Eretria is the second largest town in Evia
and was flourishing mainly during 800-700 B.C. and the classical period.
There are two possibilities for the derivation of its name: it may
come from the verb "ereso" which means "row" as the town had a strong navy, or
from the word arotro (plough) which became arotria and finally Eretria as the
inhabitants were landowners.
Many historians believe that the original location of Eretria was
on the hill of Xeropolis at Lefkandi
where archaeological remains have been found, until the end of the 8th century
B.C. when it was abandoned and transferred to the site of modern
Eretria.
This text (extract) is cited May 2003 from the Prefecture
of Evia tourist pamphlet (1997).
