Voúla and Vouliagméni in the ancient times were part of Alaí Aixonídes (pronounced Alé Exonídes) municipality. The name of the ancient municipality derived mainly because of its geographical location and features. “Alaí” signifies there were salt pans within the county, the place of which is estimated to have been where today are the two public (EOT) beaches of Voula. “Aixonídes” is obviously related to the adjacent municipality, Glyfáda, which in ancient times was known as Aixoní (AIxonides as in little Aixones, plural of Aixoní).
Ancient Voula is being continuously inhabited since the Neolithic Period (appr. 3000 BC). Excavations along the coast have revealed traces of a city, as well as remains of an ancient harbour found on the peninsula with cape Aixoní as its tip (N border of Voúla bay). There is also evidence suggesting that the ancient market of the city was located along the coast, where today lies the traffic park and “Nótos” cafeteria.
The municipality of Alaí Aixonídes is a geographically privileged county, as it is the meeting point of two large natural ecosystems: the mountainous volume of Ymittós and the Saronic Gulf. The adjacency of the sea and the mountain is extremely favourable to the area’s climate, which is why even today Voúla is renowned for its healthy weather.
The most important sanctuary of Alaí Aixonídes was the temple of Apóllo Zostíra, found in the peninsula of Vouliagméni (inside Astir Beach), and renowned during antiquity all over Attikí. According to mythology, the name of the temple came from the belt (zostíra) of Litó, who was chased while pregnant by goddess Hera. Litó was made pregnant by Zeus and was carrying the gods Apollo and Artemis in her womb. When labour pains started she stopped in Vouliagméni lake where she took her belt off in order to give birth, but eventually she gave birth in Delos island, with the help of goddess Athena.
The area of Vári, in antiquity, corresponded to the county of Anagyroús belonging to Athens. The name of the county is based on the malodorous plant Anágyros (mullein) which apparently was found in abundance. The plant was used by fishermen in order to stun the octopi with its fumes and thus catch them.
Excavations revealed traces of housing since the third millennium BC, installations dating from the Mycenean Era and graves and tombs from the Geometric Period (9th – 6th cen. BC).
The current name of Vári is based on the Albanian word “Var” which means grave. When the first Albanian tribes settled in Attiki, around 12th – 13th century AD, they probably named the area such due to the large number of graves and tombs from the ancient times.
The majority of the findings from the early and classical ancient times were found on the hill of Lathoúriza or Lathouréssa.
