Alea, Greece
Encyclopedia
Alea is a village and a former community in Argolis
, Peloponnese, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 146 for the village and 793 for the community. The seat is Skoteini (meaning the darker part).
(Levidi - Stymfalia - Nemea) and Lyrkeia
and the GR-7
/E65
(Corinth - Tripoli - Kalamata) with its nearest interchange 30 km east. It is located south of Xylokastro
, SSW of Kiato
, southwest of Corinth
, NNW of Argos
, north of Tripoli
and northeast of Levidi
.
until the creation of prefectures (then departments or provinces) after the Greek War of Independence
of 1821 and sometimes Argolidocorinthia. The settlement was settled by Aleus
which is named after, a relative of Aphidamantas. Situated in the same field and Stymphalus or Stymphelus on an ancient road which ran from Argolis to Arcadia. The city had temples of Artemis Ephesias
, Athena of Alea
and Dionysus
with a statue of the gods. Every year were the Skiereia, a celebration by the god Dionysus. After Alea founded Orchomenos
.
The location of the ancient settlement is still unexcavated otherwise it is determined to be in the area near the modern village.
Until after the Greek War of Independence
, its village was known as Bougiati.
After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, some of its buildings were rebuilt and emigration occurred at a higher rate until 1961 through to 1991, it became one of the few villages in mountainous Achaia to regain is population. Dessino became connected with asphalt in the 2000s. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium. In the late-1990s, the ex-community joined to become the newly formed community of Alea (though another form with merging other former communities into the community).
Today, it is a village with a few inhabitants, it is populated during the summer months. The village economy is based on olive production.
Argolis
Argolis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.-Geography:...
, Peloponnese, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 146 for the village and 793 for the community. The seat is Skoteini (meaning the darker part).
Subdivisions
The municipal unit Alea is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):- Agios Nikolaos (Agios Nikolaos, Exochi, Platani)
- Alea
- Frousiouna
- Skoteini
Nearest places
- KandylaKandila, ArcadiaKandila is a village and a community in the municipal unit of Levidi, Arcadia, Greece. Situated between the Oligyrtos or Skipiza, Kyllini or Ziria and the Trachy mountains. As of 2001, it had a population of 846 for the village and 898 for the community, which includes the village Diakopi...
, west - Skoteini, north (distance: 7 km, 12 km by road)
- Agios Nikolaos, northeast (distance: 5 km)
- Exochi, east (distance: 7 km)
- Frousiona, south
Population
| Year | Village population | Community population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 170 | - |
| 1991 | 115 | 809 |
| 2001 | 146 | 793 |
Location
Alea is located on the road connecting the GR-66Greek National Road 66
Greek National Road 66 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Nemea with Levidi....
(Levidi - Stymfalia - Nemea) and Lyrkeia
Lyrkeia
Lyrkeia is a village and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,901 ....
and the GR-7
Greek National Road 7
The Moreas Motorway is a motorway in Peloponnese, Greece. Locally it is known as the Moréas , which was the medieval name of the Peloponnese. The A7 begins just west of the Isthmus of Corinth, branching off from Greek National Road 8A...
/E65
European route E65
European route E 65 is a north-south Class-A European route that begins in Malmö, Sweden and ends in Chaniá, Greece. The road is about in length.-Itinerary:* Sweden** E 65: Malmö – Ystad* Baltic sea, ferry Ystad-Świnoujście* Poland...
(Corinth - Tripoli - Kalamata) with its nearest interchange 30 km east. It is located south of Xylokastro
Xylokastro
Xylokastro is a town and a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Xylokastro-Evrostina, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 40 km W of Corinth via Greek National Road 8A/E65...
, SSW of Kiato
Kiato
Kiato is a coastal town in Greece that is agricultural-based. The town is located in the northern part of the prefecture of Corinthia in the Peloponnese, Greece. Kiato is located in a sandy area which features lemon trees, orange trees, and other fruit-bearing trees. It has a lot of tourist...
, southwest of Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
, NNW of Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, north of Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
and northeast of Levidi
Levidi
Levidi is a small town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. The village sits on the eastern part of the slope of the Mainalo mountains. The pine forests are...
.
History
The origin of the name and the settlement dates back to the ancient times and was located in ArcadiaArcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
until the creation of prefectures (then departments or provinces) 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 and sometimes Argolidocorinthia. The settlement was settled by Aleus
Aleus
Aleus was in Greek mythology a son of Apheidas, and grandson of Arcas. He was king of Tegea in Arcadia, and married to Neaera or Cleobule, and is said to have founded the town of Alea and the first temple of Athena Alea at Tegea. He had a son, Lycurgus, and two daughters, Auge and Alcidice. He...
which is named after, a relative of Aphidamantas. Situated in the same field and Stymphalus or Stymphelus on an ancient road which ran from Argolis to Arcadia. The city had temples of Artemis Ephesias
Artemis
Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
, Athena of Alea
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
and Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
with a statue of the gods. Every year were the Skiereia, a celebration by the god Dionysus. After Alea founded Orchomenos
Orchomenus (Arcadia)
Orchomenus or Orchomenos was an ancient city of Arcadia, Greece, called by Thucydides the Arcadian Orchomenus , to distinguish it from the Boeotian town. Its ruins are near the modern village of Orchomenos .-Situation:It was situated in a plain surrounded on every side by mountains...
.
The location of the ancient settlement is still unexcavated otherwise it is determined to be in the area near the modern village.
Until 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...
, its village was known as Bougiati.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, some of its buildings were rebuilt and emigration occurred at a higher rate until 1961 through to 1991, it became one of the few villages in mountainous Achaia to regain is population. Dessino became connected with asphalt in the 2000s. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium. In the late-1990s, the ex-community joined to become the newly formed community of Alea (though another form with merging other former communities into the community).
Today, it is a village with a few inhabitants, it is populated during the summer months. The village economy is based on olive production.