Syros: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox settlementGreece place

| native_namename_local = <small>Περιφερειακή ενότητα Σύρου</small> Σύρου<br><small>Δήμος Σύρου-Ερμούπολης</small>

| native_name_langtype = elregional unit and municipality

| image_altcaption_skyline = Ermoupoli and Ano = Syros

| pushpin_mapperiph = [[South Aegean]]

| government_footnotesarea = 101.9

| leader_partyelevation =

| leader_titlepopulation = 21124

| leader_name population_as_of = 2021

| unit_prefdemonym = Metric

| blank_namelicence = [[Vehicle registration plates of Greece|Car= plates]]EM

| blank_infowebsite = EM

[[Ermoupoli]] ({{lang-langx|el|Ερμούπολη}}) stands on a naturally [[amphitheater|amphitheatrical]] site, with neo-classical buildings, old mansions, and white houses cascading down to the harbour. It was built during the [[Greek War of Independence]] in the 1820s.

[[Ano Syros]] is the second town of Syros and was built by the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] at the beginning of the 13th century on the hill of San Giorgio, north-west of [[Ermoupoli]]. Ano Syros maintains a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] atmosphere. Innumerable steps between narrow streets and houses with coloured doors lead to the top of the town. The medieval settlement of Ano Syros is accessible by car; the town is served mostly by [[marble]] steps. The distance from the harbour up to the main entry point of the town is approximatelyabout 1000 metres. The [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[Saint George's Cathedral (Roman Catholic)|cathedral of Saint George]] dominates Ano Syros. The cathedral church was constructed during the 13th century. From the cathedral visitors have a [[panorama|panoramic]] view of the neighbouring [[List of islands of Greece|islands]] of [[Tinos]], [[Delos]], [[Mykonos]], [[Paros]], [[Andros]] and [[Naxos Island|Naxos]].

The history of settlement on Syros goes back at least 5,000 years, to the [[Early Bronze Age]] of the [[Cycladic civilization]]. This is when the hill-top settlement of {{ill|Kastri (Syros)|lt=Kastri|el|Καστρί Σύρου|la|Castrium (Syros)}} began. Archaeologists describe Early Cycladic III (ECIII) culture as [[Kastri culture]]. It had links with the Anatolian Trade Network, connected with [[Limantepe]] in Asia Minor.

Throughout history, the island was known as Syra ({{lang-langx|grc|Σύρα}}),<ref>''[[Suda]]'', ''s.v.''</ref> then Syros or Siros (Σῦρος). In later times, it appears to have been inhabited by the [[Phoenicians]]. In the [[Odyssey]], Syros was the country of the [[swineherd]] [[Eumaeus]] who described it at length (Odyssey, XV, 403 sq.), although it has also been suggested that Eumaeus referred to [[Syracuse, Sicily]].<ref name="Butler2015">{{cite book|author=Samuel Butler|title=Delphi Complete Works of Samuel Butler (Illustrated)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9HkZCAAAQBAJ&pg=PT3206|date=14 April 2015|publisher=Delphi Classics|isbn=978-1-910630-86-0|pages=3206–}}</ref>

The island did not play an important role during [[Classical Antiquity|antiquity]] noror the early [[Christianity|Christian]] years .{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}, itIt was not even a diocese at a time when even the smallest island possessed its bishop. During [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times, the capital of Syros was situated in the area of contemporary [[Ermoupoli]].

In the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] years Syros constituted part of the [[Theme of the Aegean Sea]], along with the rest of the Cycladic islands. After the overthrow of Byzantium in the [[Fourth Crusade]] by the Venetians and Franks in 1204, the island was definitively conquered by the Venetians under the leadership of [[Marco I Sanudo|Marco Sanudo]]. As part of the [[Duchy of the Archipelago]], Syros would remain under Venetian rule until 15221566 although after 1540 this was only maintained by payment of tribute to the Ottoman Sultan.<ref>William Miller, Latins in the Levant p636</ref>

The list of [[titular (Catholicism)|titular bishops]] may be found in [[Le Quien]]<ref>''Oriens christianus'', III, 865-868</ref> and in [[Eubel]].<ref>''Hierarchia catholica medii aevi'', I, 492; II, 267; III, 324</ref> The most celebrated among them is [[JohnIoannis AndrewAndreas CargaKargas]], whom the Turks strangled in 1617 because he refused to convert to [[Islam]] and because he was helping Greek revolutionaries hiding on the island.<ref>Pétridès in "Revue de l'Orient chrétien", V, 407-422</ref>

Because of the Venetian domination from the [[Middle Ages]] onwards, the islanders had a [[Roman Catholic]] majority. However, due to immigration from other islands, Catholics now constitute some 47% of the population. The majority of the population are [[Greek Orthodox]]. Intermarriage between Churches is very common in Syros. There is also a single parish of the Byzantine Greek Catholic Church.

Between 1822 and 1865, Ermoupoli was rebuilt in a [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] style, merging [[Greek Classicism]] with elements of the [[Renaissance]]. Many landmarks such as the City Hall (designed by the German architect [[Ernst Ziller]]), the [[Theater Apollon, Syros|Apollo Theatre]] by the Italian architect [[Pietro Campo]] (a miniature version of the [[La Scala]] in [[MilanoMilan]]), the main Library, the General Hospital of Syros (Vardakeio-Proio), Miaoulis square and other buildings were built during that period of time. Passing through on 6 April 1864, the effect of all the sugary marble is such that the English artist [[Edward Lear]], refers to the town fondly in his diary as "the old sparkly pile".<ref>Edward Lear diaries, 1858-1888. MS Eng 797.3 (7), page seq. 57. Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.</ref>

Most public buildings, churches, schools, stadiums and many mansions were built in the same elegant and neoclassical style, making Ermoupoli at the time a very modern city with a unique character. As a result, Syros changed almost overnight from a rather quiet island into a vigorous centre of crafts, industry and production.<ref>See, e.g., [[James Theodore Bent|Theodore Bent]], ‘The Capital of the Cyclades’. ''Macmillan’s Magazine'', Vol. 50, 1884 (May/Oct), pp. 426-435.</ref> Also, due to its large port of [[Ermoupoli]], it turned into a major centre for ship building and refitting. [[Neorion]] was the first [[shipyard]] of Greece. To this very day, it remains a place where many ships are serviced and refitted.

Since 1830 the commerce of fabrics, silk, ship building, leather and iron developed on Syros and at the same time a powerful banking system was created. The tremendous growth and development of Ermoupolis continued and until 1860 Syros was the most important commercial harbour in Greece. Together with commerce and ship building, construction and public works were also developed. The [[Greek Steamship Company]] was founded in 1856.

Syros is a separate [[regional units of Greece|regional unit]] of the [[South Aegean]] region. The only [[Communities and Municipalities of Greece|municipality]] of the regional unit is Syros-Ermoupoli. As a part of the [[Kallikratis Programme|2011 Kallikratis government reform]], the regional unit Syros was created out of part of the former [[Cyclades Prefecture]]. At the same reform, the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli was created out of the 3 former municipalities:<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg.|title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>

The province of Syros ({{lang-langx|el|Επαρχία Σύρου}}) was one of the [[provinces of Greece|provinces]] of the Cyclades Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current regional units Syros and [[Mykonos]].<ref name=census91>{{cite web|url= http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |title=Detailed census results 1991 }}&nbsp;{{small|(39&nbsp;MB)}} {{in lang|el|fr}}</ref> It was abolished in 2006.

As in the rest of Greece, Syros has [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches. ''Metamorphosis'' is the most important Orthodox church on the island, ''Kimisis tis Theotokou'' is also significant and noted for the fact that it hosts a masterpiece by painter [[El Greco]].<ref name="churches">{{cite news|url=http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/syros/syros-churches.htm|publisher=Greeka.com|title= Syros Churches: Information about the churches of Syros Greece, Cyclades|date=20 November 2007}}</ref> There is also an equal number of [[Catholic Church]] buildings on the island and some entirely Catholic villages; thus, it is one of the most significant places for Catholic Church in Greece.<ref name="churches"/> Syros is one of a few places where Catholics and Orthodox share a common date for [[Easter]], which in Syros' case, is the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] date.<ref>{{cite web| title= Easter: A date with God | url= http://www.economist.com/node/18584376 | date=April 20, 2011 | publisher=[[The Economist]] | access-date=2011-04-23| quote= Only in a handful of places do Easter celebrants alter their own arrangements to take account of their neighbours. Finland’s Orthodox Christians mark Easter on the Western date. And on the Greek island of Syros, a Papist stronghold, Catholics and Orthodox alike march to Orthodox time. The spectacular public commemorations, involving flower-strewn funeral biers on Good Friday and fireworks on Saturday night, bring the islanders together, rather than highlighting division. }}</ref>

There is also a single church of the [[Greek Byzantine Catholic Church]] which is not part of the diocese but subject to the Byzantine Exarchate of Greece.

*''MaintanosalataMaidanosalata'' (salad with [[parsley]])

*''ChalvadopitaHalvadopita'' (dessert)

*[[Pherecydes of Syros|Pherecydes]] (c. 600-550600–550 BC), [[philosopher]]

*[[Michail Melas]] (1833-18971833–1897), Greek politician and merchant, father to [[Pavlos Melas]]

*[[Anna Kalouta]] ([[:el:Άννα Καλουτά#Πηγές|el]]) (1918-20101918–2010), actress

File:Syros,_Ermoupoli_market_shop Ermoupoli market shop.jpg|Ermoupoli market shop