Εμφανίζονται 80 τίτλοι με αναζήτηση: Πληροφορίες για τον τόπο στην ευρύτερη περιοχή: "ΜΑΝΤΙΝΕΙΑ Επαρχία ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ" .
ΑΘΗΝΑΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
Athenaeum (Athenaion). A fortress in the S. of Arcadia, and in the territory of Megalopolis, is described by Plutarch as a position in advance of the Lacedaemonian frontier (embole tes Lakonikes), and near Belemina. It was fortified by Cleomenes in B.C. 224, and was frequently taken and retaken in the wars between the Achaean League and the Spartans. Leake supposes that it occupied the summit of Mount Tzimbaru, on which there are some remains of an Hellenic fortress. In that case it must have been a different place from the Athenaeum mentioned by Pausanias on the road from Megalopolis to Asea, and 20 stadia from the latter. (Plut. Cleom. 4; Pol. ii. 46, 54, iv. 37, 60, 81; Paus. viii. 44. § § 2, 3; Leake, Peloponnesiaca, p. 248.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΑΜΙΛΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
Amilos: Amilios. A village of Arcadia in the territory of Orchomenus, and on the
road from the latter to Stymphalus.
ΑΣΕΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
he Asea: Aseates, a town of Arcadia in the district Maenalia, situated
near the frontier of Laconia, on the road from Megalopolis to Pallantium and Tegea.
Asea took part in the foundation of Megalopolis, to which city most of its inhabitants
removed (Paus. viii. 27. § 3, where for Iasaia we ought to read Asaia or Asea);
but Asea continued to exist as an independent state, since the Aseatae are mentioned,
along with the Megalopolitae, Tegeatae, and Pallantieis, as joining Epaminondas
before the battle of Mantineia, B.C. 362. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 5) At a later time,
however, Asea belonged to Megalopolis, as we see from the descriptions of Strabo
and Pausanias. The city was in ruins in the time of Pausanias, who mentions its
acropolis. In its territory, and at the distance of 5 stadia from the the city,
on the road to Pallantium, were the sources of the Alpheius, and near them those
of the Eurotas. The two rivers united their streams, and, after flowing in one
channel for 20 stadia, disappeared beneath the earth; the Alpheius rising again
at Pegae, and the Eurotas at Belemina in Laconia. North of Asea, on the road to
Pallantium, and on the summit of Mt. Boreium (Kravari), was a temple of Athena
Soteira and Poseidon, said to have been founded by Odysseus on his return from
Troy, and of which the ruins were discovered by Leake and Ross. The remains of
Asea are to be seen on the height which rises above the copious spring of water
called Frangovrysi, Frank-spring, the sources of the Alpheius. (Strab. pp. 275,
343; Paus. viii. 3. § 4, viii. 44. § 3, viii. 54. § 2; Steph. B. s. v.)
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ΔΙΠΑΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
Dipaia: Eth. Dipaieus. A town of Arcadia in the district Maenalia,
through whose territory the river Helisson flowed. Its inhabitants removed to
Megalopolis on the foundation of the latter city. It is frequently mentioned on
account of a battle fought in its neighbourhood between the Lacedaemonians and
all the Arcadians except the Mantineians, sometime between B.C. 479 and 464 (Paus.
iii. 11. § 7, viii. 8. § 6, 27. § 3, 30. §. 1, 45. § 2; Herod. ix. 35.) Leake
supposes that the ruins near Davia represent Dipaea; but since Pausanias does
not mention Dipaea in his description of Maenalia, although he notices every insignificant
place, Ross remarks that it is improbable that Pausanias should have passed over
Dipaea, if these ruins really belong to the latter, since they are still very
considerable. Ross regards them as the remains of Maenalus.
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ΕΛΙΣΣΩΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
Helisson (Paus.); Helissous, (Diod.). a town of Arcadia in the district
Maenalia, situated on Mt. Maenalus near the territory of Mantineia. The town was
taken by the Lacedaemonians in one of their wars with the Arcadians, B.C. 352;
but most of its inhabitants had been previously removed to Megalopolis upon the
foundation of the latter city in 371. Near it rose the liver Helisson, which flowed
through Maenalia into the Alpheius. The site of Helisson is doubtful. Leake places
it at the village Alonistena, from which the river takes its modern name, and
near which it rises; but as there are no ancient remains at this village, Ross
conjectures that its site is represented by the Paleokastron near the village
Piana, lower down the mountain. (Paus. viii. 3. § 3, 27. § § 3, 7, 30. § 1; Diod.
xvi. 39.) The Elisphasii mentioned by Polybius (xi. 11. § 6) are conjectured by
some modern writers to be a corrupt form of Helissontii.
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ΕΥΤΑΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΣΚΥΡΙΤΙΔΑ
Eutaea (Eutaia: Eth. Eutaieus), a town in the S. of Arcadia, in the district Maenalia, probably between Asea and Pallantium, though not on the road between these towns. Leake places it at Barbitza. (Paus. viii. 27. § 3; Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 12; Steph. B. s. v.; Leake, Morea, vol. iii. p. 31.)
ΚΑΦΥΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
Kaphuai: Eth. Kaphuates, Kaphueus. A town of Arcadia situated in a
small plain, NW. of the lake of Orchomenus. It was protected against inundations
from this lake by a mound or dyke, raised by the inhabitants of Caphyae. The city
is said to have been founded by Cepheus, the son of Aleus, and pretended to be
of Athenian origin. (Paus. viii. 23. § 2; Strab. xiii.) Caphyae subsequently belonged
to the Achaean league, and was one of the cities of the league, of which Cleomenes
obtained possession. (Pol. ii. 52.) In its neighbourhood a great battle was fought
in B.C. 220, in which the Aetolians, gained a decisive victory over the Achaeans
and Aratus. (Pol. iv. 11, seq.) The name of Caphyae also occurs in the subsequent
events of this war. (Pol. iv. 68, 70.) Strabo (viii. p. 388) speaks of the town
as in ruins in his time; but it still contained some temples when visited by Pausanias.
The remains of the walls of Caphyae are visible upon a small insulated height
at the village of Khotussa, which stands near the edge of the lake. Polybius,
in his description of the battle of Caphyae, refers to a plain in front of Caphyae,
traversed by a river, beyond which were trenches (taphroi), a description of the
place which does not correspond with present appearances. The taphroi were evidently
ditches for the purpose of draining the marshy plain, by conducting the water
towards the katavothra, around which there was, probably, a small lake. In the
time of Pausanias we find that the lake covered the greater part of the plain;
and that exactly in the situation in which Polybius describes the ditches, there
was a mound of earth. Nothing is more probable than that during the four centuries
so fatal to the prosperity of Greece, which elapsed between the battle of Caphyae
and the visit of Pausanias, a diminution of population should have caused a neglect
of the drainage which had formerly ensured the cultivation of the whole plain,
and that in the time of the Roman empire an embankment of earth had been thrown
up to preserve the part nearest to Caphyae, leaving the rest uncultivated and
marshy. At present, if there are remains of the embankment, which I did not perceive,
it does not prevent any of the land from being submerged during several months,
for the water now extends very nearly to the site of Caphyae.
Pausanias says that on the inner side of the embankment there flows
a river, which, descending into a chasm of the earth, issues again at a place
called Nasi (Nasoi); and that the name of the village where it issues is named
Rheunus (Hpeunos). From this place it forms the perennial river Tragus (Tragos).
He also speaks of a mountain in the neighbourhood of the city named Cnacalus (Knakalos),
on which the inhabitants celebrate a yearly festival to Artemis Cnacalesia. Leake
remarks that the mountain above Khotussa, now called Kastania, seems to be the
ancient Cnacalus. The river Tara is probably the ancient Tragus.
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ΛΥΚΟΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
Lycoa: (Lukoa: Eth. Lukoates), a town of Arcadia in the district Maenalia, at
the foot of Mt. Maenalus, with a temple of Artemis Lycoatis. It was in ruins in
the time of Pausanias, and is represented by the Paleokastron between Arachova
and Karteroli. There was another Lycoa not far from the Alpheius, near its junction
with the Lusius or Gortynius, at the foot of Mt. Lycaeus.It has been conjectured
that the proper name of the latter of these towns was Lycaea,
since Pausanias (viii. 27. § 4) speaks of the Lycaeatae (Lukaiatai) as a people
in the district of Cynuria, and Stephanus mentions a town Lycaea (Lukaia). (Leake,
Morea, vol. ii. p. 304.)
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ΜΑΙΝΑΛΟΝ (Βουνό) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
Maenalus. (Mainalos, Strab. viii. p. 388; Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. i. 769; Mainalon,
Theocr. i. 123; to Mainalion oros, Paus. viii. 36. § 7; Maenalus, Virg. Ecl. viii.
22; Mel. ii. 3; Plin. iv. 6. s. 10; Maenala, pl., Virg. Ecl. x. 55; Ov. Met. i.
216), a lofty mountain of Arcadia, forming the western boundary of the territories
of Mantineia and Tegea. It was especially sacred to the god Pan, who is hence
called Maenalius Deus (Ov. Fast. iv. 650.) The inhabitants of the mountain fancied
that they had frequently heard the god playing on his pipe. The two highest summits
of the mountain are called at present Aidin and Apano-Khrepa: the latter is 5115
feet high. The mountain is at present covered with pines and firs; the chief pass
through it is near the modern town of Tripolitza. The Roman poets frequently use
the adjectives Maenalius and Maenalis as equivalent to Arcadian. Hence Maenalii
versus, shepherds' songs, such as were usual in Arcadia (Virg. Ecl. viii.21);
Maenalis ora, i.e. Arcadia (Ov. Fast. iii. 84); Maenalisnympha, i. e. Carmenta
(Ov. Fast. i. 634); Maenalis Ursa, and Maenalia Arctos, the constellation of the
Bear, into which Callisto, daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, was said to have
been metamorphosed. (Ov. Trist. iii. 11. 8, Fast. ii. 192.)
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ΜΑΙΝΑΛΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
Mainalos: Eth. Mainalios, Mainalites, Mainaleus. A town of Arcadia,
and the capital of the district Maenalia (Mainalia), which formed part of the
territory of Megalopolis upon the foundation of the latter city. The town Maenalus
was in ruins in the time of Pausanias, who mentions a temple of Athena, a stadium,
and a hippodrome, as belonging to the place. (Paus. viii. 3. § 4, 36. § 8; Steph.
B. s. v.) Its site is uncertain. Ross supposes that the remains of polygonal walls
on the isolated hill, on the right bank of the river Helisson and opposite the
village Davia, represent Maenalus; and this appears more probable than the opinion
of Leake, who identifies this site with Dipaea, and thinks that Maenalus stood
on Mt. Apano-khrepa. (Ross, Reisen im Peloponnes vol. i., Leake, Morea, vol. ii.,
Peloponnesiaca.)
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ΜΑΝΤΙΝΕΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
(Mantineia: Eth. Mantineus, Mantinensis: Paleopoli), one of the most ancient and
powerful towns in Arcadia, situated on the borders of Argolis, S. of Orchomenus,
and N. of Tegea. Its territory was called Mantinice (Mantinike). The city is mentioned
in the Homeric catalogue as Mantinee erateine, and, according to tradition, it
derived its name from Mantineus, a son of Lycaon. (Hom. Il. ii. 607; Pol. ii.
56; Paus. viii. 8. § 4.) Mantineia originally consisted of four or five distinct
villages, the inhabitants of which were collected into one city. (Xen. Hell. v.
2. 6, seq.; Strab. viii. p. 337; Diod. xv. 5.) If Strabo is correct in stating
that this incorporation was brought about by the Argives, we may conjecture, with
Mr. Grote, that the latter adopted this proceeding as a means of providing some
check upon their powerful neighbours of Tegea. The political constitution of Mantineia
is mentioned by Polybius as one of the best in antiquity; and the city had acquired
so great a reputation at an early period, that the Cyrenaeans, in the reign of
Battus III. (B.C. 550--530), when weakened by internal seditions, were recommended
to apply to the Mantineians, who sent to them Demonax to settle their constitution.
(Pol. vi. 43; Herod. iv. 161.) Some time before the Persian wars, Mantineia, like
the other Arcadian towns, had acknowledged the Spartan supremacy; and accordingly
the Mantineians fought against the Persians as the allies of Sparta. Five hundred
of their citizens fought at Thermopylae, but their contingent arrived on the field
of Plataea immediately after the battle. (Herod. vii. 202, ix. 77.) In the Peloponnesian
War, Mantineia was at first a member of the Peloponnesian confederacy; but several
causes tended to estrange her from the Spartan alliance. Mantineia and Tegea were,
at this time, the two most important Arcadian states, and were frequently engaged
in hostilities. In B.C. 423, they fought a bloody and indecisive battle, which
is mentioned by Thucydides (iv. 134). Tegea, being oligarchically governed, was
firmly attached to Sparta; whereas Mantineia, from her possessing a democratical
constitution, as well as from her hatred to Tegea, was disposed to desert Sparta
on the first favourable opportunity. In addition to this, the Mantineians had
recently extended their dominion over the Parrhasians and had garrisoned a fortress
at Cypsela, near the site where Megalopolis was afterwards built. Well aware that
the Lacedaemonians would not allow them to retain their recent acquisitions, as
it was the policy of Sparta to prevent the increase of any political power in
the Peloponnesus, the Mantineians formed an alliance with Argos, Elis, and Athens,
in B.C. 421, and thus became involved in war with Sparta. (Thuc. v. 29, 33, 47.)
This war was brought to a close by the decisive battle fought near Mantineia,
in June, 418, in which the Argives, Mantineians, and Athenians were defeated by
the Lacedaemonians under Agis. This battle was fought to the S. of Mantineia,
between the city and the frontiers of Tegea, and is the first of the five great
battles bearing the name of Mantineia. The Mantineians now concluded a peace with
Sparta, renouncing their dominion over the districts in Arcadia, which they had
conquered. (Thuc. v. 65, seq., 81.)
Mantineia continued an unwilling ally of Sparta for the next 33 years;
but in the second year after the peace of Antalcidas, which had restored to the
Spartans a great part of their former power, they resolved to crush for ever this
obnoxious city. Accordingly, they required the Mantineians to raze their walls;
and upon the refusal of the latter, they marched against the city with an army
under the command of their king Agesipolis (B.C. 385), alleging that the truce
for 30 years had expired, which had been concluded between the two states after
the battle of 418. The Mantineians were defeated in battle, and took refuge in
their city, prepared to withstand a siege; but Agesipolis having raised an embankment
across the river Ophis, which flowed through Mantineia, forced back the waters
of the river, and thus caused an inundation around the walls of the city. These
walls, being built of unbaked bricks, soon began to give way; and the Mantineians,
fearing that the city would be taken by assault, were obliged to yield to the
terms of the Spartans, who required that the inhabitants should quit the city,
and be dispersed among the villages, from the coalescence of which the city had
been originally formed. (Xen. Hell. v. 2. 6, 7; Diod. xv. 5; Ephorus, ap. Harpocrat.
s. v. Mantineon dioikismos; Pol. iv. 27; Paus. viii. 8. § 7, seq.) Of the forces
of Mantineia shortly before this time we have an account from the orator Lysias,
who says that the military population or citizens of Mantineia were not less than
3000, which will give 13,000 for the free population of the Mantineian territory.
(Lysias, ap. Dionys. p. 531; Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p. 416.)
The Mantineians did not long remain in this dispersed condition. When
the Spartan supremacy was overthrown by the battle of Leuctra in 371, they again
assembled together, and rebuilt their city. They took care to exclude the river
from the new city, and to make the stone substructions of the walls higher than
they had been previously. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 3; Paus. viii. 8. § 10; Leake, Morea,
vol. iii. p. 73.) The Mantineians took an active part in the formation of the
Arcadian confederacy, and in the foundation of Megalopolis, which followed immediately
after the restoration of their own city; and one of their own citizens, Lycomedes,
was the chief promoter of the scheme. But a few years afterwards the Mantineians,
for reasons which are not distinctly mentioned, quarrelled with the supreme Arcadian
government, and formed an alliance with their inveterate enemies the Spartans.
In order to put down this new coalition, Epaminondas marched into the Peloponnesus;
and Mantineia was again the scene of another great battle (the second of the five
alluded to above), in which the Spartans were defeated, but which was rendered
still more memorable by the death of Epaminondas. (Xen. Hell. vii. 5; Diod. xv.
84.) The site of this battle is described below. The third and fourth battles
of Mantineia are only incidentally mentioned by the ancient writers: the third
was fought in 295, when Demetrius Poliorcetes defeated Archidamus and the Spartans
(Plut. Demetr. 35) ; the fourth in 242, when Aratus and the Achaeans defeated
the Spartans under Agis, the latter falling in the battle. (Paus. viii. 10. §
5, seq.)
Mantineia continued to be one of the most powerful towns of Arcadia
down to the time of the Achaean League. It at first joined this league; but it
subsequently deserted it, and, together with Orchomenus and Tegea, became a member
of the Aetolian confederacy. These three cities at a later time renounced their
alliance with the Aetolians, and entered into a close union with Sparta, about
B.C. 228. This step was the immediate cause of the war between the Achaeans and
the Spartans, usually called the Cleomenic War. In 226, Aratus surprised Mantineia,
and compelled the city to receive an Achaean garrison. The Mantineians soon afterwards
expelled the Achaeans, and again joined the Spartans ; but the city was taken
a second time, in 222, by Antigonus Doson, whom the Achaeans had invited to their
assistance. It was now treated with great severity. It was abandoned to plunder,
its citizens were sold as slaves, and its name changed to Antigoneia (Antigoneia),
in compliment to the Macedonian monarch (Pol. ii. 57, seq.; Plut. Arat. 45; Paus.
viii. 8. § 11). In 207, the plain of Mantineia was the scene of a fifth great
battle, between the Achaean forces, commanded by Philopoemen, and the Lacedaemonians,
under the tyrant Machanidas, in which the latter was defeated and slain. An account
of this battle is given by Polybius, from whom we learn that the Achaean army
occupied the entire breadth of the plain S. of the city, and that their light-armed
troops occupied the hill to the E. of the city called Alesium by Pausanias. The
Lacedaemonians were drawn up opposite to the Achaeans ; and the two armies thus
occupied the same position as in the first battle of Mantineia, fought in the
Peloponnesian War. (Pol. xi. 11.)
The Mantineians were the only Arcadian people who fought on the side
of Augustus at the battle of Actium. (Paus. viii. 8. § 12.) The city continued
to bear the name of Antigoneia till the time of Hadrian, who restored to it its
ancient appellation, and conferred upon it other marks of his favour, in honour
of his favourite, Antinous, because the Bithynians, to whom Antinous belonged,
claimed descent from the Mantineians. (Paus. viii. 8. § 12, viii. 9. § 7.)
The territory of Mantineia was bounded on the W. by Mt. Maenalus, and on the E.
by Mt. Artemisium, which separated it from Argolis. Its northern frontier was
a low narrow ridge, separating it from Orchomenia ; its southern frontier, which
divided it from Tegeatis, was formed by a narrow part of the valley, hemmed in
by a projecting ridge from Mt. Maenalus on the one side, and by a similar ridge
from Mt. Artemisius on the other. The territory of Mantineia forms part of the
plain now called the plain of Tripolitza, from the modern town of this name, lying
between the ancient Mantineia and Tegea, and which is the principal place in the
district. This plain is about 25 English miles in length, with a breadth varying
from 1 to 8, and includes, besides the territory of Mantineia, that of Orchomenus
and Caphyae on the N., and that of Tegea and Pallantium on the S. The distance
between Mantineia and Tegea is about 10 English miles in a direct line. The height
of the plain where Mantineia stood is 2067 feet above the level of the sea. Owing
to its situation, Mantineia was a place of great military importance, and its
territory was the scene of many important battles, as has been already related.
It stood upon the river Ophis, nearly in the centre of the plain of Tripolitza
as to length, and in one of the narrowest parts as to breadth. It was enclosed
between two ranges of hills, on the E. and the W., running parallel to Mts. Artemisium
and Maenalus respectively. The eastern hill was called Alesium (Alesion, Paus.
viii. 10. § 1), and between it and Artemisium lay the plain called by Pausanias
(viii. 7. § 1) to argon pedion, or the Uncultivated Plain. (viii. 8. § 1.) The
range of hills on the W. had no distinct name: between them and Mt. Maenalus there
was also a plain called Alcimedon (Alkimedon, Paus. viii. 12. § 2.)
Mantineia was not only situated entirely in the plain, but nearly
in its lowest part, as appears by the course of the waters. In the regularity
of its fortifications it differs from almost all other Greek cities of which there
are remains, since very few other Greek cities stood so completely in a plain.
It is now called Paleopoli. The circuit of the walls is entire, with the exception
of a small space on the N. and W. sides. In no place are there more than three
courses of masonry existing above ground, and the height is so uniform that we
may conclude that the remainder of the walls was constructed of unbaked bricks.
The city had 9 or 10 gates, the approach to which was carefully defended. Along
the walls there were towers at regular distances. Leake reckoned 118 towers, and
says that the city was about 21 miles in circumference ; but Ross makes the city
considerably larger, giving 129 or 130 as the number of the towers, and from 28
to 30 stadia, or about 3 1/2 English miles, as the circuit of the city. The walls
of the city are surrounded by a ditch, through which the river Ophis flows. This
stream is composed of several rivulets, of which the most important rises on Mt.
Alesium, on the E. side of the city: the different rivulets unite on the NW. side
of the town, and flow westward into a katavothra. Before the capture of Mantineia
by Agesipolis, the Ophis was made to flow through the city and it is probable
that all the water-courses of the surrounding plain were then collected into one
channel above the city. Of the buildings in the interior of the city, described
by Pausanias, few remains are left. Nearly in the centre of the city are the ruins
of the theatre, of which the diameter was about 2440 feet; and west of the theatre,
Ross observed the foundations of the temple of Aphrodite Symmachia, which the
Mantineians erected to commemorate the share they had taken in the battle of Actium.
(Paus. viii. 9. § 6.)
The territory of Mantineia is frequently described by the ancient
writers, from its having been so often the seat of war; but it is difficult, and
almost impossible, to identify any of the localities of which we find mention,
from the disappearance of the sanctuaries and monuments by which spots are indicated,
and also from the nature of the plain, the topography of which must have been
frequently altered by the change of the water-courses. On the latter subject a
few words are necessary. The plain of Tripolitza, of which Mantinice formed part,
is one of those valleys in Arcadia, which is so completely shut in by mountains,
that the streams which flow into it have no outlet except through the chasms in
the mountains, called katavothra. The part of the plain, which formed the territory
of Mantineia, is so complete a level, that there is not, in some parts, a sufficient
slope to carry off the waters ; and the land would be overflowed, unless trenches
were made to assist the course of the waters towards some one or other of the
katavothra which nature has provided for their discharge. (Pol. xi. 11.) Not only
must the direction of these trenches have been sometimes changed, but even the
course of the streams was sometimes altered, of which we have an interesting example
in the history of the campaign of 418. It appears that the regulation of the mountain
torrent on the frontiers of Mantinice and Tegeatis was a frequent subject of dispute
and even of war between the two states; and the one frequently inundated the territory
of the other, as a means of annoyance. This was done in 418 by Agis, who let the
waters over the plain of Mantineia (Thuc. v. 65). This river can only be the one
called Ophis by the Geographers of the French Commission. It rises a little N.
of Tegea, and after flowing through Tegeatis falls now into a katavothra north
of the hill Scope. In general the whole plain of Mantineia bears a very different
aspect from what it presented in antiquity; instead of the wood of oaks and cork-trees,
described by Pausanias, there is now not a single tree to be found; and no poet
would now think of giving the epithet of lovely (erateine) to the naked plain,
covered to a great extent with stagnant water, and shut in by gray treeless rocks.
(Ross, Reisen im Peloponnes, p. 128.)
About a mile N. of the ruins of Mantineia is an isolated hill called
Gurtzuli; north of which again, also at the distance of about a mile, is another
hill. The latter was probably the site of the ancient Mantineia, arid was therefore
called Ptolis in the time of Pausanias (viii. 12. § 7). This appears to have been
one of the five villages from the inhabitants of which the city on the plain was
peopled.
There were several roads leading from Mantineia. Two of these roads
led north of the city to Orchomenus: the more easterly of the two passed by Ptolis,
just mentioned, the fountain of Alalcomeneia, and a deserted village named Maera
(Maira), 30 stadia from Ptolis ; the road on the west passed over Mt. Anchisia,
on the northern slope of which was the temple of Artemis Hymnia, which formed
the boundary between Mantinice and Orchomenia. (Paus. viii. 12. §§ 5--9, comp.
viii. 5. § 11.)
A road led from Mantineia on the W. to Methydrium. It passed through
the plain Alcimedon, which was 30 stadia from the city, above which was Mount
Ostracina; then by the fountain Cissa, and, at the distance of 40 stadia from
the fountain, by the small place Petrosaka, which was on the confines of the Mantineian
and Megalopolitan territories. (Paus. viii. 12. §§ 2--4.)
Two roads led from Mantineia southwards,--the one SE. to Tegea, and
the other SW. to Pallantium. On the left of the road to Tegea, called Xenis by
Polybius (xi. 11, § 5), just outside the gates of Mantineia, was the hippodrome,
and a little further on the stadium, above which rose Mount Alesium: at the spot
where the mountain ceased was the temple of Poseidon Hippius, which was 7 stadia
from the city, as we learn from Polybius (xi. 11. § 4, compared with xi. 14. §
1). Here commenced the ditch, which is said by Polybius to have led across the
Mantineian plain to the mountains bordering upon the district of the Elisphasii
(he ton Elisphasion Chora Pol. xi. 11. § 6, comp. 15. § 7, xvii. 6). Beyond the
temple of Poseidon was a forest of oaks, called Pelagus (Pelagos), through which
ran the road to Tegea. On turning out of the road to the left, at the temple of
Poseidon, one found at the distance of 5 stadia the tombs of the daughters of
Pelias. Twenty stadia further on was a place called Phoezon (Phoizon). This was
the narrowest part of the plain between Tegea and Mantineia, the road being shortened
by the hill Scope on the W. and a similar projecting rock on the E. Here was the
tomb of Areithous, who was said to have been slain in a narrow pass by Lycurgus
(steinopoi en hodoi, Hom. Il. vii. 143). 2 This narrow valley, shut in by the
two projecting ridges already mentioned, formed the natural frontier between the
territories of Mantineia and Tegea. The boundary between the two states was marked
by a round altar on the road, which was about four miles distant from Mantineia,
and about six miles from Tegea. It was here that the Lacedaemonian army was posted,
over which Epaminondas gained his memorable victory. He had marched from Tegea
in a north-westerly direction, probably passing near the site of the modern Tripolitza,
and then keeping along the side of Mt. Maenalus. He attacked the enemy on their
right flank, near the projecting ridge of Mt. Maenalus, already described. It
was called Scope (Skope, now Myrtikas), because Epaminondas, after receiving his
mortal wound, was carried to this height to view the battle. Here he expired,
and his tomb, which Pausanias saw, was erected on the spot. (Paus. viii. 11. §§
6, 7)
The road from Mantineia to Pallantium ran almost parallel to the road
to Tegea till it reached the frontiers of Tegeatis. At the distance of one stadium
was the temple of Zeus Charmon. (Paus. viii. 10, 11, 12. § 1.)
Two roads led from Mantineia eastwards to Argos, called Prinus (Prinos) and Climax
(Klimaxi), or the Ladder, respectively. (Paus. viii. 6. § 4.) The latter was so
called from the steps cut out of the rock in a part of the road; and the Prinus
probably derived its name from passing by a large holm-oak (prinos), or a small
wood of holm-oaks; but the roads do not appear to have borne these names till
they entered Mantinice. There are only two passes through the mountains, which
separate the Argive plain from Mantinice, of which the southern and the shorter
one is along the course of the river Charadrus, the northern and the longer one
along the valley of the Inachus. Both Ross and Leake agree in making the Prinus
the southern and the Climax the northern of these two roads, contrary to the conclusions
of the French surveyors. Both roads quitted Argos at the same gate, at the hill
called Deiras, but then immediately parted in different directions. The Prinus
after crossing the Charadrus, passed by Oenoe, and then ascended Mount Artemisium
(Malevos), on the summit of which, by the road-side, stood the temple of Artemis,
and near it were the sources of the Inachus. Here were the boundaries of Mantinice
and Argolis. (Paus. ii. 25. §§ 1--3.) On descending this mountain the road entered
Mantinice, first crossing through the lowest and most marshy part of the Argon,
or Uncultivated Plain, so called because the waters from the mountains collect
in the plain and render it unfit for cultivation, although there is a katavothra
to carry them off. On the left of the plain were the remains of the camp of Philip,
son of Amyntas, and a village called Nestane, probably now the modern village
of Tzipiana. Near this spot the waters of the plain entered the katavothra, and
are said not to have made their exit till they reached the sea off the coast of
the Argeia. Below Nestane was the Dancing-place of Maera (Choros Mairas), which
was only the southern arm of the Argon Plain, by means of which the latter was
connected with the great Mantineian plain. The road then crossed over the foot
of Mount Alesium, and entered the great Mantineian plain near the fountain Arne
at the distance of 12 stadia from the city. From thence it passed into the city
by the south-eastern or Tegeatan gate. (Paus. viii. 6. § 6--viii. 8. § 4.)
The other road, called Climax ran from Argos in a north-westerly direction
along the course of the Inachus, first 60 stadia to Lyrceia, and again 60 stadia
to Orneae, on the frontiers of Sicyonia and Phliasia. (Paus. ii.25. §§ 4--6.)
It then crossed the mountain, on the descent of which into Mantinice were the
steps cut out of the rock. The road entered Mantinice at the upper or northern
corner of the Argon Plain, near the modern village of Sanga. It then ran in a
south-westerly direction, along the western side of Mount Alesium, to a place
called Melangeia (ta Melangeia), from which drinking-water was conducted by an
aqueduct to Mantineia, of which remains were observed by Ross. It corresponds
to the modern village of Pikerni, which is said to signify in the Albanian language
abounding in springs. The road next passed by the fountain of the Meliastae (Meliastai),
where were temples of Dionysus and of Aphrodite Melaenis: this fountain was 7
stadia from the city, opposite Ptolis or Old Mantineia. (Paus. viii. 6. §§ 4,
5.)
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ΟΡΕΣΘΕΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
Oresthasion, Orestheion, Oresteion. A town in the south of Arcadia,
in the district of Maenalia, a little to the right of the road, leading from Megalopolis
to Pallantium and Tegea. Its inhabitants were removed to Megalopolis on the foundation
of the latter city. Its territory is called Oresthis by Thucydides (iv. 134),
and in it was situated Ladoceia, which became a suburb of Megalopolis. (Ladokeia)
Leake places Oresthasium at or near the ridge of Tzimbaru, and conjectures that
it may have occupied the site of the village of Marmara or Marmaria, a name often
attached in Greece to places where ancient wrought or sculptured stones have been
found.
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ΟΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
An ancient city of Arcadia, called by Thucydides (v. 61) the Arcadian
(ho Arkadikos), to distinguish it from the Boeotian town. It was situated in a
plain surrounded on every side by mountains. This plain was bounded on the S.
by a low range of hills, called Anchisia, which separated it from the territory
of Mantineia; on the N. by a lofty chain, called Oligyrtus, through which lie
the passes into the territories of Pheneus and Stymphalus; and on the E. and W.
by two parallel chains running from N. to S., which bore no specific name in antiquity:
the eastern range is in one part 5400 feet high, and the western about 4000 feet.
The plain is divided into two by hills projecting on either side from the eastern
and western ranges, and which approach so close as to allow space for only a narrow
ravine between them. The western hill, on account of its rough and rugged form,
was called Trachy (Trachu) in antiquity; upon the summit of the western mountain
stood the acropolis of Orchomenus. The northern plain is lower than the southern;
the waters of the latter run through the ravine between Mount Trachy and that
upon which Orchomenus stands into the northern plain, where, as there is no outlet
for the waters, they form a considerable lake. (Paus. viii. 13. § 4.)
The acropolis of Orchomenus, stood upon a lofty, steep, and insulated
hill, nearly 3000 feet high, resembling the strong fortress of the Messenian Ithome,
and, like the latter, commanding two plains. From its situation and its legendary
history, we may conclude that it was one of the most powerful cities of Arcadia
in early times. Pausanias relates that Orchomenus was founded by an eponymous
hero, the son of Lycaon (viii. 3. § 3); but there was a tradition that, on the
death of Areas, his dominions were divided among his three sons, of whom Elatus
obtained Orchomenus as his portion. (Schol. ad. Dionys. Per. 415.) The kings of
Orchomenus are said to have ruled over nearly all Arcadia. (Heraclid. Pont. ap.
Diog. Laert. i. 94.) Pausanias also gives a list of the kings of Orchomenus, whom
he represents at the same time as kings of Arcadia. One of these kings, Aristocrates,
the son of Aechmis, was stoned to death by his people for violating the virgin
priestess of Artemis Hymnia. Aristocrates was succeeded by his son Hicetas, and
Hicetas by his son Aristocrates II., who, having abandoned the Messenians at the
battle of the Trench in the second war against Sparta, experienced the fate of
his grandfather, being stoned to death by the Arcadians. He appears to have been
the last king of Orchomenus, who reigned over Arcadia, but his family was not
deprived of the kingdom of Orchomenus, as is stated in some authorities, since
we find his son Aristodemus represented as king of the city. (Paus. viii. 5; Polyb.
iv. 3; Heracl. Pont. l. c.) It would appear, indeed, that royalty continued to
exist at Orchomenus long after its abolition in most other Grecian cities, since
Theophilus related that Peisistratus, king of Orchomenus, was put to death by
the aristocracy in the Peloponnesian War. (Plut. Parall. 32.)
Orchomenus is mentioned by Homer, who gives it the epithet of polumelos
(Il. ii. 605); and it is also called ferax by Ovid (Met. vi. 416), and aphneos
by Apollonius Rhodius (iii. 512). In the Persian wars Orchomenus sent 120 men
to Thermopylae (Herod. viii. 102), and 600 to Plataeae (ix. 28). In the Peloponnesian
War, the Lacedaemonians deposited in Orchomenus the hostages they had taken from
the Arcadians; but the walls of the city were then in a dilapidated state; and
accordingly, when the Athenians and their Peloponnesian allies advanced against
the city in B.C. 418, the Orchomenians dared not offer resistance, and surrendered
the hostages. (Thuc. v. 61.) At the time of the foundation of Megalopolis, we
find the Orchomenians exercising supremacy over Theisoa, Methydrium, and Teuthis;
but the inhabitants of these cities were then transferred to Megalopolis, and
their territories assigned to the latter. (Paus.viii.27. §4.) The Orchomenians,
through their enmity to the Mantineians, refused to join the Arcadian confederacy,
and made war upon the Mantineians. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 11, seq.; Diod. xv. 62.)
Henceforth Orchomenus lost its political importance; but, from its commanding
situation, its possession was frequently an object of the belligerent powers in
later times. In the war between Cassander and Polysperchon, it fell into the power
of the former, B.C. 313. (Diod. xix. 63.) It subsequently espoused the side of
the Aetolians, was taken by Cleomenes (Polyb. ii. 46), and was afterwards retaken
by Antigonus Doson, who placed there a Macedonian garrison. (Polyb. ii. 54, iv.
6; Plut. Arat. 5.) It was given back by Philip to the Achaeans. (Liv. xxxii. 5.)
Strabo mentions it among the Arcadian cities, which had either disappeared, or
of which there were scarcely any traces left (viii. p. 338); but this appears
from Pausanias to have been an exaggeration. When this writer visited the place,
the old city upon the summit of the mountain was in ruins, and there were only
some vestiges of the agora and the town walls; but at the foot of the mountain
there was still an inhabited town. The upper town was probably deserted at a very
early period; for such is the natural strength of its position, that we can hardly
suppose that the Orchomenians were dwelling there in the Peloponnesian War, when
they were unable to resist an invading force. Pausanias mentions, as the most
remarkable objects in the place, a source of water, and temples of Poseidon and
Aphrodite, with statues of stone. Close to the city was a wooden statue of Artemis,
enclosed in a great cedar tree, and hence called Cedreatis. Below the city were
several heaps of stones, said to have been erected to some persons slain in battle.
(Paus. viii. 13.)
The village of Kalpaki stands on the site of the lower Orchomenus.
On approaching the place from the south the traveller sees, on his left, tumuli,
chiefly composed of collections of stones, as described by Pausanias. Just above
Kalpaki are several pieces of white marble columns, belonging to an ancient temple.
There are also some remains of a temple at a ruined church below the village,
near which is a copious fountain, which is evidently the one described by Pausanias.
On the summit of the hill are some remains of the walls of the more ancient Orchomenus.
In the territory of Orchomenus, but adjoining that of Mantineia, consequently
on the northern slope of Mt. Anchisia, was the temple of Artemis Hymnia, which
was held in high veneration by all the Arcadians in the most ancient times. (Paus.
viii. 5. § 11.) Its site is probably indicated by a chapel of the Virgin Mary,
which stands east of Levidhi.
In the southern plain is an ancient canal, which conducts the waters
from the surrounding mountains through the ravine into the lower or northern plain,
which is the other Orchomnenian plain of Pausanias (viii. 13. § 4). After passing
the ravine, at the distance of 3 stadia from Orchomenus, the road divides into
two. One turns to the left along the northern side of the Orchomenian acropolis
to Caphyae, the other crosses the torrent, and passes under Mt. Trachy to the
tomb of Aristocrates, beyond which are the fountains called Teneiae (Teneiai).
Seven stadia further is a place called Amilus (Amilos). Here, in ancient times,
the road divided into two, one leading to Stymphalus and the other to Pheneus.
(Paus. viii. 13. § 4, seq.) The above-mentioned fountains are visible just beyond
Trachy, and a little further are some Hellenic ruins, which are those of Amilus.
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ΠΑΛΛΑΝΤΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗ
Pallantium, more rarely Palantion: Eth. Pallantieus. One of the most
ancient towns of Arcadia, in the district Maenalia, said to have been founded
by Pallas, a son of Lycaon, was situated W. of Tegea, in a small plain called
the Pallantic plain (Pallantikon pedion, Paus. viii. 44. § 5), which was separated
from the territory of Tegea by a choma (choma) or dyke. It was from this town
that Evander was said to have led colonists to the banks of the Tiber, and from
it the Palatium or Palatine Mount at Rome was reputed to have derived its name.
(Hes. ap. Steph. B. s. v.; Paus. viii. 43. § 2; Liv. i. 5; Plin. iv. 6; Justin,
xliii. 1.) Pallantium took part in the foundation of Megalopolis, B.C. 371 (Paus.
viii. 27. § 3); but it continued to exist as an independent state, since we find
the Pallantieis mentioned along with the Tegeatae, Megalopolitae and Aseatae,
as joining Epaminondas before the battle of Mantineia, B.C. 362. (Xen. Hell. vii.
5. 5) Pallantium subsequently sank into a mere village, but was restored and enlarged
by the emperor Antoninus Pius, who conferred upon it freedom from taxation and
other privileges, on account of its reputed connection with Rome. The town was
visited by Pausanias, who found here a shrine containing statues of Pallas and
Evander, a temple of Core (Proserpine), a statue of Polybius; and on the hill
above the town, which was anciently used as an acropolis, a temple of the pure
(katharoi) gods. (Paus. viii. 43. § 1, 44. § § 5, 6.) Leake was unable to find
the site of Pallantium, and supposed that it occupied a part of Tripolitza itself;
though at a later time he appears to have adopted the erroneous opinion of Gell,
who placed it at the village of Thana, to the S. of Triolitza. (Leake, Morea,
vol. i., vol. iii. p. 36 Gell, Itinerary of the Morea, p. 136.) The remains of
tie town were first discovered by the French expedition at a quarter of an hour's
distance from the Khan of Makri on the road from Tripolitza to Leondari. The ruins
have been used so long as a quarry by the inhabitants of Tripolitza and of the
neighbouring villages, that there are very few traces of the ancient town. Ross
discovered the foundations of the temple of the pure gods on the highest point
of the acropolis.
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ΣΟΥΜΗΤΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
Soumetia, Soumateion, Soumeteia . A town of Arcadia in the district Maenalia,
on the southern slope of Mt. Maenalus. It was probably on the summit of the hill
now called Sylimna, where there are some remains of polygonal walls.
the southern slope of Mt. Maenalus.
ΤΕΓΕΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
(Ion. Tegee: Eth. Tegeates). One of the most ancient and powerful
towns of Arcadia, situated in the SE. of the country. Its territory, called TEGEATIS
(Tegeatis), was bounded by Cynuria and Argolis on the E., from which it was separated
by Mt. Parthenium, by Laconia on the S., by the Arcadian district of Maenalia
on the W., and by the territory of Mantineia on the N. The Tegeatae are said to
have derived their name from Tegeates, a son of Lycaon, and to have dwelt originally
in eight, afterwards nine, demi or townships, the inhabitants of which were incorporated,
by Aleus in the city of Tegea, of which this hero was the reputed founder. The
names of these nine townships, which are preserved by Pausanias, are: Gareatae
(Gareatai), Phylaceis (Phulakeis), Caryatae (Karuatai), Corytheis (Korutheis),
Potachidae (Potachidai), Oeaatae (Oiatai); Manthyreis (manthureis), Echeuetheis
(Echeuethheis), to which Apheidantes (Apheidantes was added as the ninth in the
reign of king Apheidas. (Paus. viii. 3. § 4, viii. 45. § 1; Strab. viii. p. 337.)
The Tegeatae were early divided into 4 tribes (phulai), called respectively Clareotis
(Klareotis, in inscriptions Krariotis), Hippothoitis (Hippothoitis), Apolloneatis
(Apolloneatis), and Athoneatis (Athaneatis), to each of which belonged a certain
number of metoeci (metoikoi) or resident aliens. (Paus. viii. 53. § 6; Bockh,
Corp. lnscr. no. 1513.)
Tegea is mentioned in the Iliad (ii. 607), and was probably the most
celebrated of all the Arcadian towns in the earliest times. This appears from
its heroic renown, since its king Echemus is said to have slain Hyllus, the son
of Hercules, in single combat. (Herod. ix. 26; Paus. viii. 45. § 3.) The Tegeatae
offered a long-continued and successful resistance to the Spartans, when the latter
attempted to extend their dominion over Arcadia. In one of the wars between the
two people, Charilaus or Charillus, king of Sparta, deceived by an oracle which
appeared to promise victory to the Spartans, invaded Tegeatis, and was not only
defeated, but was taken prisoner with all his men who had survived the battle.
(Herod. i. 66; Paus. iii. 7. § 3, viii. 5. § 9, viii. 45. § 3, 47. § 2, 48. §
4.) More than two centuries afterwards, in the reign of Leon and Agesicles, the
Spartans again fought unsuccessfully against the Tegeatae; but in the following
generation, in the time of their king Anaxandrides, the Spartans, having obtained
possession of the bones of Orestes in accordance with an oracle, defeated the
Tegeatae and compelled them to acknowledge the supremacy of Sparta, about B.C.
560. (Herod. i. 65, 67, seq.; Paus. iii. 3. § 5, seq.) Tegea, however, still retained
its independence, though its military force was at the disposal of Sparta; and
in the Persian War it appears as the second military power in the Peloponnesus,
having the place of honour on the left wing of the allied army. Five hundred of
the Tegeatae fought at Thermopylae, and 3000 at the battle of Plataea, half of
their force consisting of hoplites and half of light-armed troops. (herod. vii.
202, ix. 26, seq., 61.) As it was not usual to send the whole force of a state
upon a distant march, we may probably estimate, with Clinton, the force of the
Tegeatae on this occasion as not more than three-fourths of their whole number.
This would give 4000 for the military population of Tegea, and about 17,400 for
the whole free population. (Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p. 417.)
Soon after the battle of Plataea, the Tegeatae were again at war with
the Spartans, of the causes of which, however, we have no information. We only
know that the Tegeatae fought twice against the Spartans between B.C. 479 and
464, and were each time defeated; first in conjunction with the Argives, and a
second time together with the other Arcadians, except the Mantineians at Dipaea,
in the Maenalian district. (Herod. ix. 37; Paus. iii. 11. § 7.) About this time,
and also at a subsequent period, Tegea, and especially the temple of Athena Alea
in the city, was a frequent place of refuge for persons who had rendered themselves
obnoxious to the Spartan government. Hither fled the seer Hegesistratus (Herod.
ix. 37) and the kings Leotychides, and Pausanias, son of Pleistoanax. (Herod.
vi. 72; Xen. Hell, iii. 5. 25; Paus. iii. 5. § 6.)
In the Peloponnesian War the Tegeatae were the firm allies of the
Spartans, to whom they remained faithful both on account of their possessing an
aristocratical constitution, and from their jealousy of the neighbouring democratical
city of Mantineia, with which they were frequently at war. Thus the Tegeatae not
only refused to join the Argives in the alliance formed against Sparta in B.C.
421, but they accompanied the Lacedaemonians in their expedition against Argos
in 418. (Thus. v. 32, 57.) They also fought on the side of the Spartans in the
Corinthian War, 394. (Xen. Hell. iv. 2. 13) After the battle of Leuctra, however
(371), the Spartan party in Tegea was expelled, and the city joined the other
Arcadian towns in the foundation of Megalopolis and in the formation of the Arcadian
confederacy. (Xen. hell. vi. 5. § 6, seq.) When Mantineia a few years afterwards
quarrelled with the supreme Arcadian government, and formed an alliance with its
old enemy Sparta, Tegea remained faithful to the new confederacy, and fought under
Epaminondas against the Spartans at the great battle of Mantineia, 362. (Xen.
Hell. vii. 4. 36, seq., vii. 5. § 5, seq.)
Tegea at a later period joined the Aetolian League, but soon after
the accession of Cleomenes III. to the Spartan throne it formed an alliance with
Sparta, together with Mantineia and Orchomenus. It thus became involved in hostilities
with the Achaeans, and in the war which followed, called the Cleomenic War, it
was taken by Antigonus Doson, the ally of the Achaeans, and annexed to the Achaean
League, B.C. 222. (Pol. ii. 46, 54, seq.) In 218 Tegea was attacked by Lycurgus,
the tyrant of Sparta, who obtained possession of the whole city with the exception
of the acropolis. It subsequently fell into the hands of Machanidas, but was recovered
by the Achaeans after the defeat of the latter tyrant, who was slain in battle
by Philopoemen. (Pol. v. 17, xi. 18.) In the time of Strabo Tegea was the only
one of the Arcadian towns which continued to be inhabited (Strab. viii. p. 388),
and it was still a place of importance in the time of Pausanias, who has given
us a minute account of its public buildings. (Paus. viii. 45 - 48, 53.) Tegea
was entirely destroyed by Alaric towards the end of the 4th century after Christ.
(Claud. B. Get. 576; comp. Zosim. v. 6.)
The territory of Tegea formed the southern part of the plain of Tripolitza...Tegea
was about 10 miles S. of the latter city, in a direct line, and about 3 miles
SE. of the modern town of Tripolitza. Being situated in the lowest part of the
plain, it was exposed to inundations caused by the waters flowing down from the
surrounding mountains; and in the course of ages the soil has been considerably
raised by the depositions brought down by the waters. Hence there are scarcely
any remains of the city visible, and its size can only be conjectured from the
broken pieces of stone and other fragments scattered on the plain, and from the
foundations of walls and buildings discovered by the peasants in working in the
fields. It appears, however, that the ancient city extended from the hill of Aio
Sostis (St. Saviour on the N., over the hamlets Ibrahim-Effendi and Paleo--Episkopi,
at least as far as Akhuria and Piali. This would make the city at least 4 miles
in circumference. The principal remains are at Piali. Near the principal church
of this village Leake found the foundations of an ancient building, of fine squared
stones, among which were two pieces of some large columns of marble; and there
can be little doubt that these are the remains of the ancient temple of Athena
Alea. This temple was said to have been originally built by Aleus, the founder
of Tegea; it was burnt down in B.C. 394, and the new building, which was erected
by Scopas, is said by Pausanias to have been the largest and most magnificent
temple in the Peloponnesus (Paus. viii. 45. §4, seq.) Pausanias entered the city
through the gate leading to Pallantium, consequently the south-western gate, which
must have been near Piali. He begins his description with the temple of Athena
Alea, and then goes across the great agora to the theatre, the remains of which
Ross traces in the ancient foundations of the ruined church of Paleo--Episkopi.
Perhaps this theatre was the splendid marble one built by Antiochus IV. Epiphanes
in B.C. 175. (Liv. xli. 20.) Pausanias ends his description with the mention of
a height (chorion hupselon, viii. 53. § 9), probably the hill Aio Sostis in the
N. of the town, and apparently the same as that which Pausanias elsewhere calls
the Watch-Hill (lophos Phulaktris, viii. 48. § 4), and Polybius the acropolis
(akra, v. 17). None of the other public buildings of Tegea mentioned by Paulsanias
can be identified with certainty; but there can be no doubt if excavations were
made on its site many interesting remains would be discovered, since the deep
alluvial soil is favourable to their preservation...
There were five roads leading from Tegea. One led due N. across the
Tegeatic plain to Mantineia. A second led due S. by the valley of the Alpheius
to Sparta, following the same route as the present road from Tripolitza to Mistra.
A third led west to Pallantium. It first passed by the small mountain Cresium
(Kresion), and then ran across the Manthyric plain along the side of the Taki.
Mount Cresium is probably the small isolated hill on which the modern village
of Vuno stands, and not the high mountain at the end of the plain, according to
the French map. Upon reaching the Choma (Choma), the road divided into two, one
road leading direct to Pallantium, and the other SW. to Megalopolis through Asea.
(Paus. viii. 44. § 1, seq.; Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 9, hai epi to Pallantion Pherousai
pulai. This choma separated the territories of Pallantium and Tegea, and extended
as far south as Mount Boreium (Krauori), where it touched the territory of Megalopolis.
There are still remains of this choma running NE. to SW. by the side of the marsh
of Taki. These remains consist of large blocks of stone, and must be regarded
as the foundations of the choma, which cannot have been a chaussee or causeway,
as the French geographers call it, since Choma always signifies in Greek writers
an artificial heap of earth, a tumulus, mound, or dyke. (Ross, p. 59.) A fourth
road led SE. from Tegea, by the sources of the Garates to Thyreatis. (Paus. viii.
54. § 4.) A fifth road led NE. to Hysiae and Argos, across the Corythic plain,
and then across Mt. Parthenium, where was a temple of Pan, erected on the spot
at which the god appeared to the courier Pheidippides. This road was practicable
for carriages, and was much frequented. (Paus. viii. 54. § 5, seq.; Herod. vi.
105, 106)
The Roman poets use the adjective Tegeeus or Tegeaeus as equivalent
to Arcadian: thus it is given as an epithet to Pan (Virg. Georg. i. 18), Callisto,
daughter of Lycaon (Ov. Ar. Am. ii. 55, Fast. ii. 167), Atalanta (Ov. Met. viii.
317, 380), Carmenta (Ov. Fast. i. 627), and Mercury (Stat. Silv. i. 54)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
Phalanthum (Phalangon: Eth. Phalangios), a town and mountain of Arcadia, in the district Orchomenia, near Methydrium. (Paus. viii. 35. § 9; Steph. B. s. v.; Leake, Peloponnesiaca, p. 240.)
ΟΡΕΣΘΕΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
(Oresteion) or Orestheum (Orestheion), also called Oresthasium (Oresthasion) by Pausanias. A town of Arcadia, southeast of Megalopolis, in the district of Oresthis. Its ruins, according to Pausanias, were to be seen to the right of the road leading from Megalopolis to Tegaea. Orestes died here.
ΠΑΛΛΑΝΤΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗ
(Pallantion). An ancient town of Arcadia, near Tegea, said to
have been founded by Pallas, son of Lycaon. Evander is said to have come from
this place, and to have called the town which he founded on the banks of the Tiber
Pallanteum (afterwards Palantium and Palatium), after the Arcadian town. Hence
Evander is called Pallantius heros.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΤΕΓΕΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
Now Piali; an important city of Arcadia, the capital of the
district Tegeatis, which was bounded on the east by Argolis and Laconica, on the
south by Laconia, on the west by Maenalia, and on the north by the territory of
Mantinea. It was one of the most ancient towns of Arcadia, and is said to have
been founded by Tegeates, the son of Lycaon. The Tegeatae sent 3000 men to the
battle of Plataea, in which they were distinguished for their bravery. They remained
faithful to Sparta in the Peloponnesian War; but after the battle of Leuctra they
joined the rest of the Arcadians in establishing their independence. During the
wars of the Achaean League, Tegea was taken both by Cleomenes, king of Sparta,
and Antigonus Doson, king of Macedonia, and the ally of the Achaeans.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΜΑΙΝΑΛΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
ΜΑΝΤΙΝΕΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
ΟΡΕΣΘΕΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
ΟΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
ΠΑΛΛΑΝΤΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗ
ΑΣΕΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
The site is on a steep hill overlooking a valley between Tripolis
and Megalopolis. Remains of a circuit wall around the top of the hill and of two
spur walls which surround a lower town at E are dated to mid 3d c. B.C. Some houses
belong to the Hellenistic period. One of them is of the Priene type, previously
known only outside of Greece. The Hellenistic site seems to have existed into
the 1st c. B.C. Ancient sources mention an Asea also during the Classical period,
but this town must have lain somewhere else in the valley. Immediately below the
Hellenistic stratum on the hill are the remains of a Middle Helladic settlement,
which ceased at a time corresponding to the transition between MH II and MH III.
E. J. Holmerg, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
ΜΑΝΤΙΝΕΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
Located in the plain N of modern Tripolis and off the road to Olympia.
Mentioned as lovely by Homer (Il. 2.607), it was formed by the synoecism of five
villages at some unknown date (Strab. 8.3.2). As an ally of Sparta, Mantinea took
part with 500 hoplites in the battle of Thermopylai (Hdt. 7.202), but came too
late for Plataia (Hdt. 9.77). Mantinea split with Sparta in 420 (Thuc. 5.29) when
interests collided, and was disbanded by Sparta in 385. After the battle of Leuktra
in 371 the city was reconstituted, and was a member of the Arkadian League until
362 (Xen. Hell. 7.5), at which time it returned to friendship with Sparta. In
223 Antigonos Doson destroyed the city which was then refounded under the name
of Antigoneia, a name which it retained until Hadrian's time. Numerous battles
took place in the vicinity (418: Thuc. 5.64-81; 362: Xen. Hell. 7.5; 207: Polyb.
11.11-19). Pausanias describes the city (8.8.3-8.12), thus disproving Strabo (8.8.2),
who included it among states no longer extant.
The 4th c. city--the most ancient site was at Ptolis, securely identified
with the hill Gourtsouli--is located nearly in the middle of the plain, and was
originally bisected by the Ophis river. Later, after Agesipolis had taken the
city in 385 (Xen. Hell. 5.2.4-7) by damming the river and thus causing the sun-dried
bricks of the walls to collapse, the river was diverted so as to flow around the
city. The circuit of the walls, 3942 m long and roughly oval in shape, is preserved
for nearly its entire extent. Originally built up in mudbrick, only the socle
of the inner and outer curtain remains, at a height varying between 1-1.8 m with
a width of 4.2-4.7 m. Over 100 towers (estimates vary as to the original number)
are built out from the wall, and there are at least nine, and possibly ten, gates.
Most of the gates are so constructed that one is forced to approach through towers
into a passage between sections of the wall. Excavators have cleared the agora
(85 x 150 m) with colonnades around it, and the remains of a 4th c. theater at
its W end. Though rebuilt and remodeled at various times, it may well be one of
the earlier Greek theaters.
W. F. Wyatt, Jr., ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
ΟΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
The site is located N of Mantinea on an acropolis dominating the plains
of Levidi and Candyla from an elevation of 936 m. The name Orchomenos appears
in the Catalogue of Ships (Iliad) and in the Odyssey. At the time of Pausanias
the higher part of the city had already been abandoned (Paus. 8.13.2), a fact
confirmed also by the lack of Roman remains in that zone. A wall in polygonal
masonry with a perimeter of ca. 2300 m enclosed the upper part of the acropolis.
It appears to have undergone repeated renovation. The earliest wall must have
been erected at the end of the 5th c. B.C. (Thuc. 5.61), though those parts actually
visible are from the 4th and 3d c. and appear to be interrupted every 30 or 50
m by square towers. There were two gates, one opening to the W and the other to
the SE toward the Charadra, the principal fountain of the city. Inside the walled
area a quadrangular agora has been found, flanked on the N by a portico and on
the E by a bouleuterion. S of the agora is the Temple of Artemis Mesopolitis,
the major sanctuary of the city, datable to the second half of the 6th c. B.C.
In Ionic style, with foundation and socle in limestone, the upper section was
probably of brick. To the NE of the agora was the theater, of which there remains
part of the skene and proskenion, as well as a marble seat from the proedria with
an inscription from the 4th-3d c. The lower city, seat of the modern village,
was inhabited from the Geometric age until Roman times. There are recognizable
remains of a peripteral temple from the end of the 6th c. B.C., which may be identified
as one of the two temples mentioned by Pausanias and dedicated respectively to
Poseidon and Aphrodite. Also found are cisterns, fountains, and private houses
from both Greek and Roman epochs, one of which is served by thermal springs.
L. Vlad Borrelli, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains 29 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
ΠΑΛΛΑΝΤΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗ
More important for Roman legend than for Greek history and archaeology,
for the Romans believed that Evander set out from there to settle the Palatine
in Rome. Though already mentioned in Hesiod (Fr. 162 Merkelbach-West), the town
never attained importance. It subscribed to the Arkadian synoecism after the battle
of Leuktra; a battle between Kleomenes and Aratos took place there in 228 (Plut.
Cleom. 4.4, Arat. 35.5); because of the fancied Arkadian origin of the first settlers
of the Palatine, the emperor Antoninus Pius made the village a city libera et
immunis (Paus. 8.43.3).
The ancient city is located some 7 km SW of Tripolis, just E of the
Tripolis-Megalopolis road. On a low hill rising in front of Mt. Kravari (ancient
Boreion) the Chapel of St. John is set down in the foundations of a rectangular
building (16.15 x 8.90 m) with an E orientation, probably the sanctuary dedicated
to the Pure Gods mentioned by Pausanias (8.44.5). A few in to the N, with the
same orientation, there is a smaller, earlier, megaron (10.45 x 4.50 m). A number
of votive offerings (6th-5th c. B.C.), now in the museum at Tegea, were found
beneath a terracotta paving of a small room in the area. Portions of the acropolis
wall are still in place. On the S slope of the hill, on a large terrace, there
are to be found the foundations of a temple (21.40 x 11.70 m), apparently of 5th
c. date. About 1.6 km SW of Pallantion, on the N portion of Mt. Boreion in a place
called Vigli there are observable the foundations of a temple (11.55 x 24.70 m),
dated to the last quarter of the 6th c. which has been identified with that of
Athena Soteira and Poseidon (Paus. 8.44.4). The structure replaces an earlier,
7th c. building on the same site.
W. F. Wyatt, Jr., ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
ΤΕΓΕΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ
Old and important city in SW part of the region, some 12 km to the
S of Tripolis. Mention is made of it as early as the Catalogue of Ships (Il. 2.607).
In the archaic period (before 600), nine demes whose names are given by Pausanias
(8.45.1) came together to form the city, which is situated in the Tegeatis, which
on the E borders Kynuria and Argolis (though separated from them by Mt. Parthenion),
in the S on Lakonia, in the W on Mainalia, and in the N on Mantineia. The city
district lies between the villages of Piali (now Tegea), Haghios Sostis, Omertsaousi,
and Achouria. In the absence of recent excavations, the location of the city walls
remains uncertain.
Tegea had a role to play in the saga of the Dorian migrations: Echemos,
king of Tegea, killed Hyllos, son of Herakles (cf. Hdt. 9.26). In its early period,
Tegea fought with Sparta, which sought in vain to conquer it (Hdt. 1.66-68) but
from 550 B.C. incorporated it in its Peloponnesian League. Tegea remained in the
alliance with Sparta, and furnished the second strongest Peloponnesian army in
the Persian War. At the battle of Marathon, the Athenians adopted the Arkadian
goat-god Pan from the Tegean mountains (Hdt. 6.105-6). The Tegeans fought with
1,500 hoplites at Plataiai (Hdt. 9.28) and are mentioned on the snake-column at
Delphi. Between 470 and 465 a rivalry grew up between the Arkadians and the Spartans,
and the Tegeans suffered defeats (Hdt. 9.35). An oligarchic party bound Tegea
closer to Sparta, and thus brought the city into conflict with Mantineia. In the
Peloponnesian War, Tegea fought on the Spartan side. Around 430-420 Tegea began
to strike its own coins. It was given a city wall ca. 370 B.C. at the instigation
of the pro-Sparta party (Xen. Hell. 6.4.18, 6.5.6-15, 7.5-8). In 362 at the battle
of Mantineia Tegea fought on the Theban side, and in 316 successfully withstood
a siege by Kassandros, but was taken in 222 by Antogonos Doson, in 218 by Lykourgos,
and 210 by Machanidas. Directly afterwards Philopoimen made it a base for his
struggle with Sparta. In 174 B.C. King Antiochos IV Epiphanes of Syria gave money
for the rebuilding in marble of the cavea and the analemma-wall of the theater
which had been standing since the end of the 4th c. B.C. Remains of it are incorporated
in the Christian basilica of Palaio Episkopi.
Although it lost in importance during the Hellenistic period, in comparison
to other Arkadian cities Tegea maintained its position well (Strab. 8.8.2.388)
and is described extensively by Pausanias ca. A.D. 170 (8.45-54). In 124 the emperor
Hadrian visited Tegea, and had the baths rebuilt. This led to the adoption of
a new chronological reckoning-point (IG v.2 no. 51-52). About 395 Tegea was destroyed
by Alaric and his Goths (Zosimos 5.6.4-5, Claudian, Bell. Goth. 57Sf). But the
presence of Christian basilicas show that Tegea continued to be inhabited in the
5th and 6th c.
The holiest sanctuary in Tegea and the old cultic center of the region
was the Temple of Athena Alea, in the neighborhood of which Late Mycenaean sherds
have been found. The votive gifts show that the cult of the goddess dates back
to the Geometric period. According to tradition the shrine was founded by Aleos,
and from the distant past it possessed the right of asylum, and was famous as
a place of refuge not merely for fugitives and exiles, but also for various kings
of Sparta. On the N side of the temple was the brook where Herakles is supposed
to have ravished Aleos' daughter Auge. Her exposed son Telephos later became king
of Mysia and Pergamon.
In the area of the sanctuary have been found the remains of an archaic
temple whose cult-statue was carved by the Attic sculptor Endoios and transported
by Augustus to Rome, where it was placed in the Forum Augustum. The archaic temple
burned down in 395-394 and was replaced in the middle of the 4th c. Skopas designed
the new temple and its sculptures. The remains of this temple were discovered
in 1879-80 and excavated from 1900 to 1902. A complete reconstruction of the architecture
is now possible, but our knowledge of the accompanying sculptures (metopes and
pediments) is still unsatisfactory, despite the fact that outstanding fragments
are to be found in the museums at Tegea and Athens (nos. 178-180). The surviving
sculptures should be dated around 340 B.C.
The temple foundations are of rubble-work. The krepis and the other
parts of the building are of marble from Doliana. On the stylobate, which measures
47.52 x 19.16 m, was the peristalsis, 14 Doric columgs long and 6 wide. The columns
were 19.16 m high. Two ramps to the N and E lead to the stylobate. The cella also
had a door to the N. The pronaos and opisthodomos also had Doric columns. Above
them were carved metopes which have almost completely vanished but inscriptions
for which remain on the architrave (IG v.2 no. 78-79). Inside the cella were Corinthian
half-columns arranged in such a way that the Ionic bases are an extension of the
wall base. The Corinthian capitals show the henceforth canonical acanthus leaves
between the volutes, instead of the palmette seen at Bassai-Phigalia.
On the E the metopes showed the fight of Herakles with Kepheus and
his sons; on the W, the Telephos myth. The E pediment showed the Calydonian boar
hunt with Meleager and Atalanta, the W pediment again depicting the Telephos myth.
Counting the splendid plant-acroteria of the pediment, the temple was 15.7 m high.
In the E of the temple the substructure of the altar measured some 11 x 23 m.
In the 5th c. an Early Christian basilica was installed in the cella,
use being made of a salvaged door.
The market, which was rectangular according to Pausanias, has been
identified as having been W of the theater and the Church of Palaio Episkopi.
The agora had colonnades. An inscription and various finds show the existence
of a common table and a weights and measures office of the agoranomon, as well
as a macellum.
In the park to the W of the Palaio Episkopi are the remains of an
Early Christian basilica of the 5th c., with one nave and mosaic paving showing
the twelve seasons and the rivers Tigris and Euphrates.
Tegea's acropolis was located on the hill of Haghios Sostis, which
was inhabited from Mycenaean times. It is identical with a place named Phylaktris
or Akra (Paus. 8.48.4, Polyb. 5.17.2). Here was situated the Temple of Athena
Polias, which was not the same as that of Athena Alea. No remains of it have been
found. On the NE side of Haghios Sostis excavations have uncovered a Sanctuary
of Demeter-Kore which cannot be identified with that mentioned by Pausanias as
belonging to the agora. Finds are in the National Museum at Athens and in the
museum at Tegea. There are important questions concerning the city area that can
be answered only after further excavations.
For finds collected in the museum, see the Bibliography below.
W. Fuchs, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains 58 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
ΑΣΕΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
Ο Παυσανίας τοποθετεί τις πηγές του Αλφειού (το σημερινό Φραγκόβρυσο) σε απόσταση 5 σταδίων από την Ασέα και τις πηγές του Ευρώτα πολύ κοντά. Τα νερά των δύο πηγών ενώνονται και για 20 στάδια έχουν κοινό ρεύμα. Μετά πέφτουν σε καταβόθρα και ο μεν Ευρώτας βγαίνει στη χώρα των Λακεδαιμονίων, ενώ ο Αλφειός στις Πηγές της Μεγαλόπολης (Παυσ. 8,44,3).
ΒΛΑΧΟΚΕΡΑΣΙΑ (Χωριό) ΣΚΥΡΙΤΙΔΑ
ΟΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΕΒΙΔΙ
...Ο προϊστορικός οικισμός του Ορχομενού βρίσκεται στη θέση Καταλύματα,
στο πρώτο Ορχομένιο πεδίο, δηλαδή στο σημερινό κάμπο του Λεβιδίου.
Για να ιδρυθεί η πόλις, έπρεπε πρώτα να αποστραγγιστεί η πεδιάδα. Και πράγματι,
βλέπει κανείς και σήμερα ακόμα και στην πεδιάδα του Λεβιδίου και στον κάμπο της
Κανδήλας (Β' Ορχομένιο πεδίο)
κατάλοιπα από θαυμαστά έργα, με τα οποία αποστραγγίστηκαν τα έλη. Πρόκειται για
διώρυγες, κανάλια και διανοιγμένες φυσικές καταβόθρες, που παροχέτευαν τα νερά
προς υπόγεια βάραθρα τα οποία οι Αρκάδες αποκαλούσαν ζέρεθρα. Ενα μεγάλο λείψανο
του αναχώματος στον κάμπο της Κανδήλας, είδε και ο Παυσανίας και το ονομάζει "χώμα
των Καφυατών'. Οι έρευνες που κάναμε στα έργα αυτά, έδειξαν πως είχαν ήδη ολοκληρωθεί
στο τέλος της τρίτης χιλιετίας π.Χ. Τα σπουδαία αυτά έργα έγιναν απ' τους Μινύες,
ένα προελληνικό φύλο, που έχει επιτελέσει κι άλλα έργα στην Ελλάδα, όπως την αποστράγγιση
της Κωπαίδας, στη Βοιωτία.
Αφού αποστραγγίστηκε το α' Ορχομένιο πεδίο, χτίστηκε δίπλα στον πανάρχαιο δρόμο
που οδηγούσε στον Ορχομενό, ένα λίθινο μνημείο, που το είδε ο Παυσανίας και το
ονόμασε "Σωρό". Εχουμε ερευνήσει εν μέρει το μνημείο αυτό και το χρονολογήσαμε
στα μέσα περίπου της γ' χιλιετίας π.Χ. Απομένει να ανασκαφεί στο σύνολό του, για
ν' αποδειχθεί η ακρίβεια της παράδοσης, που θέλει να είναι θαμμένοι κάτω απ' αυτό
Αρκάδες πολεμιστές μιας πανάρχαιης εποχής.
Κείμενο: Εφόρου Αρχαιοτήτων Dr. Θεόδωρου Γ. Σπυρόπουλου.
Το απόσπασμα παρατίθεται τον Μάρτιο 2003 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα, με φωτογραφίες, του Δήμου Τριπόλεως
ΑΛΩΝΙΣΤΑΙΝΑ (Χωριό) ΦΑΛΑΝΘΟΣ
Mέσα στην μικρή κοιλάδα μεταξύ Βυτίνας και Πιάνας, κάτω απ' την
σκυθρωπή σκιά του Μαινάλου, στα ριζά της Οστρακίνας μέχρι τις βόρειες προεκτάσεις
του όρους Φαλάνθου, είναι χτισμένη η Αλωνίσταινα, σε υψόμετρo 1.050 μέτρων.
Το πυκνό ελατόδασος που περικυκλώνει το χωριό το έχει καταστήσει
από παλιά ως τοποθεσία θερινής αναψυχής, τελευταία μάλιστα και χειμερινής καθώς
πολύ κοντά της βρίσκεται το χιονοδρομικό κέντρο της Οστρακίνας.
Μετά από ένα περιπετειώδες ταξίδι στην εθνική οδό Κορίνθου-Τριπόλεως
λόγω των πρόσφατων κατολισθήσεων, λίγο πριν την Τρίπολη στρίψαμε δεξιά γιά Βυτίνα.
Όσο πλησιάζουμε αρχίζει να ορθώνεται μπροστά μας ο αυστηρός σκούρος ορεινός
όγκος του πυκνοδασωμένου Μαινάλου.
Έξω απ' τη Βυτίνα μπαίνουμε του καρδιά του βουνού, καθώς ακολουθούμε
τη μαγευτική διαδρομή των εννέα χιλιομέτρων που οδηγεί στην Αλωνίσταινα.
O καιρός είναι βροχερός και, καθώς ο φόβος μας για ομίχλη στην περιοχή
βγήκε αληθινός, η περιορισμένη ορατότητα δεν μας επιτρέπει την πανοραμική θέα
και την φωτογράφιση από το περίφημο "Διάσελο", στα 1120 μέτρα.
Η τοποθεσία αυτή είναι γνωστή απ' τις μάχες που έγιναν εδώ κατά
τη διάρκεια της επανάστασης του '21,αλλά και από το φαινόμενο της οφθαλμαπάτης
που δημιουργείται στους ταξιδιώτες που ενώ κινούνται νομίζουν πως βρίσκονται
στο ίδιο σημείο. Για όσους έχουν μελετήσει τα απομνημονεύματα των αγωνιστών
του εικοσιένα, η Αλωνίσταινα φέρνει στη σκέψη τους μέρες ηρωικής θυσίας, καθώς
υπήρξε φύτρα λεβεντογέννα πλήθους αγωνιστών με ηγέτες τους Δημητρακόπουλους,
αλλά και τους Κωτσακαίους, την οικογένεια της μητέρας του Θεόδωρου Κολοκοτρώνη.
Το ιστορικό παρελθόν, όμως, δεν μπορεί να επισκιάσει τις εντυπώσεις
που δημιουργεί το υπέροχο τοπίο και όσοι γίνονται κοινωνοί της εκπληκτικής ομορφιάς
του το παρομοιάζουν με Ελβετικό.
Η πρώτη εντύπωση απ' το χωριό είναι ότι διατηρεί την παραδοσιακή
μορφή του καθώς υπάρχουν πολλά παλιά αρχοντικά, αντιπροσωπευτικά δείγματα της
αρκαδικής αρχιτεκτονικής, με μεγάλα τοξωτά ανοίγματα, χτισμένα από Λαγκαδινούς
μαστόρους.
Η Αλωνίσταινα έχει ανακηρυχθεί διατηρητέος οικισμός και είναι καλοσυντηρημένη
με σύγχρονες πέτρινες αναπλάσεις στους δρόμους και στις πλατείες της.
Στα παλιά αρχοντικά που δίνουν το χρώμα της ιστορίας και της ακμής
του τόπου έχουν γίνει εργασίες στήριξης για να αντέξουν στη φθορά του χρόνου.
Τα περισσότερα σπίτια των ευκατάστατων Αλωνιστιωτών είναι διώροφα,
με το απαραίτητο υπόγειο, και στα παλαιότερα απ’ αυτά υπάρχουν ωραία θυρώματα
από πελεκητές πέτρες. Ιδιαίτερο χαρακτηριστικό σ' αυτές τις παραδοσιακές οικοδομές
είναι η πέτρινη σκάλα, ο επιβλητικός εξώστης με τα φουρούσια και το ξύλινο ή
σιδερένιο κιγκλίδωμα.
Το άλλο στοιχείο που μας κινεί το ενδιαφέρον είναι τα πολλά νερά,
οι πηγές και τα μικρά ρέματα που συναντάς κυριολεκτικά σε κάθε σου βήμα. Το
πασίγνωστο Κεφαλάρι κάτω απ’ το ναϊσκο του Αγίου Νικολάου μάς εντυπωσιάζει με
την υπόγεια διαμόρφωση για τη συλλογή του νερού και τη διοχέτευσή του με ελικοειδή
αυλάκια στους κήπους.
Στην πλατεία του χωριού αντικρίζουμε το άγαλμα της μητέρας του Θεόδωρου
Κολοκοτρώνη, Ζαμπείας Κωτσάκη. Ο Γέρος του Μοριά πέρασε εδώ τα παιδικά του χρόνια,
καθώς η μητέρα του γύρισε για ασφάλεια κοντά στα αδέρφια της, όταν οι Τούρκοι
σκότωσαν τον άντρα της και πατέρα του δεκάχρονου τότε Θεόδωρου.
Απέναντι από το άγαλμα βρίσκεται η μονόκλιτη βασιλική εκκλησία της
Αγίας Παρασκευής και δίπλα στην είσοδό της ο τάφος της Ζαμπείας.
Ένα κατηφορικό μονοπάτι κάτω απ' την πλατεία, δίπλα στο ρέμα που διατρέχει
κατά μήκος την Αλωνίσταινα βρίσκεται ο ερειπωμένος παλαιός υδρόμυλος, ιδιοκτησίας
του ναού, την παρουσία του οποίου υπενθυμίζει το βαγένι και τμήμα του κτιρίου.
Στην έξοδο του χωριού λειτουργούσε ο δεύτερος υδρόμυλος, ο οποίος
στη συνέχεια μετατράπηκε σε υδροκίνητο ξυλουργείο.
Λίγο πριν την Αγία Παρασκευή βρίσκουμε το χάνι, ένα μνημείο μιας
άλλης εποχής. Πρόκειται για δύο διαδοχικά κτίσματα των αρχών του περασμένου
αιώνα, πασίγνωστα στους μετακινούμενους από την ύπαιθρο προς την πρωτεύουσα
του νομού προτού μπει το αυτοκίνητο στη ζωή τους. Οι άνθρωποι τότε μετακινούνταν
είτε με ιπποκίνητες άμαξες, είτε με τα ζώα τους.
Η διαδρομή ήταν μακρινή και η Αλωνίσταινα ένας ενδιάμεσος σταθμός
που προσφέρετο για ανάπαυση ή και διανυκτέρευση. Στα χάνια σε ειδικούς χώρους
ξεκουράζονταν τα ζώα και σε διπλανό κτίριο λειτουργούσε εστιατόριο και ξενοδοχείο
για τους ταξιδιώτες.
Η ομίχλη και το ψιλόβροχο επιτάχυναν τον ερχομό της νύχτας και καθώς
τα φώτα άναψαν το χωριό γεμίζει με σκιές και μοιάζει σα να ζωντανεύουν οι μύθοι
και οι θρύλοι που ακολουθούν από την αρχαιότητα την περιοχή.
Η Αλωνίσταινα αναπαύεται στην αγκαλιά του Μαινάλου, του βουνού που
κατοικούσε ο Πάνας, ο τραγοπόδαρος θεός των ποιμνίων και των βοσκών. Το πανέμορφο
αυτό ορεινό τοπίο έχει εμπνεύσει ποιητές όπως τον Γκαίτε, τον Πουσέν και τον
Βιργίλιο ο οποίος μάλιστα έγραψε πως το Μαίναλο "πάντα ακούει τα ερωτικά
τραγούδια των βοσκών και τη φλογέρα του Πάνα".
Το άλλο πρωί μας περίμενε μια ευχάριστη έκπληξη. Οι στέγες, τα πεζούλια
και οι φράχτες είχαν γίνει κάτασπρα από το χιόνι που έπεσε τη νύχτα και η Αλωνίσταινα
μας φανερώνει μια ακόμη απ' τις πολλές ομορφιές της.
Εμείς, πλημμυρισμένοι απ' τις μαγευτικές εικόνες, συνεχίζουμε τη
φωτογράφιση της τοποθεσίας αυτής που συνδυάζει την ομορφιά της φύσης με την
ιστορία.
Κατά την περίοδο της Φραγκοκρατίας το χωριό, που τότε ονομαζόταν
Λενίσταινα, συνδέθηκε με την εξέγερση των Αρκάδων κατά του Φιλίππου της Σαβοίας,
ο οποίος τους είχε επιβάλει έκτακτη φορολογία ως αντίποινα για τις σχέσεις τους
με τον αντίζηλό του δούκα των Αθηνών.
Το 1715 η Αλωνίσταινα, όπως και όλη η Πελοπόννησος, κατακτήθηκε
από τους Τούρκους. Οι κάτοικοι του χωριού σε αντίθεση με τους άλλους Πελοποννήσιους
που δέχθηκαν τους Τούρκους παθητικά, αμύνθηκαν και για αρκετό διάστημα απέκρουσαν
την προέλαση του εχθρού, με αρχηγό τον Δήμο Κολοκοτρώνη. Κατά την τουρκοκρατία
η Αλωνίσταινα, που είχε πληθυσμό περί τους 750 κατοίκους, αποτέλεσε τμήμα του
ορεινού καζά της Καρύταινας.
To 1819 τα κλέφτικα σώματα του Πλαπούτα και του Νικηταρά ήλθαν σε
σύγκρουση με τους Τούρκους, κατά την οποία οι Τούρκοι είχαν σημαντικές απώλειες
και απείλησαν να την καταστρέψουν σε αντίποινα.
Η Αλωνίσταινα πήρε αμέσως μέρος στον Αγώνα του 1821 και από τους
κατοίκους της σχηματίστηκε ο πρώτος πυρήνας του στρατού του Θεόδωρου Κολοκοτρώνη.
Τον Απρίλιο του 1821 δύο χιλιάδες Τούρκοι κατέλαβαν λεηλάτησαν και κατέκαψαν
μέρος του χωριού, το οποίο αργότερα ανακαταλήφθηκε από τους Έλληνες που εγκατέστησαν
στρατόπεδο στη γειτονική θέση Διάσελο.
Κατά την εκστρατεία των Αιγυπτίων, οι Έλληνες σημείωσαν σημαντική
νίκη επί του Ιμπραήμ πασά στις αρχές του 1825. Σύντομα όμως 20.000 Αιγύπτιοι
ανάγκασαν τις μικρές ελληνικές δυνάμεις να αποσυρθούν και το χωριό κάηκε ολοκληρωτικά.
Aπό τις οικογένειες της Αλωνίσταινας που πρωταγωνίστησαν στο Αγώνα
του '21, εκτός από την ιστορική οικογένεια των Κωτσακαίων, είναι και η οικογένεια
των Δημητρακόπουλων η οποία αντιπροσωπεύτηκε από τον γνωστό για την αδιαλλαξία
του στην εφαρμογή των νόμων, Τουρκοβασίλη, στρατολόγο και αρχηγό της προσωπικής
φρουράς του Κολοκοτρώνη, καθώς και από τους αγωνιστές Γεώργιο και Σταύρο και
τον πολιτικό Παναγιώτη Δημητρακόπουλο.
Πολύ γνωστή για την προσφορά της στην Ελληνική Επανάσταση είναι
και η ποιμενική οικογένεια του Προύντζου, απ' την τοποθεσία Καλύβια Καρδαρά,
της οποίας ογδόντα μέλη υπήρξαν αγωνιστές και οι περισσότεροι σκοτώθηκαν στη
μάχη.
Κοντά στην Αλωνίσταινα, μέσα σε μια χαράδρα του Μαινάλου, κατά τα
χρόνια της τουρκοκρατίας, υπήρχε ένα ζωντανό κεφαλοχώρι, το Αρκουδόρεμα, τόπος
ιστορικός, που ήταν κρυσφύγετο και ορμητήριο των κλεφταρματωλών. Στη θέση αυτή
κατά την αρχαιότητα βρισκόταν η αρχαία πόλη, καθώς και ο τάφος της Καλλιστούς,
θυγατέρας του Λυκάονα και μητέρας του Αρκάδα.
Το χωριό μετά την απελευθέρωση εγκαταλείφθηκε και ερημώθηκε. Το
μόνο κτίσμα που σώζεται είναι το παλιό εκκλησάκι της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου,
χτισμένο το 1719, με συντηρημένες τις παλαιές τοιχογραφίες του.
Ερημωμένο είναι και το Λιμποβίτσι, το ένδοξο χωριό των Κολοκοτρωναίων,
χωμένο μέσα στο ελατόδασος, πάνω απ' την Αλωνίσταινα και το Αρκουδόρεμα. Το
άλλοτε κραταιό Αρκαδικό χωριό θυμίζουν μόνο το ανακατασκευασμένο σπίτι του Θεόδωρου
Κολοκοτρώνη, δίπλα στα ερείπια του παλαιού, που λειτουργεί ως μουσείο εικόνων
από τη ζωή και τη δράση του Γέρου του Μοριά, η παραδοσιακή πέτρινη βρύση και
η μονόκλιτη βασιλική εκκλησία του Αι-Γιάννη.
Κυνηγημένος από τους Τούρκους ο γενάρχης των Κολοκοτρωναίων Τριαντάφυλλος
Τσεργίνης, έφθασε και εγκαταστάθηκε στο Λιμποβίτσι τριακόσια χρόνια πρίν από
την επανάσταση, και η οικογένειά του έζησε εδώ για 12 γενιές. Το σπίτι καταστράφηκε
στα Ορλωφικά το 1770 και ξαναχτίστηκε από τον Κωνσταντή Κολοκοτρώνη, πατέρα
του Θεόδωρου. Σ' αυτό το σπίτι έμενε κατά καιρούς ο Γέρος του Μοριά, ιδίως όταν
έφυγε από το χωριό της μητέρας του, την Αλωνίσταινα.
Αν η Αρκαδία είναι ένας προνομιακός φυσικός εξώστης της Πελοποννήσου,
η περιοχή του δήμου Φαλάνθου, στον οποίο ανήκει ο οικισμός της Αλωνίσταινας,
είναι ο φυσικός εξώστης της Αρκαδίας.
Το μαγευτικό ορεινό τοπίο το κατάφυτο από έλατα, τις δρυς, τα πουρνάρια
και τις αριές, θεωρήθηκε στις αρχές του περασμένου αιώνα, ιδανικό για τη θεραπεία
της φυματίωσης και γι' αυτό δημιουργήθηκαν στην περιοχή σανατόρια. Ένα απ' αυτά,
της Κορφοξυλιάς, ερειπωμένο πλέον, βρίσκεται έξω απ' την Αλωνίσταινα.
Το ζωντανό κεφαλοχώρι των 1.500 κατοίκων γύρω στα 1850, σήμερα έχει
λιγοστούς κατοίκους το χειμώνα ενώ το καλοκαίρι οι κάτοικοι αυξάνονται.
Οι Αλωνιστιώτες ακολούθησαν και αυτοί το γνωστό δρόμο που πήραν
οι περισσότεροι ορεινοί πληθυσμοί της χώρας είτε προς την εσωτερική μετανάστευση
κυρίως προς την εύφορη Μεσσηνία, είτε προς το εξωτερικό με προτίμηση την Αμερική.
Όσοι απέμειναν ασχολούνται κυρίως με την κτηνοτροφία, τη γεωργία,
την υλοτομία και τη μελισσοκομία και τα βασικά προϊόντα που παράγουν είναι κηπευτικά,
κτηνοτροφικά, μέλι, πατάτες, μήλα, καρύδια, κάστανα και ξυλεία από το δάσος.
Το χωριό βέβαια διατηρεί την παραδοσιακή ομορφιά του και το ιδιαίτερου
κάλλους περιβάλλον, είναι πόλος έλξης για τους επισκέπτες, ιδίως τα σαββατοκύριακα
όταν έχει χιονίσει και λειτουργεί το κοντινό χιονοδρομικό κέντρο της Οστρακίνας.
Το χιονοδρομικό προσελκύει πολλούς φίλους του σκι από την Πελοπόννησο
αλλά και από άλλες περιοχές της Ελλάδας και διαθέτει σαλέ με εστιατόριο τρεις
αναβατήρες μεταφοράς 200, 300 και 500 ατόμων την ώρα και πέντε πίστες.
Το ταξίδι μας φθάνει στο τέλος του και παίρνουμε το δρόμο της επιστροφής,
αφήνοντας πίσω μας τις εικόνες της μαγείας του δάσους, της παράδοσης, της ιστορίας
και των μύθων που ξεκινούν από το βάθος του χρόνου με οδηγούς τους τη μουσική
του Πάνα και τα τραγούδια των Νυμφών και αγκαλιάζουν με αρμονία τις αυστηρές
κορυφές του Μαινάλου.
Το απόσπασμα παρατίθεται τον Οκτώβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα,
με φωτογραφίες
ΑΣΕΑ (Χωριό) ΒΑΛΤΕΤΣΙ
Θέση
Η Ασέα βρίσκεται στο Νομό Αρκαδίας, και απέχει 20 χλμ. από την Τρίπολη
και τη Μεγαλόπολη. Είναι ένα χωριό με πολύ λίγους μόνιμους κατοίκους που παίρνει
όμως ζωή στις γιορτές και τα Σαββατοκύριακα όπου πολλοί επισκέπτες φτάνουν από
την Αθήνα. Το καλοκαίρι συγκεντρώνει πολλούς απόδημους Ασεάτες που γυρίζουν πίσω
να δουν το χωριό που γεννήθηκαν. Η Κάτω Ασέα αποτελεί το νέο διοικητικό κέντρο
του Δήμου Βαλτετσίου. Για να προσδιορίσετε τη θέση της Ασέας συμβουλευτείτε τους
Χάρτες.
Σύντομη Ιστορία
Η Ασέα οφείλει το όνομά της στον Ασεάτη, γιο του Σπαρτιάτη βασιλιά
Λυκάωνα. Σουηδοί και Έλληνες αρχαιολόγοι έκαναν ανασκαφές στη Ακρόπολη της αρχαίας
Ασέας. Οι ανασκαφές αυτές έφεραν στο φως ευρήματα που δείχνουν ότι η πολιτιστική
της παρουσία αρχίζει περίπου από το 6000 π.Χ. και συνεχίζεται πολύ πιο έντονα
τους επόμενους αιώνες. Τα πλούσια ευρήματα των αρχαιολογικών ανασκαφών είναι εκτεθειμένα
στα μουσεία του Ναυπλίου, της Τρίπολης, της Τεγέας καθώς και στο Αρχαιολογικό
μουσείο της Αθήνας. Οι δύο αξιόλογοι και περικαλείς ναοί της Αθηνάς Σωτήρος και
του Ποσειδώνος που βρίσκονται στην επικράτειά της μαρτυρούν το υψηλό πολιτιστικό
επίπεδο της πόλης. Ιστορικές αναφορές από τον Ηρόδοτο λένε πως οι Ασεάτες συνέβαλαν
αποφασιστικά στη νικηφόρα μάχη των Πλαταιών το 479 π.Χ. καθώς και στη μάχη της
Μαντινείας το 362 π.Χ. Στην Αρκαδική ομοσπονδία που συνέστησε ο Θηβαίος στρατηγός
Επαμεινώνδας, η Ασέα λόγω της στρατηγικής της θέσης σημείωσε αξιόλογη δράση. Συνέβαλε
επίσης με τους κατοίκους της στην ίδρυση της Μεγαλόπολης. Για τις ύψιστες υπηρεσίες
που πρόσφερε τον 3ο και 2ο αιώνα π.Χ. στην Αχαϊκή Συμπολιτεία της δόθηκε το 196
π.Χ. το δικαίωμα να κόψει νομίσματα. Τέτοια χάλκινα νομίσματαμε την επιγραφή Αχαιών-Ασεατών
βρίσκονται στο Νομισματικό Μουσείο της Αθήνας. Πολλούς αιώνες αργότερα, κατά τη
διάρκεια της τουρκοκρατίας, είχε το όνομα Καντρέβα. Τη δεκαετία του 1920 μετά
από πρωτοβουλία των κατοίκων της, η Ασέα πηρε πάλι το αρχαίο της όνομα. Από την
Ασέα κατάγεται ένας από τους σημαντικότερους Έλληνες ποιητές, ο Νίκος Γκάτσος.
Φαγητό - Ποτό
Στην Ασέα μπορείτε να σταματήσετε για καφέ στα παραδοσιακά καφενεία:
"Ελβετία" και "Ο Μπαρμπα - Σέμις" Στην Κάτω Ασέα μπορείτε να κάνετε στάση για
φαγητό στο κέντρο "Μαντίνεια", για καφέ ή φαγητό στον "Πλάτανο" και στο καφενείο
της Β. Γκάτσου.
ΝΕΣΤΑΝΗ (Αρχαία ακρόπολη) ΜΑΝΤΙΝΕΙΑ
Πάνω σε μικρό λόφο δίπλα στο χωριό Νεστάνη (Τσιπιανά), σώζονται τα ερείπια της Ακρόπολης της Αρχαίας Νεστάνης. Η κώμη αποτελούσε ένα από τους Δήμους της Αρχαίας Μαντινείας. Ο αρχαιολογικός χώρος περιλαμβάνει υπολείμματα πελασγικού τείχους και τμήμα ενός πύργου. Ο αρχαιολογικός χώρος είναι σήμερα επισκέψιμος.
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