Laurium or Lavrio (Modern Greek: Λαύριο; Ancient Greek: Λαύριον; before early 11th century BC: Θορικός Thorikos; from Middle Ages until 19th century: Εργαστήρι Ergastiri) is a town in southeastern part of Attica, Greece. It is the seat of the municipality of Lavreotiki. Laurium was famous in Classical antiquity for silver mining, which was one of the chief sources of revenue of the Athenian state. The metallic silver was mainly used for coinage. It is a sea port of much less importance than nearby Piraeus.
It is located about 60 km SE of Athens, SE of Keratea and N of Cape Sounio. Laurium is situated on a bay overlooking the island of Makronisos (ancient times: Helena) in the east. The port is in the middle and gridded streets cover the residential area of Lavrio. GR-89 runs through Lavrio and ends south in Sounio.
In the 6th century BC, under Peisistratus, systematic exploitation of mineral resources began.
After the battle of Marathon, Themistocles persuaded the Athenians to devote the anticipated revenue derived from a major silver vein strike in the mines of Laurion circa 483 BC to expanding the Athenian fleet to 200 triremes, and thus laid the foundation of the Athenian naval power. The mines, which were the property of the state, were usually farmed out for a certain fixed sum and a percentage on the working; slave labour was exclusively employed. As many as 20,000 slaves were employed at the height of the mining. A silver mint (Argyrocopeum) was at Laurion.
(A. Pagliuca - A. Tagliapietra)
Cemento armato la grande città
senti la vita che se ne va
vicino a casa non si respira,
è sempre buio ci si dispera.
Ci son più sirene nell'aria
che canti di usignoli.
E meglio fuggire e non tornare più.
Dolce risveglio il sole è con me.
Nell'aria le note di una chitarra.
la casa è lontana, gli amici di ieri,
è tutto svanito , non li ricordo più.
Cemento armato la grande città