Megara

Megara
Μέγαρα
Megara
Location within the region
Coordinates: 37°59′47″N 23°20′40″E / 37.99639°N 23.34444°E / 37.99639; 23.34444
CountryGreece
Administrative regionAttica
Regional unitWest Attica
Government
  MayorPanagiotis Margetis (since 2023)
Area
  Municipality
330.1 km2 (127.5 sq mi)
  Municipal unit322.2 km2 (124.4 sq mi)
Elevation
4 m (13 ft)
Population
 (2021)
  Municipality
38,033
  Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
  Municipal unit
30,773
  Municipal unit density96/km2 (250/sq mi)
  Community
29,122
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
191 00
Area code(s)22960
Websitewww.megara.gr

Megara (/ˈmɛɡərə/; Greek: Μέγαρα, pronounced [ˈmeɣaɾa]) is a historic town and a municipality in West Attica, Greece. It lies in the northern section of the Isthmus of Corinth opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being taken by Athens. Megara was one of the four districts of Attica, embodied in the four mythic sons of King Pandion II, of whom Nisos was the ruler of Megara. Megara was also a trade port, its people using their ships and wealth as a way to gain leverage on armies of neighboring poleis. Megara specialized in the exportation of wool and other animal products including livestock such as horses. It possessed two harbors, Pagae to the west on the Corinthian Gulf, and Nisaea to the east on the Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea.