Polygyros

Polygyros town (pop. 7,779 at the 2021 census) is built in the shape of an amphitheatre on a plateau on the south west side of the mountain Cholomontas. It is south of Greek National Road 16 (Thessaloniki - Arnaia). Polygyros is located SE of Thessaloniki, NE of Nea Moudania, NW of Sithonia and SW of Arnaia. The municipal unit (the municipality before 2011) has a population of 11,386 inhabitants (2021) and a land area of 470.933 km². Other large communities in the municipal unit are Ólynthos (pop. 1,053), Taxiárchis (742), and Vrástama (944).

Polygyros has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), closely bordering on a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) with relatively cold winters and relatively hot summers due to its elevation.

{{Weather box

| location = Polygyros town (580m)

| collapsed = Y

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| Jan high C = 7.3

| Feb high C = 10

| Mar high C = 13

| Apr high C = 15

| May high C = 21.2

| Jun high C = 25.8

| Jul high C = 27.7

| Aug high C = 29.1

| Sep high C = 25

| Oct high C = 20.9

| Nov high C = 14.4

| Dec high C = 10.1

| Jan low C = 1.8

| Feb low C = 3.5

| Mar low C = 6.5

| Apr low C = 8.2

| May low C = 13.1

| Jun low C = 17.9

| Jul low C = 20.2

| Aug low C = 21.1

| Sep low C = 17.8

| Oct low C = 13.9

| Nov low C = 9.6

| Dec low C = 6

| Jan precipitation mm = 49.7

| Feb precipitation mm = 21.1

| Mar precipitation mm = 52.9

| Apr precipitation mm = 72.4

| May precipitation mm = 33.7

| Jun precipitation mm = 77.3

| Jul precipitation mm = 44.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 13.8

| Sep precipitation mm = 33

| Oct precipitation mm = 35.7

| Nov precipitation mm = 74.5

| Dec precipitation mm = 96.5

| source = http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/polygyros/ (2019 - 2020 averages)

}}

There are different speculations about the origin of Polygyros' name. Some claim that it comes from the combination of poly (much) and geros (strong), because of the healthy climate. Others believe that the words poly and {{Transliteration|el|ieros|italic=yes}} (sacred) have given the present name, because of an ancient temple in the area. Also an old landowner, named Polyaros, offers a possible etymology. A further potential source could be from poly and gyros, referring to the residents' dietary habits. According to another possible etymology, the name derives from poly and gyros (round), possible due to the town's amphitheatric position.Babiniotis, G. (1998). Lexiko tis Neas Ellinikis Glossas. Kentro Lexikologias. Athina.{{better source needed|date=February 2025}}

The municipality Polygyros was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:{{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}}

• Anthemountas
• Ormylia
• Polygyros
• Zervochoria

The municipality has an area of 947.417 km², the municipal unit 470.933 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}} The municipality includes the villages of Vrastama, Taxiarchis, Ormylia, Olynthos, Gerakini and Kalives.

File:Macedonian_Museums-41-Arx_Polygyrou-178.jpg]]

File:Polygyros altes Rathaus.jpg

File:Polygyros.jpg

File:Belfry of Saint Nicholas Church in Polygyros.jpg

Some situate in the broader area of modern Polygyros the ancient city of Apollonia. Apollonia was one of the 32 cities, which, under the leadership of the Olynthus, constituted the Koinon ton Chalkideon (Chalkidian League). The Koinon was destroyed in 379 BCE by the Spartans, while in 348 BCE Philipp II of Macedon annexed the whole Chalcidice into the Macedonian Kingdom. In 168 BCE Chalcidice was subjected by the Romans.[http://media.ems.gr/ekdoseis/makedonika/makedonika_25/ekd_pemk_25_Samsaris.pdf] D. C. Samsaris, Romans and Chalcidice (in Greek), Μακεδονικά 25 (1985-86) 33-46 ={{cite web |title=Πρώτο Πανελλήνιο Συμπόσιο "Ιστορία και Αρχαιολογία της Χαλκιδικής" |url=http://ilechalkidiki.gr/index.php/publications/10-ctlconf/34-conference1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225131253/http://ilechalkidiki.gr/index.php/publications/10-ctlconf/34-conference1 |archive-date=2014-12-25 |access-date=2014-12-25}} Πρώτο Πανελλήνιο Συμπόσιο "Ιστορία και Αρχαιολογία της Χαλκιδικής", Πολύγυρος, 7-9 Δεκεμβρίου 1984, σ. 113

{{Further|Byzantine Greece|Ottoman Greece}}

The town of Polygyros is first mentioned in a medieval imperial document, chryssovoulon (with golden stamp), of Eastern Roman Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates about 1080 CE. In 1430, as the rest of the Eastern Roman Empire, Polygyros was conquered by the Ottomans and belonged to the Sanjak of Thessaloniki. On 17 May 1821 the people of Polygyros rose against the Ottoman authority and managed, temporarily, to expel the Ottoman guard. Polygyros, such as other villages of the peninsula, were burned by the Ottomans.

Many residents of Polygyros also took part in the 1854's unsuccessful revolutionary movement against the Ottomans.

Finally, on November 2, 1912 the Greek army, as one of the victors of the First Balkan War, entered Polygyros and incorporated the town in the Greek State.

Polygyros is famous for its carnival celebrations, which attracts visitors from all over Greece. A nearby location called Panagia (Virgin Mary) is the setting of a famous religious celebration on August 15. Also, cultural societies are active in the fields of folk music and dance. Classic and modern music is cultivated in the municipal conservatory. There is a Folklore Museum in the town, opened in 1998.

Niki (victory) is the name of Polygyros' football club, which participates in the Greek National Fourth Division Professional League. AOP (Athletic Club of Polygyros) is the local basketball team, participant in the Third National Basketball Division.

{{main|Archaeological Museum of Polygyros}}

The Archaeological Museum of Polygyros has exhibits containing findings from all over Chalkidiki and referring to Paleolithic and Neolithic age, geometric, archaic, classic, hellenistic and Roman period.

• Margaritis Schinas, politician.
• Christos Zabounis, editor.
• Fonis Zoglopitis (1930–2015), painter.

• List of settlements in Chalkidiki

{{Reflist}}

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• [https://polygyros.gr/en/municipality-of-polygyros/ Official website] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070107221651/http://www.halkidiki.gov.gr/ Official website of the Prefecture of Chalkidiki]

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Category:Municipalities of Central Macedonia

Category:Populated places in Chalkidiki

Category:Greek prefectural capitals