1.1. Antiquity

In the Antiquity, Dervenochoria area was called Panakton. The area was of key importance, even from Antiquity. Its position at the border of Athens and Thebes territories made it strategically important, a fact proven by the archaeological remainders. The area was a disputed zone between Athens and Thebes, therefore the two city-states agreed to co-exploit its agricultural production. During the Persian Wars, after the defeat of the Persians –allies of Thebes–, the Athenians started to build fortifications, probably fryctorias or sentry towers. During the Peloponnesian war the old enmities between Athens and Thebes –an ally of Sparta– were rekindled and the area become once more a field of contest. Panakton was destroyed by the Thebians. Later the area was presumably a part of Tanagra.

1.2. From the Roman Conquest until the Ottoman period

During the Roman period Panakton remains annexed to Tanagra. During the Byzantine period the area was under the jurisdiction of Thebes, which in turn was a part to the Greece theme (administrative division). With the conquest of Thebes (1204) starts the period of Frankocracy which lasts for 255 years. Under Catalan rule, 1382, commander Ramon de Oliveira allowed Albanians to settle in the area. The new residents replaced, to a great extend, the Vlachs who had settled previously in the area.

1.3. From the Ottoman Conquest until the foundation of the modern Greek state

The Ottoman conquest of Boeotia at 1460 is the start of an important period for the mountainous villages of the Thebes’ area. The Ottomans granted privileges to the dwellers of the villages near the mountainous passages (called “Dervenia” from the Ottoman “derbend”) in exchange for the guarding of passengers and merchandise and the maintenance of the roads and bridges. All these villages of the Panakton area – namely Skourta, Pyli, Stefani, Panaktos and Prasino– were collectively called Dervenochoria. The privileges granted to these villages, as well as their autonomy, remained for the whole period, when these villages administratively belonged to Thebes. The main occupation of the residents was cattle raising and agriculture. At the Ottoman period, Albanian was the main language in the area. There is no evidence about any functioning schools in the villages, but those who wanted to become educated appealed to nearby monasteries.

Residents from these villages had an important role at the Greek War Of Independence. An important figure of the Greek revolution was Athanasios Skourtaniotis (Athanasios Gatsis). He was born at Skourta, 1793. He became educated at the St. Meletios monastery, and later he worked there. At the beginning of the revolution he was “kapetanios” (chieftain) of the Dervenochoria warbands under the name Kapetan Thanasis. He had an active role at every Greek-Turkish conflict, as for example at the first liberation of Athens and the battle of Kantza. He was killed during the events of Mavromati holocaust, 26 October 1825.

1.4. Dervenochoria in the Greek state

After the foundation of the Greek state, 1833, the validity of the possession of the Dervenochoria lands by their residents was re-affirmed. Athanasios Skourtaniotis was one of the most prominent fighters of the area.

During the Axis Occupation, Dervenochoria were entirely destroyed after a German attack at ELAS forces. A memorial of this battle is situated at Pyli, in remembrance of the fallen ones.

Nowadays, a 50% of the villagers are employed in agiculture and cattle raising. A great part of the residents are employed in the secondary sector. As a tourist destination, Dervenochoria have been developed to be a recreation spot for Athenians, mainly because of their fame for good food.

By 1851, Dervenochoria belonged to the municipality of Tanagra, Province of Thebes. Today they are an autonomous municipality, based at the village Pyli. This is the southernmost municipality of Boeotia Perfecture and according to the 2001 census has a population of 2191.

2. Archaeological Monuments and Churches

2.1. Panakton

Panakton is one of the most important archaeological sites of the area. It lies near the village Pyli. Today we can see the ruins of the ancient acropolis, a choke point of the Athens-Thebes dispute. At the end of 1930s, excavations took place by the architect Ev. Stikas, who also published a study about the building.

2.2. Mazareika

The ruins of a Classical Age settlement survive in the area called Mazareika. This position was the southest stronghold of Thebes and is located north of Dervenochoria.

2.3. Zoodochos Pigi (life-giving font) Monastery

The monastery of Zoodochos Pigi lies 2km north of the village Pyli. The original temple of the monastery –not extant today­– is dated back to the 12th century. At 1890, it was restored, with same modifications, from the villagers, under the guidance of Anastasios Orlandos. The main temple is a complex four-columned cross-in-square church, according to the Istanbul style floor plan template (a long separate area lies between the cross shaped center of the temple and the altar’s arches). Nowadays, older parts of the monastery’s buildings have been preserved. It has been stated that the temple was founded by the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus.

2.4. Dormition of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) church

At Pyli village is located one of the oldest churches in the area, dating back to the beginnings of the 14^th century. It is built in Byzantine style, resembling the church of St. George in Karditsa.

2.5. Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah)

At the Profitis Ilias hill is situated the homonymous small monoklitos temple. It was built during the Ottoman period (end 14th – beginning 15th cent.). The ruins of an Enetian tower in the area are also visible.

2.6. St. Athanasios chapel

St. Athanasios church is located at a 4 km distance from Skourta village. In the same area there was an earlier monastery destroyed during the 1821 Revolution. The katholikon (major church) of the monastery is its only part surviving to this day. At 1990 a new monastery, devoted to the Ascension of Jesus, was built in the place of the previous monastery.