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In the framework of its strategy to actively promote and sustain the cultural inheritance of the Mesogaia, Athens International Airport S.A. has sponsored the publication of the archive book "Mesogaia - History and Culture of Mesogeia in Attica", honoring the long and significant history of the airport's region.

The Airport Company presented the special edition "Mesogaia" on Thursday, June 21 2001, at the Zappion Megaron, having as speakers the key authors of the book, Professor Emeritus at the University of Athens Mr. Chr. Dumas, Ephor of Antiquities for Attica Mr. G. Steinhauer, Epimeletria of Antiquities Mrs. Ol. Apostolopoulou - Kakavoyanni, Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Athens Mrs. N. Polychronakou - Sgouritsa, Archaeologist - Byzantinist Mrs. Eleni Gini - Tsofopoulou.

The project of the edition "Mesogaia" was assigned to the company IDEA S.A., and the book's chapters were written by acknowledged scientists, researchers and scholars of the history and culture of the region. Through the 326 pages of the volume, which is illustrated with numerous color vintage photos, treasures of the ancient and Byzantine era are presented to public for the very first time; the volume concludes with a presentation of the new Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos".

Professor Emeritus Mr. Christos Doumas is discussing at his Foreword the importance of Mesogaia from Antiquity to the present day, pointing out that, through its long history, this region has always been the heart that supplied the lifeblood to the voracious city of Athens. Due to this, Classical Athens means first and foremost the Mesogaia, without which it is hard to imagine the glorious achievements of the city of Pallas.

The Ephor of Antiquities for Attica, Mr. Georgios Steinhauer, is describing the fertile land of the Mesogaia, with its streams, mountains and access to the sea, elements which played a decisive role for the intervention of man from earliest times, in his efforts to adapt the environment to his needs. Two remains of settlements at Mesogaia are also described, based on the new findings coming from the recent excavations at the Airport land. Moreover, the history of Archaic and Classical Mesogaia, as well as Mesogaia during the Hellenistic and Roman era, are being presented.

The Epimeletria in the II nd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Mr. Olga Kakavoyanni, is presenting the region during the Early and Middle Bronze Age, as well during the Geometric era. Her proposal, that an early settlement in the Mesogaia might be the same as that attributed to Kekrops in mythical tradition, is particularly fascinating.

The Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Athens, Mrs. Naya Polychronakou - Sgouritsa, is discussing the Mycanean period Mesogaia, with interesting information about our knowledge of developments in the Mesogaia.

Mesogaia from the prevailing of Christianity until the Ottoman occupation, is presented by Mrs. Eleni Gini- Tsofopoulou, Archaeologist in the 1st Ephorate of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments. The chapter is also analyzing the Early Christian, Middle Byzantine and Late Byzantine periods, until the post-Byzantine period and the Ottoman period.

The Arvanites communities of Attica are outlined by Mr. Eleftherios Alexakis, Researcher in the Center for Greek Folklore of the Athens Academy. The Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens, Mrs. Aikaterini Dimitsantou - Kremezi, is researching the Arvanites stock-raising installations, rural settlements and types of houses in the Mesogeia, a study that depicts the gradual transformation of the Arvanites, from transhumant pastoralists to arable farmers.

Sociologist Mrs. Maria Michail-Dede's chapter vividly paints the ethnography-folklore of Mesogaia. From her discussion of the traditional costumes, female and male, she moves on to outline the religious feasts (panigyria), life-cycle ceremonies, customs, faith and beliefs, as well as the Patron Saints of Mesogaia.

The history of wine in the Mesogeia, basic product of the region from prehistoric times to this day, is sketched by wine-producer Mrs. Matina Gouva-Frangou, while the ex Mayor of Paiania, Mr. I. Vorres, is presenting the Vorres Museum f Modern Greek Art and Folklore, with its collections of folk domestic objects and diverse works of modern art. Mr. Petros Philippou - Angelou, Archaeologist and Mayor of Kalyvia Thorikon, outlines the history of the municipalities and communities of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki.

Modern technology, as epitomized by the Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos", is the last chapter of the volume, with a presentation of the airport's profile, facts & figures, chronology of construction, services and facilities, and its importance for the upgrade of the Greek tourism and the strengthening of the national economy.