Aetorrachi, Elis
Encyclopedia
Aetorrachi is a Greek
settlement located around 13 km southeast of Varda, the former municipal seat of Vouprasia
. Aetorrachi forms a community together with the nearby settlement Dafni. Its population in 2001 was 122. Aetorrachi is linked with a road linking with Borsi
and a road linking Kentro and Varda as well as to Lechaina
. Most of the area's population work in the field of agriculture.
groves, pastures, fruit orchard and vegetable farms, with forests covering the remainder of the area. Several streams flow through the area. The area is very hilly and the mountains of Movri
lies to the east. Mount Scollis can be seen in the west along with the village of Portes. The northwestern section of Ilia can be viewed while around the Aetorrachi area.
The town is based on a hillside located near Peneus
Lake. From the village, the towns of the Peneus Valley can be seen on the horizon.
, which was the area where the mythical hero Hercules
joined the two rivers of the Peneus
and the Alpheus rivers together, and cleaned up the areas of Queen Augeia.
The village was founded during the Ottoman Era
and was known as Valaka (Greek: Βάλακα), named after the Turkish chief Valak Agaş. After the Greek War of Independence
of 1821, the Ottoman rule finally came to an end, and joining Greece
, the Turks fled the area.
The village was renamed in 1957 to Aetorrachi, deriving from the area in which it was built, from the place names of Aetos and Rachis. The village became a commune, together with the neighboring village of Kombouthreka (which was later renamed Dafni). In 1997, under the Kapodistrias Law, the area became a municipal district and a settlement of the municipality of Vouprasias. Many of the inhabitants left the area in search of a better life in larger Greek towns and cities and abroad, during the mid-20th century.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
settlement located around 13 km southeast of Varda, the former municipal seat of Vouprasia
Vouprasia
Vouprasia is a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration was Varda, a small town with a population of about 3,000. The municipal unit has...
. Aetorrachi forms a community together with the nearby settlement Dafni. Its population in 2001 was 122. Aetorrachi is linked with a road linking with Borsi
Borsi, Greece
Borsi is a hillside community in Greece, connected with a road to the Peneus Dam, Lechaina and Varda. It is part of the municipality of Lechaina. Achaea is located to the northeast...
and a road linking Kentro and Varda as well as to Lechaina
Lechaina
Lechaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated 39 km north of the city of Pyrgos, and 60 km southwest of Patras...
. Most of the area's population work in the field of agriculture.
Geography
The geography of the area consists of farmland, which includes oliveOlive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
groves, pastures, fruit orchard and vegetable farms, with forests covering the remainder of the area. Several streams flow through the area. The area is very hilly and the mountains of Movri
Movri
Movri , is a mountain range that is in the municipalities of Movri, Dymi to the northeast, Oleni in the western part of Achaea and the western part was partly in the prefecture of Elis with the municipality of Vouprasia until the 1970s. It is located about 30 km SW of Patras, W of...
lies to the east. Mount Scollis can be seen in the west along with the village of Portes. The northwestern section of Ilia can be viewed while around the Aetorrachi area.
The town is based on a hillside located near Peneus
Peneus
In Greek mythology, Peneus was a Thessalian river god, one of the three thousand Rivers , a child of Oceanus and Tethys. The nymph Creusa bore him one son, Hypseus, who was King of the Lapiths, and three daughters, Menippe , Daphne, and Stilbe. He also had a son Atrax with Bura, and Andreus with...
Lake. From the village, the towns of the Peneus Valley can be seen on the horizon.
History
Southwest of the town's site is the ancient city of ElisElis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
, which was the area where the mythical hero Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
joined the two rivers of the Peneus
Peneus
In Greek mythology, Peneus was a Thessalian river god, one of the three thousand Rivers , a child of Oceanus and Tethys. The nymph Creusa bore him one son, Hypseus, who was King of the Lapiths, and three daughters, Menippe , Daphne, and Stilbe. He also had a son Atrax with Bura, and Andreus with...
and the Alpheus rivers together, and cleaned up the areas of Queen Augeia.
The village was founded during the Ottoman Era
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and was known as Valaka (Greek: Βάλακα), named after the Turkish chief Valak Agaş. After the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
of 1821, the Ottoman rule finally came to an end, and joining Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the Turks fled the area.
The village was renamed in 1957 to Aetorrachi, deriving from the area in which it was built, from the place names of Aetos and Rachis. The village became a commune, together with the neighboring village of Kombouthreka (which was later renamed Dafni). In 1997, under the Kapodistrias Law, the area became a municipal district and a settlement of the municipality of Vouprasias. Many of the inhabitants left the area in search of a better life in larger Greek towns and cities and abroad, during the mid-20th century.
Population
| Year | Village population | Municipal district population |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 359 | - |
| 2001 | 122 | 288 |