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45-417: The modern regional unit is nearly coterminous with the ancient Elis of the classical period. Here lie the ancient ruins of cities of Elis , Epitalion and Olympia , known for the ancient Olympic Games which started in 776 BC. The northernmost point of Elis is 38° 06'N, the westernmost is 22° 12′E, the southernmost is 37° 18′N, and the easternmost is 21° 54′E. The length from north to south

90-399: A particularly narrow oligarchy was replaced by a new constitution designed by Phormio of Elis, a student of Plato (Arist. Pol. 1306a12-16; Plut. Mor. 805d, 1126c). The classical democracy at Elis seems to have functioned mainly through a popular Assembly and a Council, the two main institutions of most poleis . The Council initially had 500 members, but grew to 600 members by the end of

135-589: A regional centre. Like most of the Peloponnese , the area was unaffected during World War I . As a result of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) , Greek refugees from Asia Minor settled in the area around Amaliada. World War II struck parts of Elis, houses were damaged, leaving people homeless, and afterwards the Greek Civil War caused more destruction and economic decline. The return to democracy after

180-615: Is 100 km (62 mi), and from east-to-west is around 55 km (34 mi). The modern regional unit is not completely congruent with ancient Elis : Lampeia belonged to ancient Arcadia , and Kalogria is now part of Achaea . The longest river is the Alfeios . Other rivers are the Erymanthos , Pineios and Neda . Alfeios, Pineios and Neda flow into the Ionian Sea in Elis. Less than 1% of

225-629: Is an ancient district in Greece that corresponds to the modern regional unit of Elis . Elis is in southern Greece on the Peloponnese , bounded on the north by Achaea , east by Arcadia , south by Messenia , and west by the Ionian Sea . Over the course of the archaic and classical periods, the polis "city-state" of Elis controlled much of the region of Elis, most probably through unequal treaties with other cities; many inhabitants of Elis were Perioeci —autonomous free non-citizens. Perioeci, unlike other Spartans, could travel freely between cities. Thus

270-627: Is an important stop for cruise ships, offering an opportunity for passengers to visit the site of Ancient Olympia . Other ports or harbors are small in size and fit only smaller boats. Elis has a military airport near Andravida , north of Pyrgos. There are no public airports in the area. The nearest airport on land is in Kalamata . Telephones became more common after the 1960s when the Hellenic Telecommunication Organization ( ΟΤΕ ) created hundreds of kilometres of phone lines in

315-438: Is around 140 km. There is a railway line from Patras to Kalamata via Pyrgos, and a branch line from Pyrgos to Olympia . Since January 2011, traffic is suspended on the line from Patras to Kalamata, and only the branch line from Pyrgos to Olympia has regular passenger trains. The port of Kyllini in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis, with car ferries to the islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia . The port of Katakolo

360-585: Is declining in the southeast and east. The primary source of agriculture is corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, livestock, watermelon, melon and some vegetables. There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia ( Kyknos ), Gastouni ( Pelargos ), and north of Andravida ( Asteris ). The most fertile land in Peloponnese is the plain that covers the northern part of Elis and the adjacent part of Achaea. Textiles used to be dominant in business from antiquity until

405-482: Is said to have been founded in 471 BC by synoecism , however it is unclear what the ancient sources mean by this, the city already existed in the same place before and there were separate communities in the region of Elis before and after. The first excavations in Elis were carried out from 1910 to 1914 by the Austrian Archaeological Institute under the direction of Otto Walter . From 1960 to 1981

450-402: Is very small. Monasteries are scattered around the region. Elis has a Mediterranean climate , with hot, sunny summers. Temperatures over 40 °C have been recorded. The mountainous interior is colder, and snow covers the mountains in winter. Elis is more humid than the eastern Peloponnese. Elis is located in a seismically active zone, and there are several earthquakes each year. Some of

495-499: The 2006 local elections , in line with Law 2539/1997, as part of the wide-ranging administrative reform known as the " Kapodistrias Project", and replaced by enlarged municipalities ( demoi ). Provincial administration consisted of two parts: a collective Provincial Council and an eparch ( Greek : έπαρχος ). Members of the Provincial Council were the prefectural councillors of the respective province. The eparch or sub-prefect

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540-463: The Archaeological Society of Athens carried out further excavations under the direction of Nikolaos Yalouris with Austrian participation. Some of the finds are exhibited in the local archaeological museum founded in 1981, for which a new building was built in 2003. Nowadays Elis is a small village of 150 citizens located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) NE of Amaliada , built over the ruins of

585-652: The Battle of Leuctra (371 BC). However, the Arcadian confederacy came to the assistance of the Triphylians. In 366 BC, hostilities broke out between them, and though the Eleans were at first successful, they were soon overpowered; their capital very nearly fell into the hands of the enemy, and the territory of Triphylia was permanently ceded to Arcadia in 369 BC. Unable to make headway against their opponents, they applied for assistance to

630-561: The Greek War of Independence of 1821. The Venetian Republic controlled a few coastal towns in the 1490s, early 16th century and from 1686 until 1715 . Battlegrounds of the Greek War of Independence in Elis include Chlemoutsi, Gastouni, Lala, Lampeia, Pyrgos and Andritsaina. As a part of independent Greece, Elis experienced an economic and agricultural upswing in the first decades after the war of independence. Houses were built, and Pyrgos became

675-536: The Greek military junta of 1967–1974 , and Greece joining the European Communities in 1981 stimulated economic development and improvement of infrastructure. Elis has 200 km of highways . There are no limited-access freeways in the prefecture, but a freeway (A9) is being built between Patras and Kyparissia , planned opening 2012. The principal highways include: The total length of railway tracks in Elis

720-603: The North-West Doric dialect of Elis is, after the Aeolic dialects, one of the most difficult for the modern reader of epigraphic texts. Provinces of Greece The provinces of Greece ( Greek : επαρχία , " eparchy ") were sub-divisions of some the country's prefectures . From 1887, the provinces were abolished as actual administrative units, but were retained for some state services, especially financial and educational services, as well as for electoral purposes. Before

765-685: The Roman Empire . In the Migration Period (3rd - 4th century AD) Vandals and Visigoths rampaged through the region. After the final partition of the Roman Empire in 395, Elis was ruled by the Byzantine Empire . In the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade , crusaders from Western Europe (traditionally referred to as Franks in southeastern Europe) established the principality of Achaea in

810-628: The Second World War , there were 139 provinces, and after the war, with the addition of the Dodecanese Islands , their number grew to 147. According to the Article 7 of the Code of Prefectural Self-Government (Presidential Decree 30/1996), the provinces constituted a "particular administrative district" within the wider "administrative district" of the prefectures. The provinces were finally abolished after

855-557: The Great in 323 BC they renounced the Macedonian alliance. At a subsequent period they joined the Aetolian League . When the whole of Greece fell to Rome, the sanctity of Olympia secured for the Eleans a certain amount of indulgence. The games still continued to attract large numbers of visitors, until they were finally ended by Theodosius in 394 AD, two years before the utter destruction of

900-514: The Middle Ages. In the 1950s, agriculture was the dominant occupation, except in the towns Amaliada and Pyrgos . Currently, one third of jobs in Elis is in the agricultural sector. Squid , and all types of fish are common in the waters of Elis. Fishing is mainly done in the southeastern Ionian Sea and in the Bay of Patras . Most of the production is sent into Patras, some into Athens, some elsewhere in

945-603: The Pylians. At the close of the 11th century BC the Dorians invaded the Peloponnese , and Elis fell to the share of Oxylus and the Aetolians . These people, amalgamating with the Epeians, formed a powerful kingdom in the north of Elis. After this many changes took place in the political distribution of the country, till at length it came to acknowledge only three tribes, each independent of

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990-658: The Spartans, who invaded Arcadia and forced the Arcadians to recall their troops from Elis. The general result of this war was the restoration of their territory to the Eleans, who were also again invested with the right of holding the Olympic games. During the Macedonian supremacy in Greece they sided with the victors, but refused to fight against their countrymen. After the death of Alexander

1035-410: The ancient town. It has one of the most well-preserved ancient theaters in Greece. Built in the fourth century BC, the theater had a capacity of 8,000 people; below it, Early Helladic , sub-Mycenaean and Protogeometric graves have been found. Athletes In mythology Intellectuals Eleans were labelled as the greatest barbarians barbarotatoi by musician Stratonicus of Athens And when he

1080-533: The country by the Gothic invasion under Alaric I . Elis was a traditional ally of Sparta , but the city state joined Argos and Athens in an alliance against Sparta around 420 BC during the Peloponnesian War . This was due to Spartan support for the independence of Lepreum . As punishment following the surrender of Athens, Elis was forced to surrender Triphylia in 399 BC Eric W. Robinson has argued that Elis

1125-489: The fifth century (Thuc. 5.47.9). There was also a range of public officials such as the demiourgoi who regularly submitted to public audits. As described by Strabo, Elis was divided into three districts: Koilē Elis, the largest and most northern of the three, was watered by the river Peneus and its tributary, the Ladon. The district was famous during antiquity for its cattle and horses. Pisatis extended south from Koilē Elis to

1170-502: The first recorded games to 776 BC. The Hellanodikai , the judges of the Games, were of Elian origin. The attempts which the Pisatans made to recover their lost privilege, during a period of nearly two hundred years, ended at length in the total destruction of their city by the Eleans. From the time of this event in 572 BC until the Peloponnesian War , the peace of Elis remained undisturbed. In

1215-473: The most significant earthquakes to have hit the area are: Rainy weather in 2002-2003 caused destruction of villages by mudslides, and some bridges and roads were also cut off. In February 2008, frost devastated many crops in Manolada , Nea Manolada and Kounoupeli . In August 2007, there were enormous forest fires which led to tens of deaths and a massive environmental and economic disaster. The final toll for

1260-412: The mountains. The population of ancient Elis (from 1000–1 BC) was in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 and reached 10,000 or 20,000 by 1 BC. The population reached 217,000 around 1981, but has been declining since. Pyrgos became the largest city having the population over the 10,000 mark in the mid-20th century, and above 20,000 in the late 1980s. The population in the northwest is growing while the population

1305-633: The other buildings were related to the games, including two gymnasia, a palaestra , and the House of the Hellanodikai . The original inhabitants of Elis were called Caucones and Paroreatae. They are mentioned by Homer for the first time in Greek history under the title of Epeians (Epeii), as setting out for the Trojan War, and they are described by him as living in a state of constant hostility with their neighbours

1350-567: The others. These tribes were the Epeians, Minyae and Eleans. Before the end of the 8th century BC, however, the Eleans had vanquished both their rivals, and established their supremacy over the whole country. Among the other advantages which they thus gained was the right of celebrating the Olympic games , which had formerly been the prerogative of the Pisatans . Olympia was in Elian land, and tradition dates

1395-451: The polis of Elis was formed. The local form of the name was Valis, or Valeia, and its meaning, in all probability was, "the lowland" (compare with the word "valley"). In its physical constitution Elis is similar to Achaea and Arcadia; its mountains are mere offshoots of the Arcadian highlands, and its principal rivers are fed by Arcadian springs. According to Strabo , the first settlement

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1440-419: The prefecture is open water, most of it found in artificial reservoirs and dams, in the north and east. The Pineios Dam supplies water for Northern Elis. The water is not safe for drinking, because it contains some contaminants . A second, smaller reservoir in the river Alfeios near Olympia and Krestena supplies water to Pyrgos. The eastern part of the regional unit is forested, with mostly pine trees in

1485-427: The prefecture was: 45 dead, 100,000 affected by the fire, 3,500 left homeless by the fire, 25,000 dead animals, 8,500 hectares of burnt forests, 2,300 hectares of burnt farmland. The archaeological site of Olympia was seriously threatened, but not damaged. The regional unit Elis is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform ,

1530-450: The region, especially in the Samiko area. Most of them have been drained for agricultural purposes; only 10 km² (4 sq miles) has been kept and is now protected. Here lie the ancient ruins of Elis , Epitalion and Olympia , known for the ancient Olympic Games which started in 776 BC. There is a museum with statues that relate to the history of Olympia. Another museum is in Elis, but it

1575-848: The region. Now nearly every household has a telephone. The ΟΤΕ built tens of towers to connect more lines for the internet, telephones, and cell phones to increase the service. Lines began around the mid-20th century to enable more people to communicate by phones in the whole of Greece. There are also several communication towers throughout the prefecture. There are several local radio stations, for instance RSA ( Radio Station of Amalias ) from Amalias and Eleftheri Radiofonas Krestenas from Krestena. There are hundreds of transmitter towers scattered over Elis. Ancient Elis Elis ( / ˈ iː l ɪ s / ) or Eleia / ɪ ˈ l aɪ . ə / ( Greek : Ήλιδα , romanized :  Ilida , Attic Greek : Ἦλις , romanized:  Ēlis /ɛ̂ːlis/ ; Elean : Ϝᾶλις /wâːlis/ , ethnonym : Ϝᾱλείοι )

1620-432: The regional unit Elis was created out of the former prefecture Elis ( Greek : Νομός Ηλείας ). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below. Before 2006, Elis was divided into two provinces : Elis Province and Olympia Province . Elis Province contained Hollow or Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis . It

1665-457: The right bank of the river Alpheios , and was divided into eight departments named after as many towns. Triphylia stretched south from the Alpheios to the river Neda. The city of Elis ( Ancient Greek : Ἦλις ) was the capital of the city state of Elis. It was located at the exit of the river Peneios from the mountains into the plain in the area of today's Ilida Municipality north of Kalyvia. It

1710-503: The south. There are forest preserves in Foloi and the mountain ranges of Eastern Elis. In the north is the Strofylia forest which has pine trees. Mountain ranges include Movri (around 720 m or 2,400 ft), Divri (around 1500 m), Minthe (around 1100 m), and more. About one-third of the land is fertile; the rest is mountainous and not suitable for crops. Swamplands used to cover 1–1.5% of

1755-675: The territory of the defeated Byzantine Empire. The region of Elis was the Principality's heartland, containing its capital, Andravida , the port town and mint of Glarentza , the fortress of Chlemoutsi , and the extensive Barony of Akova . The Principality lasted from 1204 until 1432, when it was conquered by the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea , which in turn fell in 1460 to the Ottoman Empire . The Ottoman Empire ruled most of Greece until

1800-504: The war, Elis sided at first with Sparta . But Sparta, jealous of the increasing prosperity of its ally, availed itself of the first pretext to pick a quarrel. At the Battle of Mantinea (418 BC) , the Eleans fought against the Spartans, who later took vengeance upon them by depriving them of Triphylia and the towns of the Acroreia . The Eleans made no attempt to re-establish their authority over these places until Thebes rose in importance after

1845-478: The world (with small production) and some into the local markets of Elis from Kyllini and Katakolo. Overfishing is a problem north of Lechaina. In classical antiquity , Elis was an independent state, centred on the town Elis and included the sanctuary at Olympia , where the Ancient Olympic Games were held between 776 BC and 394 AD. After 146 BC, Elis was part of the province Achaea within

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1890-427: Was a democracy by around 500 BC, on the basis of early inscriptions which suggest that the people (the dāmos ) could make and change laws. Robinson further believes that literary sources imply that Elis continued to be democratic until 365, when an oligarchic faction seems to have taken control (Xen. Hell. 7.4.16, 26). At some point in the mid-fourth century, democracy may have been restored; at least, we hear that

1935-465: Was created by Oxylus the Aetolian who invaded there and subjugated the residents. The city of Elis underwent synoecism —as Strabo notes—in 471 BC. Elis held authority over the site of Olympia and the Olympic games . The spirit of the games had influenced the formation of the market: apart from the bouleuterion , the place the boule "citizen's council" met, which was in one of the gymnasia , most of

1980-684: Was once asked by some one who were the wickedest people, he said, "That in Pamphylia , the people of Phaselis were the worst; but that the Sidetae were the worst in the whole world." And when he was asked again, according to the account given by Hegesander , which were the greatest barbarians , the Boeotians or the Thessalians he said, "The Eleans." In Hesychius (s.v. βαρβαρόφωνοι ) and other ancient lexica, Eleans are also listed as barbarophones . Indeed,

2025-420: Was the smallest, but most populous of the two provinces. The seat was Pyrgos . Olympia Province contained most of Pisatis and Triphylia . Its seat was Andritsaina , in the mountains; Krestena and Zacharo were the largest towns in the province. Elis is the third most populous regional unit of the Peloponnese, after Achaea and Messenia . Between 70% and 75% of the population live on fertile lands away from

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