View source for Tanagra

{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name = Tanagra
|name_local = Τανάγρα
|type = municipality
|image_skyline = Αποψη Αγίου Θωμά από το πάρκο της Σπηλιάς.jpg
|caption_skyline =
|image_map = 2011 Dimos Tanagras.png
|periph = [[Central Greece (administrative region)|Central Greece]]
|periphunit = [[Boeotia]]
|pop_municipality = 18500
|area_municipality = 461.02
|pop_municunit = 3212
|area_municunit = 122.53
|pop_community = 929
|area_community = 27.814
|population_as_of = 2021
|elevation = 214
|coordinates = {{Coord|38.32781|N|23.53798|E|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code = 322 00, 320 09
|area_code = 22620
|licence = ΒΙ
|mayor =
|website =
|city_flag =
|city_seal =
|districts =
|party =
|since =
|elevation_min =
|elevation_max =
}}
'''Tanagra''' ({{langx|el|Τανάγρα}}) is a town and a municipality north of [[Athens]] in [[Boeotia]], Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town [[Schimatari]].<ref name=Kallikratis>{{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 (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref> It is not far from [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], and it was noted in antiquity for the figurines named after it. The [[Tanagra figurine]]s were a mass-produced, mold-cast and fired type of [[Greek terracotta figurines|Greek terracotta figurine]] produced from the later fourth century BC, primarily in Tanagra.

==Government== 
The municipality Tanagra was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:<ref name=Kallikratis/>
*[[Dervenochoria]]
*[[Dilesi]]
*[[Oinofyta]]
*[[Schimatari]]
*Tanagra

In 2014 the municipal unit [[Dilesi]] was created from parts of the municipal units Oinofyta (the village Dilesi) and Schimatari (the village Plaka Dilesi).<ref>[https://www.eetaa.gr/eetaa/metaboles/dkmet_details.php?id=2364 Δ. Τανάγρας (Βοιωτίας)], EETAA local government changes.</ref>

==History==
===Ancient===
Tanagra ({{langx|grc|Τάναγρα}}), sometimes written Tanagraea, was a town of [[ancient Boeotia]], situated upon the left bank of the [[Asopos (Boeotia)|Asopus]], in a fertile plain, at the distance of 130 [[stadion (unit)|stadia]] from [[Oropus]] and 200 from [[Plataeae]].<ref>Dicaearch. ''Stat. Gr.'' pp. 12, 14, ed. Hudson</ref> Several ancient writers identified Tanagra with the Homeric [[Graea]];<ref>Lycophr. 644.</ref> but others supposed them to be distinct places, and [[Aristotle]] regarded Oropus as the ancient Graea.<ref name=Stephanus>{{Cite Stephanus|''s.v.'' Τάναγρα}}</ref><ref name=Strabo>{{Cite Strabo|ix. p.404}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Pausanias|9|20|2}}</ref> [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] mentions in Tanagra's location the ancient city of [[Graea]], eponymous of the ''[[Graikoi]]'', a Boeotian tribe whose name gave rise to the Latin ''[[Graecus]]'' "Greek" which later spread throughout the western world as the name of the Greeks and Greece. [[Homer]], while reciting the Boeotian forces in the ''Iliad''{{'}}s [[Catalogue of Ships]], provides the first known reference to the Boeotian city of Graea.<ref>Homer, ''"Iliad", II, 498''</ref>
[[File:Tanagra - AR obol.jpg|thumb|right|Silver [[obol (coin)|obol]] struck in Tanagra 387–374 BC. A [[Boeotia|Beoetian]] [[shield]] is depicted on the obverse and forepart of a horse on the reverse]]
[[File:0310 - Archaeological Museum, Athens - Terracotta shepherd - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 11 2009.jpg|thumb|120px|Ancient terracotta [[Tanagra figurine]], [[National Archaeological Museum of Athens]]]]

Tanagra was also called '''Poemandria''' or '''Poimandria''' (Ποιμανδρία), and its territory Poemandris, from the fertile meadows which surrounded the city, or after its founder [[Poimandros]], who took part in the Trojan campaign.<ref name=Stephanus/><ref name=Strabo/> The most ancient inhabitants of Tanagra are said to have been the [[Gephyraei]], who came from [[Phoenicia]] with [[Cadmus]], and from thence emigrated to [[ancient Athens|Athens]].<ref>{{Cite Herodotus|5.57}}</ref><ref name=Strabo/> From its vicinity to [[ancient Attica|Attica]] the territory of Tanagra was the scene of more than one battle. In 457&nbsp;BC the [[ancient Sparta|Lacedaemonians]] on their return from an expedition to [[Doris (Greece)|Doris]], took up a position at Tanagra, near the borders of Attica, with the view of assisting the oligarchical party at Athens to overthrow the democracy. The Athenians, with a thousand [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argeians]] and some [[Thessalian]] horse, crossed [[Mount Parnes]] and advanced, against the Lacedaemonians. In the [[Battle of Tanagra (457 BC)|First Battle of Tanagra]], both sides fought with great bravery; but the Lacedaemonians gained the victory, chiefly through the treacherous desertion of the Thessalians in the very heat of the engagement.<ref>{{Cite Thucydides|1.107, 108}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Diodorus|11.80}}</ref> At the beginning of the following year (456&nbsp;BC), and only sixty-two days after their defeat at Tanagra, the Athenians under [[Myronides]] again invaded Boeotia, and gained at [[Oenophyta]], in the territory of Tanagra, a brilliant and decisive victory over the [[Boeotian League]], which made them masters of the whole country (see [[Battle of Oenophyta]]). The walls of Tanagra were now razed to the ground.<ref>{{Cite Thucydides|1.108}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Diodorus|11.81, 82}}</ref> The [[Battle of Tanagra (426 BC)|Second Battle of Tanagra]] was fought in 426&nbsp;BC. the Athenians made an incursion into the territory of Tanagra, and on their return defeated the Tanagraeans and Boeotians.<ref>{{Cite Thucydides|3.91}}</ref>

[[Dicaearchus]], who visited Tanagra in the time of [[Cassander]], says that the city stood on a rugged and lofty height, and had a white chalky appearance. The houses are adorned with handsome porticoes and encaustic paintings. The surrounding country does not grow much corn, but produces the best wine in Boeotia. Dicaearchus adds that the inhabitants are wealthy but frugal, being for the most part landholders, not manufacturers; and he praises them for their justice, good faith, and hospitality.<ref>[[Dicaearchus]], ''De Statu Graec.'' p. 12.</ref> In the time of [[Augustus]], Tanagra and [[Thespiae]] were the two most prosperous cities in Boeotia.<ref>{{Cite Strabo|ix. p.403}}</ref> Tanagra is called by [[Pliny the Elder]] a free state;<ref name="Cite Pliny|4.7.12">{{Cite Pliny|4.7.12}}</ref> it is mentioned by [[Ptolemy]];<ref>{{Cite Ptolemy|3.15.20}}</ref> and it continued to flourish in the sixth century.<ref>{{Cite Hierocles|p. 645}}</ref>

Its public buildings are described at some length by [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]].<ref>{{Cite Pausanias|9|20|3}}, ''et seq.''</ref> The principal temple was that of [[Dionysus]], which contained a celebrated statue of Parian marble, by [[Calamis (5th century BC)|Calamis]], and a remarkable [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]]. Near it were temples of [[Themis]], [[Aphrodite]] and [[Apollo]], and two of [[Hermes]], in one of which he was worshipped as Criophorus, and in the other as Promachus. Near the latter was the theatre, and probably at no great distance the gymnasium, which contained a picture of [[Corinna]], who was a native of Tanagra. There was also a monument of this poet in a conspicuous part of the city. Pausanias remarks as a peculiarity in Tanagra, that all their sacred buildings were placed by themselves, apart from the houses of the town.<ref>{{Cite Pausanias|9|22|2}}</ref> He likewise notices that Tanagra was famous for its breed of fighting-cocks,<ref>{{Cite Pausanias|9|22|4}}</ref> a circumstance which is mentioned by other writers.<ref>Varr. ''de Re Rust.'' 3.9.6; Hesych. sub voce Κολοίφρυξ; ''[[Suda]]'', s. v. Ταναγραῖοι ἀλεκτορίσκοι.</ref> Tanagra possessed a considerable territory; and Strabo mentions four villages belonging to it, [[Eleon]] or Heleon, [[Harma (Boeotia)|Harma]], [[Mycalessus]], and [[Pharae (Boeotia)|Pharae]].<ref>{{Cite Strabo|ix. p.405}}</ref><ref name="Cite Pliny|4.7.12"/>

The ruins of the ancient city are located at approximately: {{Coord|38.306389|N|23.585833|E|}}.

===Modern===
In the early 1870s, a spate of [[Archaeological looting|looting]] at Tanagra's [[necropolis]] saw the theft of artefacts, including figurines, from around 10,000 tombs. This episode raised the profile of the illegal excavation and export of antiquities among the Greek press and public,{{sfn|Galanakis|2011|pp=193–194}} and led to the excavation of the site by [[Panagiotis Stamatakis]] between 1871 and 1873.{{sfn|Marchand|2011|p=207}}

In the early 2000s, a military plane which was on a training flight crashed on the runway during bad weather. There were no survivors.{{fact|date=June 2022}}

On Sunday 18 September 2005, the Archangelos [[air show]], the largest ever organized in Greece, took place in Tanagra. It attracted a crowd of more than 200,000.

==Geography==
The municipality has an area of 461.023&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 122.527&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the community 27.814&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.{{sfn|National Statistical Service of Greece|2001}} Tanagra is located SE of [[Thiva]] and Arma, SW of [[Schimatari]] and NW of [[Agios Thomas, Boeotia|Agios Thomas]]. Farmlands surround the rest of Tanagra, and the [[Asopus]] River along with the [[Parnitha]] mountains to the south.
===Climate===
{{Weather box
| location = Tanagra (1957-2010) [[HNMS]]
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 11.7
| Feb high C = 12.6
| Mar high C = 15.0
| Apr high C = 19.3
| May high C = 25.0
| Jun high C = 30.1
| Jul high C = 32.1
| Aug high C = 31.8
| Sep high C = 27.7
| Oct high C = 22.4
| Nov high C = 17.5
| Dec high C = 13.4
| Jan mean C = 7.5
| Feb mean C = 8.1
| Mar mean C = 10.4
| Apr mean C = 14.5
| May mean C = 20.1
| Jun mean C = 25.4
| Jul mean C = 27.6
| Aug mean C = 26.9
| Sep mean C = 22.4
| Oct mean C = 17.3
| Nov mean C = 12.8
| Dec mean C = 9.4
| Jan low C = 3.4
| Feb low C = 3.4
| Mar low C = 4.8
| Apr low C = 7.5
| May low C = 11.6
| Jun low C = 16.1
| Jul low C = 18.6
| Aug low C = 18.6
| Sep low C = 15.3
| Oct low C = 11.8
| Nov low C = 8.2
| Dec low C = 5.2
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 69.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 48.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 51.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 27.3
| May precipitation mm = 24.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 11.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 9.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 9.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 22.7
| Oct precipitation mm = 48.1
| Nov precipitation mm = 63.5
| Dec precipitation mm = 78.4
| Jan precipitation days = 13.6
| Feb precipitation days = 12.4
| Mar precipitation days = 11.6
| Apr precipitation days = 9.1
| May precipitation days = 6.9
| Jun precipitation days = 4.2
| Jul precipitation days = 2.2
| Aug precipitation days = 2.0
| Sep precipitation days = 4.8
| Oct precipitation days = 8.6
| Nov precipitation days = 10.6
| Dec precipitation days = 13.8
| Jan humidity = 77.1
| Feb humidity = 73.9
| Mar humidity = 71.5
| Apr humidity = 65.7
| May humidity = 57.7
| Jun humidity = 48.0
| Jul humidity = 46.4
| Aug humidity = 49.0
| Sep humidity = 58.6
| Oct humidity = 68.5
| Nov humidity = 75.7
| Dec humidity = 77.7
| source = HNMS (1957-2010 averages)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://newportal.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Sterea&poli=Tanagra | title=Climatic Data by City, HNMS, Hellenic National Meteorological Service }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{| class=wikitable
! Year !! Community !! Municipal unit !! Municipality 
|-
| 1981 || 1,097 || – || –
|-
| 1991 || 847 || – || –
|-
| 2001 || 871 || 4,134 || –
|-
| 2011 || 1,117 || 3,827 || 19,432
|-
| 2021 || 929 || 3,212 || 18,500
|}
[[Arvanites]] settled in Tanagra in the Middle Ages, but today they only make up a linguistic minority.

==Economy==
[[File:HAF F-16 Block 52+ Zeus Demo Team (taxing).jpg|thumb|Greek F16 at Tanagra air base]]
Since 1956, the 114th Combat Wing of the [[Hellenic Air Force]] has been based in [[Tanagra Air Base]]. The base is one of Greece's largest military airports and its runway is about 3&nbsp;km in length.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}}

The [[Hellenic Aerospace Industry]] production and maintenance facilities have been located in the town since 1975.

==Transport==
<!---note that roads and interchanges must be within the city limits of Tanagra, not merely "nearby"--->
Tanagra can be accessed by [[Greek National Road 1|GR-1]] in the north and by a provincial road linking Thiva (Thebes) in the west.

Tanagra is served by two interchanges, a partial southbound exit, a northbound entrance to the northwest and an almost-full to the east, serving access to highways [[Greek National Road 44|44]] and [[Greek National Road 77|77]] to the island of [[Euboea]]. Its service road lies to the south and is linked with the southeast bypass and to the military base.

==See also==
*[[List of settlements in Boeotia]]
*[[Graia]]
*[[Graïke]]
*[[Cerycius]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DGRG|title=Tanagra |ref=none}}

==Bibliography==

* {{cite journal|last=Galanakis|first=Yannis|year=2011|title=An unpublished stirrup jar from Athens and the 1871–2 private excavations in the outer Kerameikos|journal=[[British School at Athens|Annual of the British School at Athens]]|volume=106|pages=167–200|doi=10.1017/S0068245411000074 |jstor=41721707|s2cid=162544324 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Marchand|first=Fabienne|year=2011|title=A New Profession in a Funerary Inscription from Tanagra|journal=[[Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik]]|volume=178|pages=207–209}}
* {{cite web |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |year=2001|publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |ref={{sfnref|National Statistical Service of Greece|2001}} }}

==External links==
{{commonscat-inline|Tanagra}}

{{Kallikratis-Central Greece}}
{{Tanagra div}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Central Greece]]
[[Category:Populated places in Boeotia]]
[[Category:Tanagra| ]]
[[Category:Boeotian city-states]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Boeotia]]