Mygdonia, Thessaloniki

Mygdonia
Μυγδονία
Mygdonia is located in Greece
Mygdonia
Mygdonia
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 40°46′N 22°57′E / 40.767°N 22.950°E / 40.767; 22.950
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
Regional unitThessaloniki
MunicipalityOraiokastro
Area
 • Municipal unit98.506 km2 (38.033 sq mi)
Elevation
183 m (600 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
9,830
 • Municipal unit density100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Mygdonia (Greek: Μυγδονία) is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oraiokastro, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] Population 9,830 (2021). The municipal unit of Mygdonia includes three communities, Drymos (Δρυμός), Liti (Λητή) and Melissochori (Μελισσοχώρι). The seat of the municipality was in Liti. The municipal unit has an area of 98.506 km2.[3]

According to archaeologists, the area has been inhabited since the Mesolithic era (9000-7000 BC). The first inhabitants were Pelasgians, followed by Thracian tribes such as the Mygdones and the Edoni, until Alexander I of Macedon conquered and annexed the area.

Archaeological discoveries have been made in the area, near the Liti village and at the location Derveni. Discoveries include the ruins of the ancient city of Lete, ancient Macedonian tombs, tombstones, altars, statues, clay statuettes, coins, etc. Perhaps the most important discovery is the Derveni papyrus, an ancient Greek papyrus scroll, found in the city's necropolis in 1962 - a philosophical treatise on Orphic religion.

  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  3. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.