th century cleric Job Iasites...
(13th century), Queen of EpirusDespotate of EpirusThe Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond... - Georgios KontarisGeorgios KontarisGeorgios Kontaris , was born in Servia, Greece and was a 17th century Scholar and a monk; he studied Latin and Italian in Venice , becoming a master of philosophy. He was a School principal in Kozani , later teacher in Servia. Elected Metropolitan of Servia and Kozani , Metropolitan of Athens and...
, (17th century), Scholar - Eugenios Pateras. (19th century) Bishop of Servia and KozaniDiocese of Servia and KozaniThe Holy Diocese of Servia and Kozani is an Orthodox Christian diocese located in West Macedonia, Greece, with the bishop's seat at Kozani. Its archdeaconries include the cities of Kozani, Aiani, Drepano, Krokos, Servia and Velvendos...
- Zesses Soteriou, (19th century) Revolutionary of the Greek War of Independence
- Veniamin of Thessalonica, (19th century), Bishop of Servia and KozaniDiocese of Servia and KozaniThe Holy Diocese of Servia and Kozani is an Orthodox Christian diocese located in West Macedonia, Greece, with the bishop's seat at Kozani. Its archdeaconries include the cities of Kozani, Aiani, Drepano, Krokos, Servia and Velvendos...
See also
- The bridge of PolyphytosLake Polyfytos BridgeThe Lake Polyfytos Bridge or the Servia / Neraida High Bridge is one of the longest bridges in Greece, with a length of 1,372 m. Construction began in 1972 along with the artificial lake and was completed in 1975....
- Noktaria geological park
- Velvendos