- Psara
:"For the
genus of crambidmoth s, see "Psara (moth) .Infobox Greek Isles
name = Psara
native_name = Ψαρά
skyline =
sky_caption =
coordinates = coord|38|33|N|25|34|E
chain = North Aegean
isles = 6
area = 44.511
highest_mount = Profitis Ilias
elevation = 512
periph =North Aegean
prefect =Chios
capital = Psara (town)
population = 422
pop_as_of = 2001
postal = 82x xx
telephone = 22740
license = ΧΙ
website = [http://www.psara.gov.gr www.psara.gov.gr]Psara ( _el. Ψαρά) is a Greek island in the
Aegean Sea . It lies convert|44|nmi|km northwest ofKhios as well as 22 km (about 13 nmi) from the northwestern point of the island of Khios and 150 km (about 75 nmi) eastnortheast ofAthens . The length and width is about 7 x 8 km and the area of the island is 43 km².History
It has been inhabited since the
Mycenaean period , and its inhabitants have always relied on the sea to make a living.Homer first referred to the island as "Psyra". [Homer, "Odyssey", III http://classics.mit.edu/Homer/odyssey.3.iii.html] The municipality includes the small island ofAntipsara and is one of the two in the prefecture that only have one community and one of the few in Greece that only contain one settlement, located almost directly to the west. Psara also has a small port linking to the island of Chios and other parts of Greece.Psara joined the
Greek War of Independence on April 10, 1821. A noted native naval leader of the time was futurePrime Minister of Greece Constantine Kanaris . The island was invaded on June 21, 1824 byEgypt ian forces under the command ofIbrahim Pasha .A part of the population managed to flee the island, but those who didn't were either sold into slavery or slaughtered. More than 15,000 Greeks were massacred. The island was deserted and surviving islanders were scattered through what is now Southern Greece.
Theophilos Kairis , a priest and scholar, took on many of the orphaned children and developed the famous school theOrphanotropio of Theophilos Kairis .Modern Psara is inhabited by 422 people, all of which inhabit the single small village on the island, also called Psara as well as its municipality.
Historical population
Notable people
*
Constantine Kanaris (1793/1795-1877) admiral, freedom fighter and politician, Prime Minister of Greeceee also
*
Communities of the Chios prefecture References
External links
*http://www.chios.com/island/psara.htm (also in German and Greek)
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