{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Blacklisted-links|1= *https://elaionas.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/tekmiriosi-geniki.pdf *:''Triggered by <code>\bfiles\.wordpress\.com\b</code> on the global blacklist''|bot=Cyberbot II|invisible=false}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Elaionas | native_name = Ελαιώνας | native_name_lang = el | settlement_type = Neighborhood | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | nickname = | motto = | mottoeng = | image_map = Elaionas in Athens.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in municipality of Athens | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|37|59|24|N|23|41|51|E|region:GR|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Greece]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Modern regions of Greece|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Attica]] | subdivision_type2 = City | subdivision_name2 = [[Athens]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 104 47, 122 42 | area_code_type = | area_code = 210 | iso_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Elaionas''' ({{Langx|el|Ελαιώνας}}, {{IPA|el|e.leˈo.nas|pron}}, sometimes Anglicized as '''Eleonas''') is a [[neighborhood]] in Central [[Athens]], [[Greece]]. It is an industrial area and one of the most deprived areas of the municipality of Athens.
==History==
The area was named for the fact that in antiquity it was covered in an abundance of [[olive tree]]s, a feature that it retains even today but to a smaller extent.
The olive tree was a basic symbol of [[Athenian democracy]] as a prize for the winners of the [[Ancient Olympic Games]]. By extension, its oil was a valuable commodity and the only Athenian product that was allowed to be exported and this gave impetus to the development of Elaionas.
During the [[Byzantine Greece|Byzantine years]], a large number of churches were built in the area, while the occupation of most of the inhabitants remained agricultural.<ref>{{cite web|title=O Eλαιώνας των Αθηνών: Χθες-Σήμερα-Αύριο (Μέρος Α')|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/160197|website=sport-fm.gr|access-date=28 September 2017|language=el}}</ref>
==Modern era==
Today, Elaionas is an area of 9,500 acres consisting of generally unregulated buildings, with many abandoned craft industry buildings, some actively polluting companies, vacant or unused land and few inhabitants. Elaionas's factories employ up to 30,000 workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elaionas.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/tekmiriosi-geniki.pdf|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
The upgrading and regeneration of the area has been a matter of concern to the Greek government many times, with the main proposals concerning opening new roads that will facilitate the establishment of enterprises and general de-industrialization.
Elaionas was the site of a large refugee camp for those fleeing Africa and the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://migration.gov.gr/ris/perifereiakes-monades/domes/domi-elaiona/|title=Δομή Ελαιώνα | Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου|date=4 August 2020|accessdate=6 May 2023}}</ref> It has also been for many years the location of a well known [https://www.athensvoice.gr/life/life-in-athens/875321/volta-sto-pazari-ton-rakosullekton-tou-elaiona-kuriaki-ximeromata/ recyclers' bazaar], where second hand items are sold every weekend. Although the bazaar is mostly run by the Roma population, its diverse community of vendors also includes people from Greece, Pakistan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Syria and many other places.
An important plan is also the provision for the creation of a [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] [[Panathinaikos F.C. New Stadium|new stadium]] in [[Votanikos]] and the creation of a metropolitan park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archaiologia.gr/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/102-11.pdf|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
At the same time, the creation of a new intercity bus agency in the area and its connection to the [[Athens metro]] is being examined, which would replace the existing [[Athens Peloponnese Bus Station|Kifissos Bus Terminal]] and [[Athens Liosion Bus Station|Liosion Bus Terminal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Στον Ελαιώνα μεταφέρονται τα ΚΤΕΛ του Κηφισού και των Λιοσίων|url=http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=628270|website=TO BHMA| date=4 September 2014 |publisher=Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Λαμπράκη|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Μετακομίζουν τα ΚΤΕΛ της Λιοσίων και του Κηφισσού|url=http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/103138|website=LiFO|date=5 June 2016|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
The area is served by the [[Eleonas metro station|metro station of the same name]] on [[Line 3 (Athens Metro)|Line 3]] of the [[Athens metro]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Geographic location | North = [[Aigaleo]], [[Akadimia Platonos]] | West = [[Aigaleo]], [[Votanikos]] | Centre = Eleonas | East = [[Akadimia Platonos]], [[Profitis Daniil]] | South = [[Votanikos]] }} {{Athens}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Athens]]