Makaria Springs - Emmanouil Mpenaki

Ωραιο μερος για περιπατο

Φοβερή τοποθεσία.

Δεν έχει κάτι το ιδιαίτερο, ή απλά δεν έχει αναδείξει ο δήμος αυτό το χώρο. Ακόμα και για περίπατο, δυσκολεύει πολύ το πλήθος χορταριών και έλλειψη σημειωμένων μονοπατιών. Αν έχει κάποια αξία αυτός ο χώρος, ας ασχοληθεί κάποιος για να την αναδείξει.

Prior to 1923 the discharge of the Makaria springs provided the Great Marsh wetland between the site of the springs and the sea with an estimated 6-7 millions of cubic metres of water yearly. In order to convert the swamp to agricultural land a drainage channel was constructed in 1923 which carried the Makaria spring waters directly to the sea. This resulted in a considerable reduction in size of the Great Marsh. In 2004 the Olympic Rowing Centre was constructed nearby. At one time the spring waters were used supply Athens, and the remains of the old piping and pumping station still exist. Regrettably the flow from the spring is now entirely covered in, and though the flow of water can be heard, it cannot be seen. From Pausanias “Description of Greece” [1.32.6] In Marathon is a spring called Macaria with the following legend. When Heracles left Tiryns, fleeing from Eurystheus, he went to live with his friend Ceyx, who was king of Trachis. But when Heracles departed this life Eurystheus demanded his children; whereupon the king of Trachis sent them to Athens, saying that he was weak but Theseus had power enough to succour them. The arrival of the children as suppliants caused for the first time war between Peloponnesians and Athenians, Theseus refusing to give up the refugees at the demand of Eurystheus. The story says that an oracle was given the Athenians that one of the children of Heracles must die a voluntary death, or else victory could not be theirs. Thereupon Macaria, daughter of Deianeira and Heracles, slew herself and gave to the Athenians victory in the war and to the spring her own name.