Psychiko
Encyclopedia
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
. Psychiko is a strictly residential suburb of Athens, with commercial businesses allowed only within two small designated zones, the "Nea Agora" (New Market) and the "Palaia Agora" (Old Market), with current regulations also restricting buildings to full detachment, and a maximum of 3 floors. Psychiko was historically the home of aristocrats, members of the Greek royal family, and generally old money
people. The area remains one of the wealthiest suburbs of Athens, with very high land value, and a number of embassies, particularly of rich Middle Eastern countries, to be found located in Psychiko, Neo Psychiko
and neighbouring Filothei
. This was once home to Queen Frederika of Greece, until the military coup d'état of 1967
. Andreas Papandreou
and his wife Margaret also lived in Psychiko before the dictatorship. Later, when he became Prime Minister he left Psychiko and moved to Ekali
. In recent decades however, many prominent families choose to build their houses in the southern, seaside suburbs, like Glyfada
or Lagonisi
. A number of Greek private schools are located in the area: the Athens College
, the Moraitis School
, the Arsakeio
, and the area's most historic public school, the Varvakeio
, in Neo Psychiko is also the prestigious Greek/French School "Ursulines". Public municipal facilities, for their part, include a very active cultural center, a 6-court tennis club, an indoor basketball/volleyball stadium, an outdoor basketball and volleyball venue, and a rollerskating rink.
and the Marathon
run was recorded by Andreas Karkavitsas
in the 19th century, and also by Linos Politis.
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...
, 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 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
Olympic Stadium (Athens)
The Olympic Stadium "Spiros Louis" , is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It is named after the first modern Olympic marathon race winner in 1896, Spiros Louis.-History:...
. Psychiko is a strictly residential suburb of Athens, with commercial businesses allowed only within two small designated zones, the "Nea Agora" (New Market) and the "Palaia Agora" (Old Market), with current regulations also restricting buildings to full detachment, and a maximum of 3 floors. Psychiko was historically the home of aristocrats, members of the Greek royal family, and generally old money
Old Money
Old money is "the inherited wealth of established upper-class families " or "a person, family, or lineage possessing inherited wealth." The term typically describes a class of the super-rich, who have been able to maintain their wealth across multiple generations.- United States :American locations...
people. The area remains one of the wealthiest suburbs of Athens, with very high land value, and a number of embassies, particularly of rich Middle Eastern countries, to be found located in Psychiko, Neo Psychiko
Neo Psychiko
Neo Psychiko is a wealthy suburb in the northeastern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Filothei-Psychiko, of which it is a municipal unit....
and neighbouring Filothei
Filothei
Filothei is a green, affluent northeastern suburb of Athens, Greece, consisting mainly of hillside villas, relatively close to the Olympic Stadium...
. This was once home to Queen Frederika of Greece, until the military coup d'état of 1967
Greek military junta of 1967-1974
The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
. Andreas Papandreou
Andreas Papandreou
Andreas G. Papandreou ; 5 February 1919 – 23 June 1996) was a Greek economist, a socialist politician and a dominant figure in Greek politics. The son of Georgios Papandreou, Andreas was a Harvard-trained academic...
and his wife Margaret also lived in Psychiko before the dictatorship. Later, when he became Prime Minister he left Psychiko and moved to Ekali
Ekali
Ekali is an exclusive suburban community of Athens -- just about 20 km to the north of the city. Ekali sits between the Athenian plain and the Penteli mountains. The plain is to the west; the forests at the foot of the Penteli mountain range lie to the east...
. In recent decades however, many prominent families choose to build their houses in the southern, seaside suburbs, like Glyfada
Glyfada
Glyfada is a suburb of Athens, situated in the southern parts of the Athens Metropolitan Area. The area, which is home to many of Greece's millionaires, ministers and celebrities, stretches out from the foot of the Hymettus mountain and reaches out to embrace the Saronic Gulf. It is the largest of...
or Lagonisi
Lagonisi
Lagonissi is a settlement in the southern part of Kalyvia Thorikou by the Saronic Gulf in the Greek prefecture of Attica. Lagonissi is linked with a 4-lane highway Lagonissi (Greek: Λαγονήσι meaning "rabbit island") is a settlement in the southern part of Kalyvia Thorikou by the Saronic Gulf in...
. A number of Greek private schools are located in the area: the Athens College
Athens College
Athens College is a co-educational private independent school in Psychiko, Greece, a suburb of Athens, part of the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation which also includes Psychiko College, although both schools are usually referred to as "Athens College"...
, the Moraitis School
Moraitis School
The Moraitis School is a co-educational private school in Athens, Greece. It is located in Psychico, a suburb north of the Greek capital. In student population terms, the Moraitis school is one of the largest private schools in Athens...
, the Arsakeio
Arsakeio
Arsakeion , or Arsákeio, is the name of a group of co-educational independent schools in Greece, administered by the Philekpaideytikē Etaireía , a non-profit organization...
, and the area's most historic public school, the Varvakeio
Varvakeio
Varvakeio High School is a public Greek high school located in Psychiko. It was initially founded by Ioannis Varvakis, who donated a big part of his fortune to the state, in order to build a high school, that everyone could attend without paying, that would be the best in Greece...
, in Neo Psychiko is also the prestigious Greek/French School "Ursulines". Public municipal facilities, for their part, include a very active cultural center, a 6-court tennis club, an indoor basketball/volleyball stadium, an outdoor basketball and volleyball venue, and a rollerskating rink.
Name
The name literally means "an act of charity". A popular legend about the battle of MarathonBattle of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate...
and the Marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
run was recorded by Andreas Karkavitsas
Andreas Karkavitsas
Andreas Karkavitsas or Carcavitsas was a Greek novelist. He was a naturalist, like Alexandros Papadiamantis.-Biography:...
in the 19th century, and also by Linos Politis.
Historical population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 10,775 |
| 1991 | 10,592 |
| 2001 | 10,901 |
Notable people
- Constantine II of GreeceConstantine II of Greece|align=right|Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1973, the sixth and last monarch of the Greek Royal Family....
, former King of the Hellenes; also competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics1960 Summer OlympicsThe 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, winning a gold medal. - Sofía de Grecia, princess of Greece and Denmark and Her Royal Highness of Spain, daughter of the King and Queen of the Hellens.
- Nikos DimouNikos DimouNikos Dimou, born in 1935 in Athens, is a Greek writer. He has worked in advertising and as a columnist for magazines and newspapers.- Biography :...
, writer.