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Piraeus, which roughly means ' the place over the passage ', has been inhabited since the 26th century BC.
In prehistoric times, Piraeus was a rocky island consisting of the steep hill of Munichia, modern-day Kastella, and was connected to the mainland by a low-lying stretch of land that was flooded with sea water most of the year, and used as a salt field whenever it dried up.
Consequently, it was called the Halipedon, meaning the ' salt field ', and its muddy soil made it a tricky passage.
Through the centuries, the area was increasingly silted and flooding ceased, thus by early classical times the land passage was made safe.
In ancient Greece, Piraeus assumed its importance with its three deep water harbours, the main port of Cantharus and the two smaller of Zea and Munichia, and gradually replaced the older and shallow Phaleron harbour, which fell into disuse.

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