THE HISTORY OF HALKIDIKI

Known the history and the mythology of Halkidiki, from the palaeolithic season up to the Byzantium and the release from the Turkish balance.

THE BATTLE OF GIANTS - Greek Mythology

Halkidiki's history is lost in depths of centuries. According to the mythology, in Halkidiki's ground was given one of the hardest battles, the battle of Giants. The place of conduct was the Flegreo Field, there where today is found the plain of Flegras, in Pallini. In a side they were the gods of Olympus, with head their god Zeus, and in the other the Giants, which were children of Ground and Sky. The acquaintances from the Giants were the Egelados, the Pallas, the Alkyoneas, the Ippolitos and the Evritos. Of course, the mythology reports that the Giants were given birth by the drops of blood of Sky, when they fell above in the Ground. Because therefore he was all gods with almighty forces, wanted they acquire the complete control of Ground and become the sovereigns of Olympus.
The over War of giants was jost powerful from all those who were carried out between the gods. The Jupiter had with the part all the Olympians gods - the Ira, the Neptune, Athena, the Hephaestus a lot of other, while considerably helped and Fates, what were scattered in the Flegraio Field and lamented the Giants.
When the Zeus realised that his forces were equal with those of Giants, it put in application a drawing. It called Venus them to induce demonstrating to them her beauties and simultaneously it assigned in the Heracles to them to throw his venomous shuttles. Thus, the Giants lost the battle and the Jupiter became sovereign the Olympus and the Ground.

HALKIDIKI AT THE PALAEOLITHIC SEASON

Appreciable was the presence of place at the period of Palaeolithic season. Even if the information on that growth of culture period in the Hellenic space is aljost non-existent, in Halkidiki was a discovered important discovery in the cavern of Petralona that is appreciated that it is age of 50.000 years. Between in the discoveries that came in the light are included a fossil skull of person Neanderthal (rather it belongs in woman) and bones of bear and deer.

THE FIRST COLONIES

Later to the means of 8th century P.C., they began to be created the first colonies in the southern territories of Halkidiki. The first settlers emanated from Halkida and the Eretria of Evia. For that entire the region that colony was named Halkidiki.
Then, the residents began to think commercial and to exploit the talents of nature, creating sure harbours and using the precious goods of region, as the timber dense and very tall forests. Simultaneously, they began to exploit also the mining wealth of region. It is known that the bigger part of Macedonia is rich in layers of copper, gold, lead and iron.
The acquaintances from the cities which build settlers from Evia were Aditos, the Galipsos, the Mendi and the Toroni, while existed also cities that were founded with the help of also other settlers, as Olynthos, Potidea and the Stagira, that building with the contribution of Athenians.
For this reason besides the bigger department of Halkidiki did not only constitute part of Kingdom of Macedonia despite for few years.
The over cities with enough still big cities created the "Public of Halkideon", a confederation, capital of which was Olynthos. The 379 P.C. however Spartiates dissolved the confederation. The result they were the above territories are blamed in the Macedonian Kingdom the 348 P.C., when Philip the B', father of Great Alexander, was king of Macedonia.

AFTERWARDS THE DISSOLUTION

Afterwards the dissolution of confederation, the kings of Macedonia founded three new cities: the Kassandria that took her name from the Kassandro the Ouranoupoli and the Antigonia, was named thus by her founder Antigen Knees. Two first was building the 315 P.C., while the last one the 280 P.C. And three were subjugated in the Roman in the means the 168 P.C., that became sovereign her trade. This period began also their decline.

CHRISTIANITY AND BYZANTIUM

In the means of 1st century after Christ, around in the 50, the residents of Halkidiki began to kiss the Christianity.
Reason stood the passage of Apostle Paul from the Apollonia, when it went to the Philip.
Since then, it accepted many times attacks from rival populations, with more important the raids of Goths the 270, the Huns in the means of 6th century and Catalan in 1307. Earlier, from the means of 9th century, it had begun to be created the monastic state of Mount Athos in the peninsula of Athos, and one century later was delimited officially the peninsula as place of residence of nuns.
963 the saint Athanasios founded first commune Abbey, the Biggest Monastery, in the construction of which helped also the emperors of Byzantium Nikiforos Fokas and Ioannis Tsimiskis.
In 1114, the emperor Alexios A' the Komninos signed imperial golden bull, according to which was prohibited the entry of women in the Mount Athos.

DECLINE AND SUBJUGATION

In the beginning of 14th century, when it began her decline, accepted also raids from furious hordes Enet of pirates and corsairs, with leading the absolute pillage from their Catalan pirates in 1307.
Little later, in 1364, Halkidiki passed under the sovereignty of Serbs, when their sovereign was Ioannis Ougglesis, successor of famous Dousan.
To the dues of century, the bigger department of Halkidiki apart from the Kassandria and Kalamaria it devolved to the sovereignty of Ottoman. For a small time interval, from 1402 until 1422, Halkidiki passed once again in Greek hands, in order to enslave once again in the Ottoman.
At the duration of Ottoman domination they were not few those that resorted to the Byzantine mines of place, to the known Mademohoria, so that they are protected. The result was the growth of regions where they resided, as well as the separate administration (belong to directly in the Sultan).

EFFORTS FOR THE FREEDOM

In May 1821 Halkidiki following the example of other regions of Greece, made a failed revolution, head of which was Emmanuel Papas. The consequences were tragic for all to region. Thousands individuals found frightful death from the bestialities of Ottoman, while the cities of Halkidiki levelling literal.
However, the efforts for the freedom did not stop there. In 1854 was express one still revolution, with her head the Tsiami Karataso. And this however had inglorious end, with new pillages from the Ottoman in 1878.
The next efforts became at Macedonian Fight (1904-1908), not only with the attendance of her residents in the already existing expeditionary bodies, but also with the creation of young persons in the territory of Halkidiki.
After a lot of battles, the release by slavery that all longed for it comes in October 1912 at the duration of Balkan Wars.
In 1922, when was decided the exchange of populations of Greeks and Ottoman with the Treaty of Lausanne, Halkidiki accepted a big wave of refugees. The result was created about 27 entire villages in the region of Halkidiki.