TOPOGRAPHY

The term “Megala Dervenia” describes the area between the mountain ranges extending between Thebes and the Isthmus of Corinth. During the Ottoman rule, the main street crossing these mountains started from Thebes, passed through Kriekouki, Kaza, Mazi, Palaiokountoura, Meletaki, Kleisoura Kantiliou, Agios Loukas of Megarida, Megara, and from there on to Derveni Hani (today known as Kakia Skala), Aeras, the highest point of Gerania Mountains, and ended at the Isthmus. The control of the region was fundamental to the communication between and independence of Roumeli (Sterea Hellas) and Morias (the Peloponnese).

The word “Derveni” derives from the Turkish “derven” and the Persian “derbent”. It is used as the geographical definition of an area of narrow passage between mountain ranges, a passage that also works as an entrance-exit gate. In Greek, the equivalent term is “kleisoura”.