The Municipality of Agios Athanassios, geographically, is part of the 2.400 km2 valley of the Axios river, one of the most important agricultural areas in Greece.
The Municipality itself covers an area of 158.100 acres with a population of 14.387 (2001) and neighbours with all national roads and railroads. It is made up of six districts (Agios Athanassios, Gefyra, Mesimvria, Vathilakkos, Anhialos, Xirochori).
It is situated in the Northwest of the county of Thessaloniki, just 30 km away from the city of Thessaloniki. It borders with the county of Kilkis in the North, the county of Kallithea in the East, the counties of Chalkidona and Koufalia in the South. It’s western border is defined by the Axios river.
It’s basic characteristics; a dynamic agricultural development based on the soil and water natural resources, a remarkable manufacturing of the agricultural products and the presence of a great number of farmland improvement and irrigation works, together with railway, energy and communication networks. All these signify a really developed agricultural area.
In the actual area of the municipality, because of the fact that it is so close to the city of Thessaloniki, there is a great number of industries. This really contributes to employment and in combination with the area’s primary agricultural character, has caused a population boost during the last decade.
Archaeological findings in the area between the Axios and Gallikos rivers reveal evidence that there were people there since the Neolithic Age and that their settlements really developed mainly during the Geometric Age.
The ancient tombs, according to research, are carefully located “by dispensation”, taking advantage that is of the water and the ancient paths, facing views that “hide in the mists of the valley winter or in the steam of the spring fine weather”. The greatest interest of the archaeological findings concerns the archaeological sites of prehistoric and historic cemeteries, either group of tombs or single Macedonian type tombs (in Agios Athanassios).
In the surrounding area and to the south of the prehistoric and archaic settlement of Toumba of Anhialos, more than 100 tombs were discovered in 1980, stone boxshaped and stone sarcophaguses.
In the area between Mesimvria and Vathilakkos, impressive animal fossils 5-12 million years old were found. These fossils are exhibited in the Palaeontological museum of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the ape fossils (oyranopithecus-macedoniensis) are particularly interesting.
In the district of Gefyra, the building that sheltered the Headquarters of the Greek Army during the end the First Balkan War can be found. It is there where all the final surrender negotiations of the city of Thessaloniki took place, between the Turkish Army General Taxin Pasha and the Greek Commander-in-Chief Heir Constantine. In 1998 the building was opened by the President of the Greek Republic Mr. Costis Stefanopoulos and in it’s premises it shelters the museum of the Balkan Wars.
