Listed 89 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "GORTYNIA Province ARCADIA" .
TORTHYNION (Ancient city) VYTINA
Torthynium is not mentioned by Pausanias or any of the great historians. It was probably located 5,5 kms away from Nymphasia and it was the border of Megalopolis, Orchomenus and Caphya (Ekd. Athinon, Pausaniou Periegissis, vol. 4, p. 329, note 1).
KONTOVAZENA (Municipality) ARCADIA
AGIOS IOANNIS (Village) IREA
LYKOURESSI (Village) IREA
PALEOKASTRO (Village) GORTYS
IREA (Ancient city) ARCADIA
There is a sign at the British Museum where one can read about a deal between the Heraeans and the Helians. The deal, which was made in 540 BC, was that for 100 years the two peoples would be allies at war and peace. If one of the two parts broke the deal, it would have to offer Zeus at Olympia one talent of silver. This deal helped Heraea grow and later on nine settlements united to the town. What is more, after this deal was signed, many Heraeans won victories at Olympic Games.
ENISPI (Ancient city) VYTINA
An Arcadian town mentioned by Homer, in the Catalogue of Ships, along with Rhipe
and Stratia. It was impossible even in antiquity to determine the position of
these towns, and Pausanias treats as absurd the opinion of those who considered
them to be islands in the river Ladon.
GORTYS (Ancient city) ARCADIA
Gortys or Gortyna (Gortus, Gortuna), a town of Arcadia in the district Cynuria,
situated near the river Gortynius (Gortunios), also called Lusius (Lousios) nearer
its sources, which was a tributary of the Alpheius, and was remarkable for the
coldness of its waters. The town is said to have been founded by Gortys, a son
of Stymphalus, and is described by Pausanias as a village in his time, though
it had formerly been a considerable city. Most of its inhabitants were removed
to Megalopolis upon the foundation of the latter city in B.C. 371; but it must
have continued to be a place of some importance, since Polybius says that it was
taken by Euripidas, the general of the Eleians, in the Social War, B.C. 219. At
that time it was subject to Thelpusa. It contained a celebrated temple of Asclepius,
built of Pentelic marble, and containing statues of Asclepius and Hygieia by Scopas.
Cicero alludes to this temple, when he says (de Nat. Deer. iii. 22) that near
the river Lusius was the sepulchre of one of the Aeculapii, of whom he reckoned
three. Its ruins are seen upon a height near the village of Atzikolo. There are
still remains of its principal gate and of its walls, consisting of polygonal
masonry.
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IREA (Ancient city) ARCADIA
Heraea (Heraia: Eth. Heraieus, Heraeus, in an ancient inscription ErWaoios: the territory
Heraiatis), the most important Arcadian town on the Lower Alpheius, was situated
near the frontiers of Elis, and on the high road from Arcadia to Olympia. It is
said to have been founded by Heraeeus, a son of Lycaon, and to have been called
originally Sologorgus (Paus. viii. 26. § 1; Steph. B. s. v. Heraia). At an early
period the Heraeans concluded a treaty with the Eleians for mutual protection
and support for one hundred years; the original of which treaty, engraven on a
bronze tablet in the old Peloponnesian dialect, was brought from Olympia by Gell,
and is now in the Payne Knight collection in the British Museum. This treaty is
placed about the 50th Olympiad, or B.C. 580, since it belongs to a time when the
Eleians exercised an undisputed supremacy over the dependent districts of Pisatis
and Triphylia; and the Heraeans consequently were anxious to avail themselves
of their support. Heraea was, at that time, the chief village among eight others
which lay scattered upon the banks of the Alpheius and its tributaries the Ladon
and Erymanthus; but the inhabitants of these separate villages were transferred
to Heraea, and a city there was founded by the Spartan king Cleombrotus or Cleonymus.
(Strab. viii. p. 337.) In consequence of their close connection with Sparta, the
Heraeans incurred the hostility of the other Arcadians, who laid waste their territory
in B.C. 370. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 22) At a later time Heraea was a member of the
Achaean League; and, as Elis was one of the chief places of the Aetolian League,
it is frequently mentioned in the contests between these two powers. (Polyb. ii.
54, iv. 77, seq.) It was afterwards in the hands of Philip, but it was restored
to the Achaeans. (Liv. xxviii. 8, xxxii. 5, xxxiii. 34; Polyb. xviii. 25, 30.)
Heraea is mentioned by Strabo (viii. p. 388) as one of the deserted cities of
Arcadia; but when it was visited by Pausanias, it was still a place of some importance.
The latter writer describes its temples, baths, plantations of myrtles and other
trees along the banks of the Alpheius: among its temples he mentions two sacred
to Dionysus, one to Pan, and another to Hera, of the latter of which only some
ruins were left. (Paus. viii. 26. § § 1, 2.)
The site of Heraea is fixed by its distance from the mouth of the Ladon, which,
according to Pausanias, was 15 stadia. The same writer says that the greater part
of the city lay upon a gently sloping hill, and the remainder upon the banks of
the Alpheius. The remains of Heraea are visible on a hill west of the village
of Aianni (St. John), bounded on either side by a ravine, and sloping down towards
the river. These ruins extend along the summit of the hill and the slope towards
the river; but they are inconsiderable, and have for the most part been cleared
away in consequence of the fertility of the land. A sweetish red wine is grown
upon the spot, which Leake says has more flavour and body than almost any other
he met with in the Morea. This wine was also celebrated in antiquity, and was
said to make women fruitful. (Theophr. H. Pl. ix. 20; Athen. i. p. 31; Plin. xiv.
18. s.22; Aelian, V. H. xiii. 6.)
Heraea was favourably situated in several respects. Its territory was fertile,
and it was situated, as we have already said, on the high road from Olympia into
the interior of Arcadia. From the north of Arcadia a road led into the valley
of the Alpheius, near Heraea; and two roads led into the Hereatis, one from Megalopolis,
and the other from Messene and Phigalia, which joined the former close to the
town. There was a bridge over the Alpheius close to Heraea, which Philip restored
in B.C. 219. (Polyb. iv. 77, 78.) The Heraeatis was separated from Pisatis by
the river Erymanthus, and from the territory of Megalopolis by the river Buphagus.
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
Heraea (Heraia: Eth. Heraieus, Heraeus, in an ancient inscription
ErWaoios: the territory Heraiatis), the most important Arcadian town on the Lower
Alpheius, was situated near the frontiers of Elis, and on the high road from Arcadia
to Olympia. It is said to have been founded by Heraeeus, a son of Lycaon, and
to have been called originally Sologorgus. (Paus. viii. 26. § 1; Steph. B. s.
v. Heraia) At an early period the Heraeans concluded a treaty with the Eleians
for mutual protection and support for one hundred years; the original of which
treaty, engraven on a bronze tablet in the old Peloponnesian dialect, was brought
from Olympia by Gell, and is now in the Payne Knight collection in the British
Museum. This treaty is placed about the 50th Olympiad, or B.C. 580, since it belongs
to a time when the Eleians exercised an undisputed supremacy over the dependent
districts of Pisatis and Triphylia; and the Heraeans consequently were anxious
to avail themselves of their support. Heraea was, at that time, the chief village
among eight others which lay scattered upon the banks of the Alpheius and its
tributaries the Ladon and Erymanthus; but the inhabitants of these separate villages
were transferred to Heraea, and a city there was founded by the Spartan king Cleombrotus
or Cleonymus. (Strab. viii. p. 337.) In consequence of their close connection
with Sparta, the Heraeans incurred the hostility of the other Arcadians, who laid
waste their territory in B.C. 370. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 22) At a later time Heraea
was a member of the Achaean League; and, as Elis was one of the chief places of
the Aetolian League, it is frequently mentioned in the contests between these
two powers. (Polyb. ii. 54, iv. 77, seq.) It was afterwards in the hands of Philip,
but it was restored to the Achaeans. (Liv. xxviii. 8, xxxii. 5, xxxiii. 34; Polyb.
xviii. 25, 30.) Heraea is mentioned by Strabo (viii. p. 388) as one of the deserted
cities of Arcadia; but when it was visited by Pausanias, it was still a place
of some importance. The latter writer describes its temples, baths, plantations
of myrtles and other trees along the banks of the Alpheius: among its temples
he mentions two sacred to Dionysus, one to Pan, and another to Hera, of the latter
of which only some ruins were left. (Paus. viii. 26. § § 1, 2.)
The site of Heraea is fixed by its distance from the mouth of the
Ladon, which, according to Pausanias, was 15 stadia. The same writer says that
the greater part of the city lay upon a gently sloping hill, and the remainder
upon the banks of the Alpheius. The remains of Heraea are visible on a hill west
of the village of Aianni (St. John), bounded on either side by a ravine, and sloping
down towards the river. These ruins extend along the summit of the hill and the
slope towards the river; but they are inconsiderable, and have for the most part
been cleared away in consequence of the fertility of the land. A sweetish red
wine is grown upon the spot, which Leake says has more flavour and body than almost
any other he met with in the Morea. This wine was also celebrated in antiquity,
and was said to make women fruitful. (Theophr. H. Pl. ix. 20; Athen. i. p. 31;
Plin. xiv. 18. s.22; Aelian, V. H. xiii. 6.)
Heraea was favourably situated in several respects. Its territory
was fertile, and it was situated, as we have already said, on the high road from
Olympia into the interior of Arcadia. From the north of Arcadia a road led into
the valley of the Alpheius, near Heraea; and two roads led into the Hereatis,
one from Megalopolis, and the other from Messene and Phigalia, which joined the
former close to the town. There was a bridge over the Alpheius close to Heraea,
which Philip restored in B.C. 219. (Polyb. iv. 77, 78.) The Heraeatis was separated
from Pisatis by the river Erymanthus, and from the territory of Megalopolis by
the river Buphagus. (Gell, Itiner. of the Morea, p. 113; Leake, Morea, vol. ii.
p. 91; Boblaye, Recherches, &c. p. 159; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. i. p. 363,
seq.)
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
LYKEA (Ancient city) ARCADIA
...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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MARATHA (Ancient city) GORTYS
Maatha (Maratha), a village of Arcadia, in the district Cynuria, between
Buphagium and Gortys, perhaps represented by the ruin called the Castle of Leodhoro.
(Paus. viii. 28. § 1; Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 66, Peloponnesiaca, p. 232.)
MELENEES (Ancient city) IREA
Melaineai, Melainai, Eth. Melaineus. A town of Arcadia, in the territory
of Heraea, and on the road from Heraea to Megalopolis. It was distant 40 stadia
from Buphagium. Pausanias says that it was founded by Melaeneus, the son of Lycaon,
but that it was deserted in his time and overflowed with water. The ruins of Melaeneae
lie 4 or 5 miles eastward of Heraea, between the villages Kokora and Kakoreos,
where are the remains of a Roman bath, which has also been a church, and is sometimes
used as such, though it is said to be generally inundated, even in the dry season,
which is in conformity with the account of Pausanias. The Peutinger Table specifies
Melaeneae as distant 12 miles from Olympia; but it does not mention Heraea, though
a much more important place, and one which continued to exist long after Heraea:
moreover, the distance of 12 miles applies to Heraea, and not to Melaeneae.
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
METHYDRION (Ancient city) VYTINA
Methydrium (Methudrion: Eth. Methudrieus), a town in central Arcadia, situate
170 stadia north of Megalopolis (Paus. viii. 35. § 5), obtained its name, like
Interamna, from being situated upon a lofty height between the two rivers Maloetas
and Mylaon. (Paus. viii. 36. § 1.) It was founded by Orchomenus; but its inhabitants
were removed to Megalopolis, upon the establishment of that city. It never recovered
its former population, and is mentioned by Strabo (viii. p. 388) among the places
of Arcadia which had almost entirely disappeared. It continued, however, to exist
as a village in the time of Pausanias, who saw there a temple of Poseidon Hippius
upon the river Mylaon. He also mentions, above the river Maloetas, a mountain
called Thaumasium, in which was a cave where Rhea took refuge when pregnant with
Zeus. At the distance of 30 stadia from Methydrium was a fountain named Nymphasia.
(Paus. viii. 36. § § 1--3, comp. viii. 12. § 2, 27. § § 4, 7.) Methydrium is also
mentioned in the following passages: Thuc. v. 58; Polyb. v, 10, 11, 13; Plin.
iv. 6. s. 10; Steph. B. s. v. There is some difficulty in determining the exact
site of Methydrium. Some writers identify it with the Hellenic remains called
Palatia; but these are not on a lofty hill between two rivers, but in a low situation
above the junction of the rivers on the right bank of one of them. Methydrium
should rather be placed 45 minutes further, at the distance of 10 miles SE. of
the village of Nimnitza, where there are some ancient ruins, one between two streams,
on a height below Pyryo, otherwise called Pyrgako. It is true that this also is
not a lofty hill; but Pausanias uses the expression kolonos hupselos, and hupselos
has reference to kolonos, which means only a slight elevation.
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
Methudrion: Eth. Methudrieus. A town in central Arcadia, situated
170 stadia north of Megalopolis (Paus. viii. 35. § 5), obtained its name, like
Interamna, from being situated upon a lofty height between the two rivers Maloetas
and Mylaon. (Paus. viii. 36. § 1.) It was founded by Orchomenus; but its inhabitants
were removed to Megalopolis, upon the establishment of that city. It never recovered
its former population, and is mentioned by Strabo (viii. p. 388) among the places
of Arcadia which had almost entirely disappeared. It continued, however, to exist
as a village in the time of Pausanias, who saw there a temple of Poseidon Hippius
upon the river Mylaon. He also mentions, above the river Maloetas, a mountain
called Thaumasium, in which was a cave where Rhea took refuge when pregnant with
Zeus. At the distance of 30 stadia from Methydrium was a fountain named Nymphasia.
(Paus. viii. 36. § § 1 - 3, comp. viii. 12. § 2, 27. § § 4, 7.)
There is some difficulty in determining the exact site of Methydrium.
Some writers identify it with the Hellenic remains called Palatia; but these are
not on a lofty hill between two rivers, but in a low situation above the junction
of the rivers on the right bank of one of them. Methydrium should rather be placed
45 minutes further, at the distance of 10 miles SE. of the village of Nimnitza,
where there are some ancient ruins, one between two streams, on a height below
Pyryo, otherwise called Pyrgako. It is true that this also is not a lofty hill;
but Pausanias uses the expression kolonos hupselos, and hupselos has reference
to kolonos, which means only a slight elevation.
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OGION (Ancient city) TROPEA
Onceium (Onkeion), a place in Arcadia upon the river Ladon, near Thelpusa, and
containing a temple of Demeter Erinnys. (Paus. viii. 25. § 4; Steph. B. s. v.)
The Ladon, after leaving this temple, passed that of Apollo Oncaeates on the left,
and that of the boy Asclepius on the right. (Paus. viii. 25. § 11.) The name is
derived by Pausanias from Oncus, a son of Apollo, who reigned at this place. Leake
supposes that Tumbiki, the only remarkable site on the right bank of the Ladon
between Thelpusa and the Tuthoa, is the site of the temple of Asclepius. (Morea,
vol. ii. p. 103.) Other writers mention a small town Oncae (Onkai) in Arcadia,
which is probably the same as Onceium.
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RETEES (Ancient city) GORTYS
Rhaeteae (Rhaiteai), a place in the Arcadian district of Cynuria, at the confluence of the Gortynius and Alpheius. (Pans. viii. 28. § 3.)
TEFTHIS (Ancient city) DIMITSANA
Teuthis: Eth. Teuthides, a town in the centre of Arcadia, which together with Theisoa and Methydrium belonged to the confederation (sunteleia) of Orchomenus. Its inhabitants were removed to Megalopolis upon the foundation of the latter. The Paleocastron of Galatas probably represents presents Teuthis.
THELPOUSSA (Ancient city) TROPEA
Thelpusa (Thelpousa, Telphousa: Eth. Thelpousios, Telphousios), a town in the
west of Arcadia, situated upon the left or eastern bank of the river Ladon. Its
territory was bounded on the north by that of Psophis, on the south by that of
Heraea, on the west by the Eleia and Tisatis, and on the east by that of Cleitor,
Tripolis, and Theisoa. The town is said to have derived its name from a nymph,
the daughter of the river Ladon, which nymph was probably the stream flowing through
the lower part of the town into the Ladon. It is first mentioned in history in
B.C. 352, when the Lacedaemonians were defeated in its nieghbourhood by the Spartans.
(Diod. xvi. 39.) In B.C. 222 it was taken by Antigonus Doson, in the war against
Cleomenes, and it is also mentioned in the campaigns of Philip. (Polyb. ii. 54,
iv. 60, 73, 77; Steph. B. s. v. Telphousa; Plin. iv. 6. s. 20.) Its coins show
that it belonged to the Achaean League. (Leake, Peloponnesiaca, p. 206.) When
Pausanias visited Thelpusa, the city was nearly deserted, so that the agora, which
was formerly in the centre of the city, then stood at its extremity. He saw a
temple of Asclepius, and another of the twelve gods, of which the latter was nearly
levelled with the ground. (Paus. viii. 25 § 3.) Pausanias also mentions two temples
of some celebrity in the neighbourhood of Thelpusa, one above and the other below
the city. The one above was the temple of Demeter Eleusinia, containing statues
of Demeter, Persephone and Dionysus, made of stone, and which probably stood at
the castle opposite to Spathari (viii. 25. § § 2, 3). The temple below the city
was also sacred to Demeter, whom the Thelpusians called Erinnys. This temple is
alluded to by Lycophron (1038) and Callimachus (Fr. 107). It was situated at a
place called Onceium, where Oncus, the son of Apollo, is said once to have reigned
(viii. 25. § 4, seq.; Steph. B. s. v. Onkeion). Below this temple stood the temple
of Apollo Oncaeates, on the left bank of the Ladon, and on the right bank that
of the boy Asclepius, with the sepulchre of Trygon, said to have been the nurse
of Asclepius (viii. 25. § 11). The ruins of Thelpusa stand upon the slope of a
considerable hill near the village of Vanena (Banena). There are only few traces
of the walls of the city. At the ruined church of St. John, near the rivulet,
are some Hellenic foundations and fragments of columns. The saint is probably
the successor of Asclepius, whose temple, as we learn from Pausanias, stood longest
in the city. There are likewise the remains of a Roman building, about 12 yards
long and 6 wide, with the ruins of an arched roof. There are also near the Ladon
some Hellenic foundations, and the lower parts of six columns. Below Vanena there
stands upon the right bank of the Ladon the ruined church of St. Athanasius the
Miraculous, where Leake found the remains of several columns. Half a mile below
this church is the village of Tumbiki, where a promontory projects into the river,
upon which there is a mound apparently artificial. This mound is probably the
tomb of Trygon, and Tumbiki is the site of the the temple of Asclepius. Pausanias,
in describing the route from Psophis to Thelpusa, after mentioning the boundaries
between the territories of the two states, first crosses the river Arsen, and
then, at the distance of 25 stadia, arrives at the ruins of a village Caus and
a temple of Asclepius Causius, erected upon the roadside. From this plaee the
distance to Thelpusa was 40 stadia.
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THISSOA (Ancient city) DIMITSANA
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.
THYREON (Ancient city) TRIKOLONES
Thyraeum (Thuraion: Eth. Thuraios), a town of Arcadia in the district Cynuria, said to have been founded by Thyraeus, a son of Lycaon. It is placed by Leake at Palamari.
TRAPEZOUS (Ancient city) GORTYS
Trapezus (Trapezous,-ountos: Eth. Trapezountios), a town of Arcadia,
in the district Parrhasia, a little to the left of the river Alpheius, is said
to have derived its name from its founder Trapezeus, the son of Lycaon, or from
trapeza (trapeza), a table, because Zeus here overturned the table on which Lycaon
offered him human food. (Paus. viii. 3. § § 2, 3; Apollod. iii. 8. § 1.) It was
the royal residence of Hippothous, who transferred the seat of government from
Tegea to Trapezus. On the foundation of Megalopolis, in B.C. 371, the inhabitants
of Trapezus refused to remove to the new city; and having thus incurred the anger
of the other Arcadians, they quitted Peloponnesus, and took refuge in Trapezus
on the Pontus Euxeinus, where they were received as a kindred people. The statues
of some of their gods were removed to Megalopolis, where they were seen by Pausanias.
Trapezus stood above the modern Mavria. (Paus. viii. 5. § 4, 27. § § 4-6, viii.
29. § 1, 31. § 5; Herod. vi. 127; Steph. B. s. v.; Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 292;
Ross, Reisen im Peloponnes, vol. i. p. 90.)
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VASSILIS (Ancient city) GORTYS
Basilis: Eth. Basilites, a town of Arcadia in the district Parrhasia, on the Alpheius,
said to have been founded by the Arcadian king Cypselus, and containing a temple
of the Eleusinian Demeter. It is identified by Kiepert in his map with the Cypsela
mentioned by Thucydides. There are a few remains of Basilis near Kyparissia.
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VOUFASSION (Ancient city) GORTYS
Bouphagion. A town of Arcadia, in the district Cynuria, situated near the sources
of the river Buphagus (Bouphagos), a tributary of the Alpheius, which formed the
boundary between the territories of Heraea and Megalopolis. It is placed by Leake
at Papadha, and by Boblaye, near Zula-Sarakini.
VRENTHI (Ancient city) GORTYS
Brenthe: Brenthaios, Brenthieus, a town of Arcadia in the district Cynuria, near the right bank of the river Alpheius, and on a small tributary called Brentheates (Brentheates), only 5 stadia in length. It corresponds to the modern Karitena.
YPSOUS (Ancient city) TRIKOLONES
Hypsus (Hupsous,--ountos), a town of Arcadia, in the district Cynuria, situated upon a mountain of the same name, said to have been founded by Hypsus, a son of Lycaon. It is placed by the French Commission at Stemnitza.
MARATHA (Ancient city) GORTYS
A town of Arcadia at the source of the Buphagus.
TRAPEZOUS (Ancient city) GORTYS
A city of Arcadia, on the Alpheus, the name of which was mythically
derived from the trapeza, or altar, on which Lycaon was said to have offered human
sacrifices to Zeus. At the time of the building of Megalopolis, the inhabitants
of Trapezus, as was alleged, rather than be transferred to the new city, migrated
to the shores of the Euxine, and their city fell to ruin.
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DIMITSANA (Municipality) ARCADIA
TRIKOLONES (Municipality) ARCADIA
CHRYSSOCHORI (Village) IREA
DIMITSANA (Municipality) ARCADIA
ELLINIKON (Village) TRIKOLONES
KAKOUREIKA (Village) IREA
KONTOVAZENA (Village) ARCADIA
Kontovazaina is a mountainous large village 72 Km away from Tripolis. It is located on the road passing through Lagadia. It is the seat of the homonymous municipality and has 450 inhabitants. The village is built on a green gully and offers a great view to the valley of Ladona. Close to Kontovazaina is the electricity factory of Ladona. 4 Km away from Kontovazaina and on the road to Neos Paos (and a bit lower from the top of the Mountain Afrodisios (position called Agios Petros-) are the derelicts of the ancient temple of Venous Erikinis. The sanctuary was not just a simple temple but an important oracle center of the region. On the road from Pera Vachlia there is a stone built bridge with a large arch. On its right, there is a disused water-mill. The mill's condition is good and has a cask of impressive length. In a distance of 1 Km west to Vachlia (at position Arti), are the foundations of an ancient temple and the derelicts of its walls. At the lower quarter is the tower of Aga. It is about a small two-floored house, equipped with loopholes and a vault on the second floor. On the road to Dimitra there is an interesting fountain in a dry-stone wall. On the area of Dimitra the ancient sanctum of Elefsinia Dimitra is placed. In a small distance, on an abrupt location there is a fortification from the age of the Turkish domination. Today it is used as a mountain shelter.
At Kontovazaina everyone can worship God at the beautiful church of Agios Nikolaos. It is about a single aisle basilica church, built in 1826. In the area, six water mills are also preserved. Their row starts from Agios Nikolaos and reaches as far as the monastery of Kleivokas. Finally, on the road from Kontovazaina to Olympia we meet Chlia Vrisi. It is a stone built fountain with small columns, capitals and pediment. It was built in 1895 and renovated in 1927 and in 1973.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Prefecture of Arcadia URL below, which contains image.
LAGADIA (Municipality) ARCADIA
PSARI (Settlement) TRIKOLONES
STEMNITSA (Village) TRIKOLONES
SYRNA (Village) TRIKOLONES
TRIKOLONES (Municipality) ARCADIA
KOTILION (Mountain) GORTYS
On the mountain at Vasses there is a temple of Apollo Epicurius (Helper). Also, a temple of Artemis and a temple of Aphrodite have been excavated in other locations.
METHYDRION (Ancient city) VYTINA
TRAPEZOUS (Ancient city) GORTYS
VOUFASSION (Ancient city) GORTYS
THALIADES (Ancient city) KONTOVAZENA
THELPOUSSA (Ancient city) TROPEA
TRIKOLONI (Ancient city) TRIKOLONES
In the triangle of the settlements Palamari, Pavlia & Syrna
GORTYS (Ancient city) ARCADIA
An ancient city of Kynouria, lay on the banks of the Gortynios river,
ca. 7 km N of presentday Eliniko. Little is known of the history of the place.
After the founding of Megalopolis (Paus. 8.27.3) Gortys had to give up some of
its population, and sank to the status of a village. It nonetheless had enough
power, and was prestigious enough, to build its imposing fortifications and to
hire Skopas to do the sculpture for one of the two Asklepios temples. Later a
member of the Achaian League, it was no more than a village in Pausanias' day
(8.28.1).
After crossing a bridge to the W side of the river, one finds one's
self in a Sanctuary of Asklepios. The sanctuary included a large temple (23.6
x 13.2 m) with pronaos but no opisthodomos. The building dates from the 4th c.,
and if the marble fragments of Doric columns found in the vicinity belong, this
was the temple for which Skopas did the sculpture. To the S on the banks of a
ravine, and partially destroyed by the ravine, are the remains of a smaller temple.
Nearby there are also the remains of a bathing establishment with hypocausts and
pool. The structure was first built in the 4th c. B.C. on the plan of a large
house around a court containing a large bathing pool. The second stage of the
building, with hypocausts, dates from the first half of the 3d c. To the S of
the ravine are the remains of a portico and a watch tower. About 40 m SE of the
portico, across a second ravine, are remains of houses in use from the 4th c.
B.C. to the 1st or 2d A.D.
Following the course of the river S, one comes upon the acropolis
of Gortys. There are two sections, completely separate and distinct from each
other: a N acropolis and a S fortress. The acropolis runs SE-NW for ca. 425 m,
and varies in width between 100 and 160 m. There are three gates preserved, and
five round towers, these latter in the W corner, the best preserved portion. The
N-NE section had no towers, but was built with a more or less saw-toothed design.
This portion of the walls seems to be of 4th-3d c. date, while the rest of the
circuit is earlier 4th c. The S fortress, on the high banks of the Gortynius,
has square towers, and seems later, possibly 3d c. It seems that the two fortifications
did not coexist, and that the blocks of the S fort may well have come from the
SE wall of the acropolis, no trace of which is to be found today.
To the SW of the S fortification there are the remains of still another
Sanctuary of Asklepios, also inscriptionally assured. The sanctuary contained
the foundations of a temple (27.09 x 13.5 m) of 5th-4th c. date, a bath, and an
adyton. A deposit of military-related equipment was also found in the sanctuary.
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.
VOUFASSION (Ancient city) GORTYS
A town situated, according to Pausanias, at the sources of the Bouphagos
river. It has long been identified with a fortified hill site, commanding the
road from the plain of Elis to the plain of Megalopolis, near the springs of Papadaes.
There are remains of inner and outer circuits, with both rectangular and round
towers, and gates protected by flanking walls. The masonry, of local grayblue
limestone, is well fitted, of coursed rectangular or trapezoidal blocks with the
exception of a few large, unshaped stones; it has been dated late 4th or early
3d c. B.C. by comparison with similar work (a few large blocks remaining from
the archaic period) in the S fort at Gortys. A triglyph, a limestone column drum,
and a few scraps of wall are the only traces of other structures.
Not far away at Haghios Nikolaos is another small fort overlooking
the same route; it lies W of Gortys above the village of Vlachorafti at the highest
point of the range. There seem to be remains of two circuit walls with towers.
The masonry is generally similar to that at Palaiokastro.
A third fort in the same area overlooks Gortys and Haghios Nikolaos
and commands one of the few routes to E Arkadia. Natural outcroppings were supplemented
with large unshaped blocks, two or three courses of which are preserved in several
places. There is a cross wall at the narrowest point and a projecting rectangular
tower. The remains, with the exception of three cut limestone blocks, appear to
be from the archaic period, as does an inscribed stele found at the foot of the
slope.
M. H. Mc Allister, 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.
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