Thriasian Plain
Encyclopedia
The Thriasian Plain is a plain in western Attica
, immediately to the west of Athens
, in Greece
. It is bounded by Mount Egaleo
to the east, Mount Parnitha
to the north, Mount Pateras to the west, and the Bay of Eleusina
to the south.
of Thria , one the demes of ancient Athens. The largest town in the plain was Eleusis (modern-day Eleusina), location of the famous Eleusinian mysteries
. In Greek mythology
, when the goddess Athena
won the contest for control of Attica
over Poseidon
, Poseidon flooded the plain in wrath, until called to order by Zeus
In antiquity, as today, the area was connected to Athens
by two passes: the Sacred Way
to the west, today used by the main Athens–Corinth highway, and another pass to the northwest nowadays used by the Attiki Odos
highway. During the Peloponnesian War
(431–404 BC) the Thriasian Plain was ravaged by the Spartan armies of King Archidamus II
in his campaign against the Athenians
.
(anc. Eleusis), Mandra
, Magoula
, and Aspropyrgos
. The plain hosts a major air force base outside of Eleusina, as well as a major station of the Athens Suburban Rail
. As of 2010, there are plans to create a major center for the transshipment of commercial goods unloaded in the nearby port of Pireas to the rest of Greece and neighboring countries.
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...
, immediately to the west 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...
, in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is bounded by Mount Egaleo
Egaleo (mountain)
Aegaleo , also Aigaleo and Egaleo, is a mountain in Greece. It is situated west of Athens, southeast of Eleusis, east of the island of Salamis and northwest of Piraeus. Most of the mountain is rocky. It is shorter than Hymettus...
to the east, Mount Parnitha
Parnitha
Mount Parnitha is a densely forested mountain range north of Athens, the highest on the peninsula of Attica, with an elevation of 1,413 m and a summit known as Karavola...
to the north, Mount Pateras to the west, and the Bay of Eleusina
Eleusina
Eleusina is a town and municipality in West Attica, Greece. It is situated about 18 km northwest from the centre of Athens. It is located in the Thriasian Plain, at the northernmost end of the Saronic Gulf. It is the seat of administration of West Attica regional unit...
to the south.
History
The Thriasian Plain owes its name to the ancient demeDeme
In Ancient Greece, a deme or demos was a subdivision of Attica, the region of Greece surrounding Athens. Demes as simple subdivisions of land in the countryside seem to have existed in the 6th century BC and earlier, but did not acquire particular significance until the reforms of Cleisthenes in...
of Thria , one the demes of ancient Athens. The largest town in the plain was Eleusis (modern-day Eleusina), location of the famous Eleusinian mysteries
Eleusinian Mysteries
The Eleusinian Mysteries were initiation ceremonies held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone based at Eleusis in ancient Greece. Of all the mysteries celebrated in ancient times, these were held to be the ones of greatest importance...
. In Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, when the goddess Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
won the contest for control of 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...
over Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
, Poseidon flooded the plain in wrath, until called to order by Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
In antiquity, as today, the area was connected to 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...
by two passes: the Sacred Way
Sacred Way
The Sacred Way , in ancient Greece, was the road from Athens to Eleusis. It was so called because it was the route taken by a procession celebrating the Eleusinian Mysteries...
to the west, today used by the main Athens–Corinth highway, and another pass to the northwest nowadays used by the Attiki Odos
Attiki Odos
Attiki Odos is a privately owned toll motorway in Greece. The Proastiakos high-speed suburban rail is set almost entirely in the median of the motorway, along its main section. The motorway's numbers are 6 for the main section, 64 for the Hymettus Beltway and 65 for the Aigaleo Beltway...
highway. During the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
(431–404 BC) the Thriasian Plain was ravaged by the Spartan armies of King Archidamus II
Archidamus II
Archidamus II was a king of Sparta who reigned from approximately 476 BC to 427 BC. He was of the Eurypontid dynasty. His father was Zeuxidamus , who died before his father, Leotychidas, after having his son, Archidamus....
in his campaign against the Athenians
Classical Athens
The city of Athens during the classical period of Ancient Greece was a notable polis of Attica, Greece, leading the Delian League in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta and the Peloponnesian League. Athenian democracy was established in 508 BC under Cleisthenes following the tyranny of Hippias...
.
Modern times
Today it is largely an industrial area, hosting some of Greece's major industrial facilities, such as its largest oil refineries and steel mills. There are four towns in the Thriasian Plain: EleusinaEleusina
Eleusina is a town and municipality in West Attica, Greece. It is situated about 18 km northwest from the centre of Athens. It is located in the Thriasian Plain, at the northernmost end of the Saronic Gulf. It is the seat of administration of West Attica regional unit...
(anc. Eleusis), Mandra
Mandra
Mandra , is a town and municipality in the central part of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mandra-Eidyllia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.Mandra is part of the Athens metropolitan area...
, Magoula
Magoula, Attica
Magoula is a town and former community of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elefsina, of which it is a municipal unit....
, and Aspropyrgos
Aspropyrgos
Aspropyrgos is a suburb of Athens, and a municipality in the West Attica regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is located 20 km NW of the city center of Athens in the Thriasian plain...
. The plain hosts a major air force base outside of Eleusina, as well as a major station of the Athens Suburban Rail
Proastiakos
Proastiakós , is the name used for the suburban services of TrainOSE, servicing Greece's three largest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras; providing them with modern commuter rail links, towards their suburbs and also towards other cities and towns located around them.The service, operated by...
. As of 2010, there are plans to create a major center for the transshipment of commercial goods unloaded in the nearby port of Pireas to the rest of Greece and neighboring countries.