«Της Θράκης τα
χωριά πολλά,
σαν την Βιζώ, κανένα,
με γειτονιά στα χαμηλά,
που Πλάτσα τήνε λένα.»
Η ΕΠΑΙΤΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΒΙΖΥΗΣ,
Γ. Βιζυηνός

HISTORY
The history of the area currently covered by the City Aigeirou is identical with the general history of Thrace.

A) Historical geographic boundaries
The geographical limits of Thrace are not fixed and varied according to the historical period. In Homers time Thrace extends from Pinios river and the northern Aegean ( «thriikion ponton») to the Danube. Sience the age of Philip II river Nestos is establish as the western boundary of Thrace. In Roman times the country between Aimou and Aegean Sea is called Thrace . In Byzantine times the current area of Egiros City and all of Western Thrace was under the Thema (Province) of Strimonas and later in the Thema of Rodopi. The Thema of Thrace included only the eastern Thrace and had Constantinople was the capital. The current Greek Thrace has borders in the east the river Evros, Nestos river in the west, the mountain range of Rhodope in the north and in the South the Thracian (northern Aegean) Sea.

B) Mythology
Thrace was the land of myths and legends. Even for the ancient Greeks were a mysterious country that is full of primordial and paganistikal manners and customs. This explains it's rich folklore tradition. According to the myth Ocean had two daughters with the nymph Parthenopi, Europe, and Thrace. It is unknown whether the word Thrace is Thracian, or Frygian or pelasgian . Major deities of the wild, warlike and also music lovers Thracians are a) Dionysus (indicating that the viticulture and winemaking have been introduced in southern Greece from Thrace), which originally is refered to by name Savazios, b) Vendis later identified with the Artemis and c) the Thracian Hero always depicted on horseback, doctor of humans and animals (the reliefs found in Rodopi Mountain are identical to the Byzantine frescoes of St. George). The Thracians of love for music was demonstrated by the fact that almost all the mythical heroes of Thrace were great musicians (Orpheus, Evmolpos, Thamyris and Mousaios). The coastal zone of the municipality of Egiros is connected with Dikaios, the son of Poseidon. After him was named Dikaia, a colony of Samos or Thasos, very near the current resort Fanari. Also in the same area according to legend ruled the wild king Diomedes of Thrace, whos anthropophagy horses were killed by Heracles.

Γ) History
The archaeological findings show that Thrace is inhabited since about the 3rd millennium BC. One of the most important prehistoric places of residence in Greece is the tuba of Paradimis (between the City of Egiros and Komotini), which was inhabited from the Neolithic period to the Bronze Age (3000 BC - 1100 BC). The Thracians, IndoEuropean people, settled in the area around the 13 ° century. BC. They were people with manners and customs wild and primitive. They were divided into tribes (Idonoi, Odryses, Dolonges, Kikones, Visses etc) and theis government was the hereditary monarchy. From the 7th century BC on the coast of Thrace the Greeks began to establish colonies. In Egiros City, near the village of Fanari Samos founded the city Dikaia. Later the region subjugated to the Persians (6th century), joined the Athenian Alliance (5th century), became part of the state of the Odryson Thracians led king Sitalki (440 BC), subjugated to the Macedonians (338 BC), Romans ( 129 BC), the Byzantines (324 AD) and Ottomans (1363). After the first Balkan War, Western Thrace with the Treaty of London (1913) was given to Bulgaria. In 1919 the Treaty of Neigy Thrace was attributed in Greece. The Greek Army occupied the area and incorporated Rhodope to the Greek State on 14 May 1920.

(Photo: Ancient Dikaia Coin)