Tourkovounia
Encyclopedia
The Tourkovounia formerly also known as Lykovounia (Λυκοβούνια, "wolf mountains") and in Antiquity
called Anchesmos , is a hill range in Attica
. The name has also been transferred to a neighbourhood of Athens
and a neighbourhood in Keratsini
.
The Tourkovounia are the tallest and most extensive hill range in central Attica, dividing the Attica basin into eastern and western parts. The range forms the boundary between the municipalities of Galatsi
(to the west and northwest), Filothei
(to the north) and Psychiko
(to the northeast), while the southern part of the range belongs to the Municipality of Athens.
The ancient name, Anchesmos, refers to the sharp peaks of the range, while the modern name is said to derive either from a Turkish cemetery during the Ottoman rule
or because the troops of Omar Pasha had their camp there in the last years of the Greek War of Independence
. In the later 19th century, the hills were the lair of the notorious brigand Kakaras. During the Regime of the Colonels (1967-1974), a huge church dedicated to the Saviour was planned to be built on the hills as a "National Votive", but the project was never carried out.
Today, the Attic Forest, the Youth Center of Galatsi, and the Monastery of St Elijah are located on the hills. The quarters of Polygono and Panorama Galatsiou are situated on their slopes.
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
called Anchesmos , is a hill range in Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
. The name has also been transferred to a neighbourhood of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and a neighbourhood in Keratsini
Keratsini
Keratsini is a suburb in the western part of Piraeus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Keratsini-Drapetsona, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.-Geography:...
.
The Tourkovounia are the tallest and most extensive hill range in central Attica, dividing the Attica basin into eastern and western parts. The range forms the boundary between the municipalities of Galatsi
Galatsi
Galatsi , called in Katharevousa Galatsion , is a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, and a municipality of the Attica region. Until the mid-20th century, the area was mainly made up of farmlands but due to the continuous expansion of the Greek capital, Galatsi was rapidly urbanised and has come to...
(to the west and northwest), Filothei
Filothei
Filothei is a green, affluent northeastern suburb of Athens, Greece, consisting mainly of hillside villas, relatively close to the Olympic Stadium...
(to the north) and Psychiko
Psychiko
Psychiko is a suburb of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Filothei-Psychiko, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.Psychiko is located to the south of the Olympic stadium...
(to the northeast), while the southern part of the range belongs to the Municipality of Athens.
The ancient name, Anchesmos, refers to the sharp peaks of the range, while the modern name is said to derive either from a Turkish cemetery during the Ottoman rule
Ottoman Greece
Most of Greece gradually became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until its declaration of independence in 1821, a historical period also known as Tourkokratia ....
or because the troops of Omar Pasha had their camp there in the last years of the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
. In the later 19th century, the hills were the lair of the notorious brigand Kakaras. During the Regime of the Colonels (1967-1974), a huge church dedicated to the Saviour was planned to be built on the hills as a "National Votive", but the project was never carried out.
Today, the Attic Forest, the Youth Center of Galatsi, and the Monastery of St Elijah are located on the hills. The quarters of Polygono and Panorama Galatsiou are situated on their slopes.