Artemissia, Messinia
Encyclopedia
Artemisia is a mountain village in the municipality of Kalamata
, Messenia
, Greece
. As of 2001, it had a population of 291 for the village and 310 for the municipal district. It is situated at 860 m above sea level. Many of its residents live there only during the summer months.
Until 1927, it was known as Tsernitsa or Tzernitsa. It is located in the west part of Taygetos on the GR-82
(Pylos - Kalamata - Sparta) between Kalamata
and Sparta
. Its nature consists mostly of green pines, walnuts and chestnuts and the village has many running waters and taverns.
, 35 km west of Sparta
around 70 km northwest of Gytheio
, around 110 km north of Areopoli
and 24 km east of Kalamata
.
The village has about 9 km of paved road, 5 km of gravel road and has about 8 km of hydro and phone lines.
with the name Tsernitsa.
The six villages included in the former municipality of Alagonia were: Alagonia (Sitsova), Artemisia (Tsernitsa), Karveli (Koutsava), Lada (Upper Koutsava), Nedousa (Megali Anastasova) and Piges (Mikri Anastasova).
It is built on the location of ancient Denthaliatis that has several historic sites; among them the temple of Limnatian Artemis in Volimno, the monastery
of Mele (Μελέ), the castle of Mele and Kato Chora (Κάτω Χώρα). The monastery of Mele housed a medieval school and the school of the national benefactor Petros Dimakis, who visited the region in 1854. The school of Dimakis offered education to notorious members of the administration that flourished after Kalamata
's liberation.
It is the easternmost Messenian point in the Kalamata-Sparta trail, founded at the 23rd km from Kalamata and 34th km from Sparta and has a junction with buses that unite the two cities.
Artemisia is the largest village of the wider geographic area along with the Pera, Rogkozonitsa and Volimnos crosslands, marking up an area of 38,797 hectars, slightly smaller than that of Kalamata and nearly double than that of the other villages. Artemisia is located in the central part of the municipality, surrounded by other villages (Alagonia, Pigi, Lada and Karveli, Mikri and Megali Anastasova, Sitsova and Koutsava).
As a result of the Slavic invasion, Artemisia was named "Tsernitsa" (meaning "an area with many mulberry trees"). The village was previously located in Kato Chora, the ancient Denthaliatis, where only gardens and ruins are to be found nowadays.
. In ancient times, Artemisia was united with Kato Chora and Meles, constituting the settlement of Denthalioi, famous for its vineyards and the wine of Denthe (Δένθη) (the wine's name can be traced back to 800 BC). During the same period of time, there was also the settlement of Limnai in the Volimnos area, a religious center for Messenians and Lacedaemons that attracted pilgrims from everywhere in Peloponnesus.
Since the settlement was considered holy both by the Messenians and the Lacedaemons, it consitituted a point of dispute and one of the motives of the Messenian Wars
.
The area of "Pisina Choria" (literally meaning "the villages behind the mountain") in the Taygetos' area of Kalamata, with the help of the Mardatsi monastery and Sideroporta played a strategic role during the Greek War of Independence
, using the monastery of Velanidia as a base for military operations. Kolokotronis
, Nikitaras
and Papaflessas
on 23 March 1821 set out from the aforementioned villages, joining their forces with the Mavromichalis
clan from Mani
, in order to liberate Kalamata
.
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
, Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. As of 2001, it had a population of 291 for the village and 310 for the municipal district. It is situated at 860 m above sea level. Many of its residents live there only during the summer months.
Until 1927, it was known as Tsernitsa or Tzernitsa. It is located in the west part of Taygetos on the GR-82
Greek National Road 82
Greek National Road 82 is a west to east highway linking Pylos with the GR-9/E55, Kalamata and downtown Sparta with GR-37/E???. The highway begins in downtown Pylos and runs through the southwestern part of Messenia and through curvy roads and through Lykodimos and intersects with a road linking...
(Pylos - Kalamata - Sparta) between Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
and Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
. Its nature consists mostly of green pines, walnuts and chestnuts and the village has many running waters and taverns.
Nearest places
- AlagoniaAlagoniaAlagonia was a town of Laconia, ancient Greece, near the Messenian frontier, belonging to the Eleuthero-Lacones, containing temples of the Greek gods Dionysus and Artemis...
, northeast (distance by road: 4 km) - Pigi, east (distance by road: 3 km)
- Lada, southwest
Population
| Year | Village population | Municipal district population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 240 | - |
| 1991 | 327 | 339 |
| 2001 | 291 | 310 |
Location and transportation
Artemisia is located SSW of TripoliTripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
, 35 km west of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
around 70 km northwest of Gytheio
Gytheio
Gytheio , the ancient Gythium or Gytheion , is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the seaport of Sparta, some 40 km north...
, around 110 km north of Areopoli
Areopoli
Areopoli is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece. The word Areopoli means "city of Ares", the ancient Greek god of war. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. Areopoli was called Tsimova by the invading Slavs during the 7th century AD...
and 24 km east of Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
.
The village has about 9 km of paved road, 5 km of gravel road and has about 8 km of hydro and phone lines.
Geography and location
Artemisia is a village and a municipal district in Kalamata. Until 1927, the village was named Tsernitsa (Τσερνίτσα) or Tsernitza (Τζερνίτζα). According to the 1991 census, the village had 339 inhabitants and 310 according to the 2001 census. From 1835 until 1912, it was part of the municipality of AlagoniaAlagonia
Alagonia was a town of Laconia, ancient Greece, near the Messenian frontier, belonging to the Eleuthero-Lacones, containing temples of the Greek gods Dionysus and Artemis...
with the name Tsernitsa.
The six villages included in the former municipality of Alagonia were: Alagonia (Sitsova), Artemisia (Tsernitsa), Karveli (Koutsava), Lada (Upper Koutsava), Nedousa (Megali Anastasova) and Piges (Mikri Anastasova).
It is built on the location of ancient Denthaliatis that has several historic sites; among them the temple of Limnatian Artemis in Volimno, the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Mele (Μελέ), the castle of Mele and Kato Chora (Κάτω Χώρα). The monastery of Mele housed a medieval school and the school of the national benefactor Petros Dimakis, who visited the region in 1854. The school of Dimakis offered education to notorious members of the administration that flourished after Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
's liberation.
It is the easternmost Messenian point in the Kalamata-Sparta trail, founded at the 23rd km from Kalamata and 34th km from Sparta and has a junction with buses that unite the two cities.
Artemisia is the largest village of the wider geographic area along with the Pera, Rogkozonitsa and Volimnos crosslands, marking up an area of 38,797 hectars, slightly smaller than that of Kalamata and nearly double than that of the other villages. Artemisia is located in the central part of the municipality, surrounded by other villages (Alagonia, Pigi, Lada and Karveli, Mikri and Megali Anastasova, Sitsova and Koutsava).
As a result of the Slavic invasion, Artemisia was named "Tsernitsa" (meaning "an area with many mulberry trees"). The village was previously located in Kato Chora, the ancient Denthaliatis, where only gardens and ruins are to be found nowadays.
History
Artemisia is mentioned for the first time in the verses of HomerHomer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
. In ancient times, Artemisia was united with Kato Chora and Meles, constituting the settlement of Denthalioi, famous for its vineyards and the wine of Denthe (Δένθη) (the wine's name can be traced back to 800 BC). During the same period of time, there was also the settlement of Limnai in the Volimnos area, a religious center for Messenians and Lacedaemons that attracted pilgrims from everywhere in Peloponnesus.
Since the settlement was considered holy both by the Messenians and the Lacedaemons, it consitituted a point of dispute and one of the motives of the Messenian Wars
Messenian Wars
Messenian Wars is a term of special historical application. It means the wars between Messenia and Sparta in the 8th and 7th centuries BC as well as the 4th century BC.*First Messenian War*Second Messenian War* Third Messenian War...
.
The area of "Pisina Choria" (literally meaning "the villages behind the mountain") in the Taygetos' area of Kalamata, with the help of the Mardatsi monastery and Sideroporta played a strategic role during 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...
, using the monastery of Velanidia as a base for military operations. Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
, Nikitaras
Nikitaras
Nikitaras was the nom de guerre of Nikitas Stamatelopoulos , a Greek revolutionary in the Greek War of Independence. Due to his fighting prowess, he was known as the "Τουρκοφάγος" , literally "Turk-Eater"....
and Papaflessas
Papaflessas
Papaflessas , born Grigorios Demetrios Flessas , was a Greek patriot, priest, and government official of the old Flessas Family. The word papa- in the name "Papaflessas" indicates his status as a cleric since the word means "priest" in Greek...
on 23 March 1821 set out from the aforementioned villages, joining their forces with the Mavromichalis
Mavromichalis
Mavromichalis is maybe the main clan family name related to war events of Modern Greece. According to early twentieth century's sources forty nine members of this clan offered their lives in the various conflicts the Greeks were involved since the Orlof uprising to the Balkan Wars.- Origin...
clan from Mani
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
, in order to liberate Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
.