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 slap to the face when you don't get your way
You tell me all about your situation Please keep to
Yourself
I don't want to hear you but you keep on telling me
I'm sick of you
Don't worry about me
You think about yourself so much
You always think it's all about you, Don't worry about me
You think about yourself, so much.
Do you like what you have?
Now I'm taking it back
I wonder if you even know what you say
You bore me with your selfish conversation
Please keep to yourself
No one wants to hear you but you keep on telling me
I'm sick of you
Don't worry about me
You think about yourself so much
You always think it's all about you, Don't worry about me
You think about yourself, so much.
Do you like what you have?
I'm gonna take it away
If you come back down
Will you listen to me?
When you come back down