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Stira
- Nimborio - Kapsala - Almiropotamos History
The history of Stira dates from the Bronze Age, as an early Greek settlement has been located near Nea Stira. According to tradition Stira, like Karistos, was founded by the Dylopes who had some from Parnasso. Stravon claims that refuges from Marathon, or rather from the Attiki borough of Sturion, built Stira, and this is where it gets its name from. Stira took part in the Trojan campaign and is one of the towns in the list of Evian cities mentioned by Homer in the «Iliad». On the hill of Saint Nicholas, in the area of Stira, one can find the ruins of ancient Stira, houses, quarries and also inscriptions on lead tablets. From ancient times, Stira was subject to Eretria but became independent at the beginning of the 5th century B.C. During the Greek - Persian wars, the Persians had left the Eretrians captive on the island of Stira, and after their defeat at Marathona, they took them to Asia. The inhabitants of Stira took part in the naval battles of Artemisio, Salaminas and also in the battle of Plataion. The town of Stira became a member of the 1st Athenian Alliance, supported Athens against peloponesians and took part in the campaign against Sicily. However, in the middle of the 4th century B.C., Stira became subject to Eretria again. The medieval history of Stira is almost the same as that of Karistos. After Byzantium the Franks settled in the Armenian Castle, whose large stone gate is of special interest. In the area of Stira there are some enormous ancient buildings which are populary called «Drakospita» (Dragon houses). They were besieged by the enemy but they continued to stone the Turks after their arms were exhausted. At one moment in order to escape capture, Mavromichalis tried to break through the siege but was shot down dead as he was running away. The visitor can find a modest monument to this hero in the area. Two years later, at Diakofti, to the east of Stira, Nicholas Kriezotis successfully fought Omer Bey of Karistos and forced him to retreat to the fortress of Karistos. Today, Stira, being built on the narrowest part of Evia, can hear the music not only of the seas of the Gulf of Evia, but also of the Agean. |
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Stira |
At
the beginning of the Greek revolution of 1821, Ilias Mavromichalis,
who had been ordered to campaign against Karistos, fought a hard battle
at Stira while the Greek army were besioging Joseph Aga at Stira, they
were surrounded by strong forces of Omer Bay from Karistos and in sprite
of the fact that defeat was inevitable. Mavromichalis didn't give up.
He was forced together with seven of his men, to retread to the «red
windmill» a ruin of Stira. 
Geographical
position and features