Azoros
{{Expand Greek|topic=geo|Άζωρος Λάρισας|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name = Azoros
|name_local = Άζωρος
|type = community
|periph = Thessaly
|periphunit = Larissa
|municipality = Elassona
|municunit = Sarantaporo
|population = 256
|area = 20.308
|population_as_of = 2021
|coordinates = {{coord|40|0|N|22|4.7|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code = 402 00
|area_code = +30-2493
|licence = PI
|elevation = 520
}}
Azoros ({{langx|el|Άζωρος}}, {{IPA|el|'azoɾos}}) is a village and a community of the Elassona municipality in the Larissa regional unit.[https://www.ypes.gr/UserFiles/f0ff9297-f516-40ff-a70e-eca84e2ec9b9/nomos_kallikrati_9_6_2010.pdf Kallikratis law] Government’s Gazette {{in lang|el}} Before the 2011 local government reform it was a part of the municipality of Sarantaporo, of which it was a municipal district. The community of Azoros covers an area of 20.308 km2.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archivedate=2015-09-21 }}
Geography
Azoros is built at an altitude of 520 metersΜιχαήλ Σταματελάτος - Φωτεινή Βαμβά Σταματελάτου, Γεωγραφικό Λεξικό της Ελλάδας, ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 2012, Α' τόμος, σ. 46. at the foot of Mount Amarbeis, at a distance of 18 kilometers from Elassona, near the ruins of the ancient thessalian city of Azorus.
Near the city flows the river Titarisios, an important tributary of the Pineios. There are also natural springs in the nearby areas of Tsouknida, Tsimpitoura and Tsimpitoroula (Greek: Τσουκνίδα, Τσιμπιτούρα, Τσιμπιτορούλα).{{Cite web|title=Ιστορία Αζώρου - Elassona-City.gr - Η #1 ηλεκτρονική εφημερίδα της επαρχίας Ελάσσονας|url=https://www.elassona-city.gr/istoria/ola-ta-xoria/item/308-istoria-azorou|access-date=2020-12-23|website=Elassona-city.gr|language=el-gr}}
Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, is situated about 25km Northeast of Azoros.
History
The ancient citadel of Azoros{{Cite web|date=2012|title=2000-2010 ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΑΝΑΣΚΑΦΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΤΩΝ ΕΦΟΡΕΙΩΝ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ|url=https://www.culture.gov.gr/DocLib/g_44022.pdf#search=Άζωρος|website=|publisher=ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΜΟΥ (MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM) ΓΕΝΙΚΗ ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΣΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΤΗΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΛΗΡΟΝΟΜΙΑΣ|publication-place=Athens}} and the walls of the Hellenistic and mid-Byzantine period are situated Southeast of the town, on the hill named "Kastri".{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Ακρόπολη Αζώρου|url=http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/gh352.jsp?obj_id=9442|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516161827/http://odysseus.culture.gr:80/h/3/gh352.jsp?obj_id=9442 |archive-date=2007-05-16 |access-date=|website=}}
The area was controlled by the Byzantine Empire, until 1420 when Turahan Bey, an Ottoman military Commander, conquered the mountainous Perrhaebia.
Until 1991 the town was called Vouvala or Vuvala (Βουβάλα), but was renamed to reflect the ancient city of Azorus which is located within the community. The town was liberated by the Greek Army during the Balkan Wars and was extensively destroyed during the Axis occupation of Greece and the Greek Civil War.
Economy
The population of Azoros is occupied in animal husbandry and agriculture.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Άζωρος (Βουβάλα)|url=http://www.elassona.com.gr/m_eparxia/azoros/index.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060226134334/http://www.elassona.com.gr:80/m_eparxia/azoros/index.php |archive-date=2006-02-26 |accessdate=7 December 2014|website=|publisher=elassona.com.gr}}
Population
{{Historical populations
|align = none
|1928|484
|1940|619
|1951|681
|1961|739
|1971|608
|1981|529
|1991|724
|2001|499
}}
Culture
The main events of the village take place on January 7 (procession from the Olympiotissa monastery), July 26 (Feast of St. Paraskevi) and Clean Monday with the custom of representing a traditional wedding attract visitors to the area.