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ThessalonicaCity

Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη [θesaloˈnici]), often known by its Latin name Thessalonica, is the second-largest city in Greece, with a population of 385,406 in 2007. It is the capital of Greek Macedonia, the administrative region of Central Macedonia and the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. It was founded in 315 BC by Cassander of Macedon, who named it for his wife Thessalonike, half-sister of Alexander the Great. Thessalonica was an important metropolis of the Roman Empire. In the Byzantine Empire, it was used as a "co-reigning" secondary capital (Συμβασιλεύουσα [Symvasilévousa]) alongside Constantinople, reflected in the modern nickname is η Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally "the co-capital". Thessalonica fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1430, and remained under Turkish control until 8 November 1912 during the First Balkan War, when it became part of the Kingdom of Greece. Today, the city is renowned for its monuments from various cultures, festivals and events, and is considered to be Greece's cultural capital.

Thessalonica in Agent of Byzantium[]

The archbishop of Thessalonike led a delegation to Constantinople for an ecumenical council to resolve the anti-icon crisis. He supported icons so Arsakios, the Patriarch of Alexandria, had a couple of dozen monks chanting and ringing cowbells outside his hostel at night to disturb his sleep. One monk told Basil Argyros it wasn't Arsakios' idea but that of his mistress Mirrane.[1]

Thessalonica in "Clash of Arms"[]

In the early 14th century, a fish sauce trader from Thessalonike came to Thunder-ten-tronckh in Westphalia, where he tried, and failed, to first sell and then give away his foul-smelling stock as free samples smeared on bread. This caused visiting fiorentino merchant Niccolo dello Bosco to think of Vergil's statement "Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes" (I fear the Greeks, even those bearing gifts.").[2]

Thessalonica in Thessalonica[]

Thessalonica was a city in Roman Greece. It had a predominantly Christian population. It withstood siege by the Slavs and Avars in the winter of 597.

References[]

  1. Agent of Byzantium, 2018 edition, pgs. 213-215.
  2. Departures, p. 98.
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