Servia, Greece
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Servia Σέρβια |
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From top left: The Polyphytos lake and parade of the cultural association of Servia. The Town Hall of Servia. The Polyphytos bridge. The Byzantine church of Aghios Demetrios (Saranta Portes). The Servia gorge. The interior of the church of Agioi Anargyroi, the cave-church of Agioi Theodoroi and the Kamvounia mountain.
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 Servia
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Location within the regional unit
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| Coordinates: 40°11′N 22°00′E / 40.183°N 22.000°ECoordinates: 40°11′N 22°00′E / 40.183°N 22.000°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | West Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Kozani |
| Municipality | Servia-Velventos |
| • Municipal unit | 400.116 km2 (154.486 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 350 m (1,150 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipal unit | 8,611 |
| • Municipal unit density | 22/km2 (56/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| • Population | 3,540 (2011) |
| • Area (km2) | 51.603 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 505 00 |
| Area code(s) | 24640 |
| Vehicle registration | KZ |
| Website | www.dservionvelventou.gr |
Servia (Greek: Σέρβια) is one of the main towns in the Kozani regional unit, West Macedonia, Greece. It is one of the most historical places in the region, with a 6th-century Byzantine castle and the Kamvounia mountain dominating the landscape. There are also a number of 10th century Byzantine cave hermitages and small churches located nearby, which add to the Byzantine atmosphere of the area.
Since the local government reform of 2011, it is the seat of the extended municipality of Servia-Velventos. Prior to 2011, the town was the seat of the Municipality of Servia (population 8,611 in 2011). Τhe town itself has a population of 3,540 people (2011 census). The municipal unit Servia has an area of 400.116 km2, the community (the town proper) has an area of 51.603 km2.
Its name derives from the Latin verb servo, meaning "to watch over" and it was given by the Romans, approximately during the 2nd century A.D., replacing what is thought to be the ancient name of the town Phylacae (Greek: Φυλακαί) from the Greek verb φυλάσσω "to watch over". The ancient name of the town of Servia is also mentioned by Roman writer Pliny the Elder as well as on an Ancient Greek inscription found at the city of Veroia which reads: "Παρμενίων Γλαυκία Φυλακήσιος νικητής εν Δολίχω", i.e. "Parmenion son of Glauceas from Phylacae winner at Doliche".
Servia has given its name to the prehistoric settlement site beside the former bridge across the Haliakmon river to the west and now submerged deep below the surface of Lake Polyphytos. This was first reported by Alan John Bayard Wace and first excavated by the British School at Athens under the direction of Walter Heurtley in 1930. Renewed excavations were jointly conducted by the Greek Archaeological Service and the British School at Athens under the direction of Aikaterina Rhomiopoulou and Cressida Ridley between 1971 and 1973; in advance before the completion of the Polyphytos hydro-electric dam and the flooding of the valley, to create Polyphytos lake.
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