Ekali
Εκάλη
The church of Agia Marina
The church of Agia Marina
Ekali is located in Greece
Ekali
Ekali
Location within North Athens regional unit
Coordinates: 38°6′N 23°50′E / 38.100°N 23.833°E / 38.100; 23.833
CountryGreece
Administrative regionAttica
Regional unitNorth Athens
MunicipalityKifisia
 • Municipal unit4.332 km2 (1.673 sq mi)
Elevation
330 m (1,080 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipal unit
5,889
 • Municipal unit density1,400/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
145 78
Area code(s)210
Vehicle registrationZ

Ekali (Greek: Εκάλη) is a town and an affluent suburb of the Athens agglomeration, Greece. Located to the north of the city centre, it is a green and lush area home to many of the country's most powerful business and shipping families.[2] Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Kifisia, as a municipal unit.[3]

Etymology

Ekali was an ancient municipality of Athens and belonged to the Leontida tribe. Its inhabitants were named Ekalios. According to tradition, the name is associated with the name of a woman named Ekali. As Plutarch says, as Theseus went to Marathon to catch the famous bull that had caused great damage to the area, the weather conditions were unfavorable. The Athenian king sought refuge in the hut of an old woman, called Ekali. The old woman promised Theseus that she would make a sacrifice to Zeus for the success of his mission. When Theseus caught the bull, he returned to the hut, but found the old woman dead. Grateful for her sacrifice, he later created the sanctuary of Ekaliou Dios and named the region Ekali, where he created the homonymous municipality.

Geography

Ekali is situated at the western end of the forested Penteli mountain range. The municipal unit has an area of 4.332 km2.[4] The small river Kifisos forms the western border of the municipal unit. Ekali is situated 4 km (2 mi) northeast of Kifisia, 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Agios Stefanos and 16 km (10 mi) northeast of Athens city centre.

The main thoroughfare is Thiseos Avenue (Greek National Road 83), which connects Ekali with Kifisia and central Athens. Motorway 1 (Athens - Thessaloniki) passes west of Ekali near Thrakomakedones. Ekali is a purely residential area, which means that retail, commercial shops and professional businesses are not permitted within the community.

Notable people

Sites of interest

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ "Border cooperation". www.ekathimerini.com. November 22, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  4. ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.

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