Thermes

Thermes (Greek: Θέρμες) is a former community in the Xanthi regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Myki, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 90.014 km².[3] It consists of the villages Ano Thermes, Thermes (also called Kato Thermes), Meses Thermes, Medousa, Kidaris, Diasparto, and Kottani. The population of Thermes was around 1396 inhabitants in 1991.[4] In 2011, the population decreased to 812 inhabitants.[1] Thermes is popular for its hot spas, which can be found all around the area.

Thermes Θέρμες
Thermes Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 41°21′N 24°59′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	East Macedonia and Thrace
Regional unit	Xanthi
Municipality	Myki
• Municipal unit	90.0 km^2 (34.7 sq mi)
Elevation	485 m (1,591 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Municipal unit	812
• Municipal unit density	9.0/km^2 (23/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registration	AH

The Turkish name of Thermes is ılıca which means "spa". In Bulgarian, the community is known as Lydža (Лъджа) or Banja (Баня), the former a version of the Turkish name and the latter a calque also meaning "spa".

Relief of Mithra

Thermes is also famous for the relief of Mithra (a Persian origin goddess of the sun) end of 2nd - beginning of 3rd century AD. The relief is depicting Mithras sacrificing a bull. Close to Mithras we can see figures of Cautes and Caupates.[5][6]

Relief of Mithra (Mithras the Bull-slayer) is located close to Kato Thermes village.

Gallery

• 
  Spring of hot spa.
• 
  Spring of hot spa.
• 
  Hot spa pool.
• 
  Hot spa.
• 
  Thermes village
• 
  Mithras relief close up

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
4. Michail, p. 3.
5. Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism: Relief of Mithras Tauroctonos (Mithras the Bull-slayer).
6. 19.04.2007 Article in Ο Χρόνος greek newspaper of Komotini: Στην ορεινή Ξάνθη: Οι άγνωστες Θέρμες, 90 χιλιόμετρα από Κομοτηνή. in Greek.

Sources

• Michail, Domna. Migration, tradition and transition among the Pomaks in Xanthi (Western Thrace). Department of Balkan Studies Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. LSE PhD Symposium on Social Science Research on Greece Hellenic Observatory, European Institute, LSE. June 21, 2003.