# Elefsina

> modern city in West Attica, Greece

**Wikidata**: [Q204905](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204905)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elefsina)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/elefsina

## Summary

Elefsina is a modern city located in West Attica, Greece, with an area of 18.455 square kilometres and a population of 24,971 as of the 2021 Greek census. Situated at coordinates 38.04138889°N, 23.54527778°E and elevated 5 metres above sea level, the city serves as the capital of the West Attica Regional Unit and the Elefsina Municipality. Named after the ancient city of Eleusis, Elefsina was designated as a European Capital of Culture for 2021.

## Key Facts

- **Area**: 18.455 square kilometres
- **Population**: 24,971 (2021 Greek census, resident population); 24,910 (2011); 26,121 (2001); 23,344 (1991); 11,190 (1951, de facto population)
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 38.04138889, Longitude 23.54527778
- **Elevation**: 5 metres above sea level
- **Country**: Greece
- **Native Name**: Ελευσίνα
- **Postal Code**: 19200
- **Local Dialing Code**: 210
- **Licence Plate Codes**: YO, YP, YT, ZT
- **Patron Saint**: Saint George
- **Administrative Role**: Capital of West Attica Regional Unit, Elefsina Municipality, and formerly West Attica Prefecture
- **Award**: European Capital of Culture (2021)
- **Twin City**: Gela
- **Website**: https://www.eleusina.gr/ (available in Greek and English)
- **Instance Classification**: City (large human settlement)
- **Named After**: Eleusis (ancient city)

## FAQs

**Where is Elefsina located?**
Elefsina is situated in West Attica, Greece, at coordinates 38.04138889°N, 23.54527778°E. It lies within the Elefsina Municipality and the Commune of Elefsina, positioned just 5 metres above sea level.

**What is the population of Elefsina?**
According to the 2021 Greek census, Elefsina has a resident population of 24,971. Historical population figures show fluctuation: 11,190 (1951), 23,344 (1991), 26,121 (2001), and 24,910 (2011).

**What cultural recognition has Elefsina received?**
Elefsina was designated as a European Capital of Culture for 2021, recognizing its cultural significance and connection to its ancient namesake, Eleusis.

**What administrative functions does Elefsina serve?**
Elefsina functions as the capital of the West Attica Regional Unit and the Elefsina Municipality. It previously served as the capital of the West Attica Prefecture as well.

**How is Elefsina documented in academic and encyclopedic sources?**
Elefsina is extensively documented across numerous authoritative sources including the Pauly–Wissowa encyclopedic reference, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Encyclopædia Britannica (9th and 11th editions), Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947), The Nuttall Encyclopædia, Grove Art Online, Oxford Classical Dictionary, Treccani's Dizionario di Storia, and many others.

## Why It Matters

Elefsina holds substantial significance as both a modern administrative center and a site of profound historical resonance. Its designation as a European Capital of Culture for 2021 underscores its contemporary cultural importance within the European community. The city's connection to its ancient namesake—Eleusis, one of the most important religious centers of the ancient Greek world—provides it with a unique historical identity that bridges antiquity and modernity. As the capital of the West Attica Regional Unit, Elefsina serves as a critical administrative hub for the broader Attica region. The city's extensive documentation across major encyclopedic works, classical dictionaries, and academic databases from multiple countries and languages demonstrates its enduring scholarly relevance. Its patron saint, Saint George, and its twin-city relationship with Gela reflect its active civic and international engagement. The availability of municipal services in both Greek and English through its official website further illustrates its accessibility to international audiences.

## Notable For

- **European Capital of Culture 2021**: Selected for this prestigious designation, highlighting the city's cultural significance within Europe
- **Ancient Namesake**: Named after Eleusis, the renowned ancient Greek religious center associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries
- **Regional Capital**: Functions as the administrative capital of the West Attica Regional Unit
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Described in over 50 language editions of Wikipedia and catalogued by major international library systems including the Library of Congress (n83035318), Bibliothèque nationale de France (11963649t), and National Library of Greece (4326)
- **Encyclopedic Coverage**: Documented in prestigious reference works spanning from the 19th century (Encyclopædia Britannica 9th and 11th editions) to contemporary digital encyclopedias
- **International Twinning**: Maintains a sister-city relationship with Gela

## Body

### Geography and Location

Elefsina occupies a land area of 18.455 square kilometres in the West Attica region of Greece. The city's precise geographic coordinates are latitude 38.04138889 and longitude 23.54527778. Its elevation stands at 5 metres above sea level, positioning it as a coastal or near-coastal settlement. The city falls within the administrative boundaries of the Elefsina Municipality and the Commune of Elefsina. Its postal code is 19200, and its local dialing code is 210. Vehicles registered in Elefsina carry licence plate codes YO, YP, YT, or ZT.

### Demographics

Elefsina's population has undergone notable changes across the decades, as recorded through Greek census data:

- **1951**: 11,190 residents (de facto population)
- **1991**: 23,344 residents (resident population)
- **2001**: 26,121 residents (resident population, Greek census 2001)
- **2011**: 24,910 residents (resident population)
- **2021**: 24,971 residents (resident population, 2021 Greek census)

The population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991, peaked in 2001, and has since stabilized around 25,000 residents.

### Administrative Structure

Elefsina serves as the capital of multiple administrative entities. It functions as the capital of the West Attica Regional Unit, providing regional governance for the broader West Attica area. Additionally, it serves as the capital of the Elefsina Municipality. Historically, it also held the status of capital for the West Attica Prefecture. The city is classified as an instance of a "city," defined as a large human settlement.

### Cultural and Civic Identity

The city's native and official name is Ελευσίνα, reflecting its Greek linguistic heritage. It is named after Eleusis, the ancient city that occupied the same site. The patron saint of Elefsina is Saint George. In 2021, Elefsina held the title of European Capital of Culture, a designation that brought international attention to the city's cultural assets and historical significance.

Elefsina maintains a twin-city relationship with Gela, fostering international municipal cooperation. The city operates an official website at https://www.eleusina.gr/, which provides content in both Greek and English.

### Digital and Catalog Identifiers

Elefsina is catalogued extensively across international library systems, academic databases, and digital platforms:

**Library and Bibliographic Identifiers:**
- GND ID (German National Library): 4014423-9
- VIAF ID (Virtual International Authority File): 127876778
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n83035318
- Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 11963649t
- National Library of Greece ID: 4326
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007536509305171
- IDREF ID: 027637867
- Alvin ID: alvin-place:5818
- BHCL UUID: 657173ed-66f9-4edc-93b1-a0f393038330
- WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJyMgdXJJPDDP7B748dbBP

**Encyclopedia and Reference Work Identifiers:**
- Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID: place/Eleusis-ancient-city-Greece
- Grove Art Online ID: T025823
- Oxford Classical Dictionary ID: 2382
- Treccani's Dizionario di Storia ID: eleusi (2010)
- Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: eleusis
- Enciclopedia Galega Universal ID: 118113
- Brockhaus Enzyklopädie Online ID: eleusis
- Nationalencyklopedin (ne.se) ID: eleusis
- Encyclopædia Universalis ID: eleusis
- Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3897512
- Krugosvet Article (archived): istoriya/ELEVSIN.html

**Digital Platform Identifiers:**
- Freebase ID: /m/0kvm9 (archived, publication date 2013-10-28)
- GeoNames IDs: 262752, 7910522
- Who's On First ID: 101849149
- OpenStreetMap Node ID: 26490651
- Mythoskop ID: o72
- PACTOLS Thesaurus ID: pcrt0DRNv4Rgg7
- Babelio Subject ID: 395241
- Estonian Subject Thesaurus ID: 137272
- Museum Digital Place IDs: 76195, 37627
- Archinform Location ID: 3147
- NL CR AUT ID: ge343962 (Elefsina (Řecko))
- BBC Things ID: d04480fb-3d60-4538-8f35-26f322dea788
- Yale LUX ID: place/2cef0424-b1a2-4ba8-a4a6-44d3a58d79a6
- FactGrid Item ID: Siegfried Seidl
- ELSTAT Geographical Code: 5001010101

### Documentation Sources

Elefsina is described by numerous authoritative encyclopedic and reference sources:

- **Pauly–Wissowa**: Subject entry "Eleusis 1"
- **Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary**
- **Desktop Encyclopedic Dictionary**
- **The Nuttall Encyclopædia** (entry: "Eleusis")
- **Encyclopædia Britannica 11th Edition** (entry: "1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Eleusis")
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Ninth Edition** (entry: "Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Eleusis")
- **Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947)**

### Media and Online Presence

The city maintains a presence across multiple digital platforms and media repositories:

- **Commons Category**: Eleusis (Wikimedia Commons)
- **Page Banner**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Eleusis_WV.jpg
- **Image**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Eleusis.JPG
- **Wikipedia Title**: Elefsina
- **Vikidia Article ID**: fr:Éleusis
- **Store ID Google Play**: Eleusis
- **Site Link Count**: 62 (current); related entity "city" has 252

Wikipedia articles about Elefsina exist in 54 languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, Breton, Catalan, Cebuano, Czech, German, Greek, English, Esperanto, Spanish, Estonian, Basque, Persian, Finnish, French, Irish, Galician, Hebrew, Croatian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Interlingue, Ido, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Korean, Latin, Lithuanian, Latvian, Malay, Dutch, Norwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian, Ossetic, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Slovak, Serbian, Swedish, Silesian, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cantonese.

### Categorization and Classification

Elefsina is organized under several categorical classifications:

- **Topic's Main Category**: Category:Elefsina
- **Category for People Born Here**: Q10214326
- **Category of Associated People**: Category:People from Elefsina
- **Category for People Who Died Here**: Category:Deaths in Elefsina
- **Category for the View of the Item**: Category:Views of Elefsina

### Additional Notes

The city is explicitly differentiated from entity Q9252645 (referenced in Polish Wikipedia). The SNARC ID references "Aqueduct of the Gier," indicating a connection to ancient water infrastructure in the region.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. Greek census 1951
5. GeoNames
6. BBC Things
7. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
8. Dizionario di Storia
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
10. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/657173ed-66f9-4edc-93b1-a0f393038330)