THE CITY OF LARISA

By Mythology

The Nymph Larissa

Around the name of Larisa, have been created several myths in which the Thessalians tried to explain the origin of its name and praise their capital whose foundation were lost so back in time that only speculations could reach. In the dominant version Larisa came from the Pelasgian word laas which means rock, whence the word laos(=people). According to one version the nymph Larisa playing with a ball near the Peneus, slipped and drowned in its waters and since then the town took its name. Larissa, according to the legend was the wife of Poseidon and mother of Achaean, of Phthia and Pelasgos. According to another version, Larisa was built by Lariso, son of Pelasgos 4,000 years ago or so. Her name is pelasgic, meaning fortress or citadel.

The Pinios River which flows through the city, according to mythology, was the son of Oceanus and Tythios, and with the nymph Kreousa gave birth to Ipsea, king of the Lapiths. In the area of Pinios was living the god Apollo, god of music, light and beauty. There he fell in love with Daphne, daughter of Pinios. Pinios fearing for the fate of his daughter transformed her to a laurel bush and since she lives and blooms eternal on its banks.

Once upon a time the gods of Mount Olympus got jealous of the favor of Apollo for the beautiful mountain of Pindos, in which he had confided his favorite muses and nymphs. To cancel any bad plans, Uncle Apollo married Pindos with a beautiful and brave young man, the famous Ligos (Mount Hasia). The couple was living beloved and happy and from the union began to emerge enchanting valleys and charming landscapes in western Thessaly. This outraged even more the other gods, who called for the separation of Pindos and Ligos. Vainly they begged and shed bitter tears to leave them united ,the cruel and stubborngods forced the couple to divorce. However, Pindos and Ligos (Hasia) craved for their lost love and happiness and constantly weeped. From their tears was created the great Thessalian river Pinios, which stems from the point of separation of the two mountains.