Elis Prefecture
Encyclopedia
Elis or Ilia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece
. It is situated in the western part of the Peloponnese
peninsula. Its capital is Pyrgos
.
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 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 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 400 m/1,700 ft), Divri
(around 1500 m), Minthe
(around 1100 m), and more.
About 1/3 of the land is fertile, the rest is mountainous and not suitable for crops. Swamplands used to cover 1-1.5% of the region, especially in the Samiko area. Most of them have been drained for agricultural purposes; only 10 km² has been kept and is now protected.
Here lies the ancient ruins of Elis
, Epitalion and Olympia
, known for the ancient Olympic games which started in 776 BC. A museum is founded with statues that relate with the history of Olympia. Another museum is in Elis, but the size is very small. Monasteries are scattered around the region.
, 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 eastern Peloponnese.
active zone, and there are several earthquake
s each year. Some of the most significant earthquake 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, enormous forest fires
took place which led to tens of deaths and a massive environmental and economical disaster. The final toll for 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 burned forests, 2,300 hectares of burned farmland. The archeological site of Olympia
was seriously threatened, but not damaged.
Elis . The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
: Elis Province
and Olympia Province
. Elis Province contained Hollow or Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis
. It 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 second most populous prefecture of the Peloponnese, after Achaea
. Between 70% to 75% of the population live on fertile lands away from 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 history of the population of Elis had suffered sharp population declines during invasion from northern and Eastern Europe, plagues, a couple of wars, and poor economy. Most of the population growth above 1% occurred in the 19th century and well into the 20th century. The biggest decline to its population was probably when invaders from Northern Europe dominate Elis and some wars as well. The population surpassed the 100,000 mark around the quarter of the 20th century and more than 150,000 in the late-20th century. 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 is declining in the southeast and east.
The urban population is about higher than 60% and has surpassed population in the latter part of the 20th century, and rising to 70% and 80% of the population. Over the last 4,000 years, the majority of the population lived in rural areas.
), 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 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. Some of the new farmers are of Pakistan
i origin.
and in the Bay of Patras. Most of the production is sent into Patras, some into Athens, some elsewhere in the world (with small production) and some into the local markets of Elis from Kyllini and Katakolo. Overfishing is a problem north of Lechaina.
, Elis
was an independent state, centred on the town Elis and 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 the Roman Empire
. In the Migration Period
(3rd - 4th century AD) Vandals and Visigoths rampaged through the region. After the breakup of the Roman Empire, Elis fell under 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 territory of the defeated Byzantine Empire, including Elis. They built castles like Chlemoutsi
. The principality lasted from 1204 until 1460, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire
.
The Ottoman Empire ruled most of Greece until the Greek War of Independence
of 1821. The Venetian Republic controlled a few coastal towns in the 1490s, early 16th century and from 1681 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 decennia after the war of independence. Houses were built, and Pyrgos became 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 into a.o. 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 the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, and Greece joining the European Communities
in 1981 stimulated economic development and improvement of infrastructure.
s. There are no limited access freeways in the prefecture yet, but a freeway (A9) is being built between Patras
and Kyparissia
, planned opening 2012.
The principal highway
s include:
via Pyrgos, and a branch line from Pyrgos to Olympia
. Both lines are user for passenger services, and there are tens of train stations scattered around Elis.
and Corfu
. The port of Katakolo
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.
, north of Pyrgos. There are no public airports in the area. The nearest airport
on land is in Kalamata
.
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.
West Greece
West Greece is one of the thirteen regions of Greece. It comprises the western part of continental Greece and the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula.- Administration :...
. It is situated in the western part of the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
peninsula. Its capital is Pyrgos
Pyrgos, Elis
Pyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and...
.
Geography
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 is 100 km (62.1 mi), and from east-to-west is around 55 km (34.2 mi). Two tiny peninsulas are part of the prefecture.The modern regional unit is not completely congruent with ancient Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
: Lampeia
Lampeia
Lampeia is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archaia Olympia, of which it is a municipal unit. The village is also known as Divri. Its population is presently around 1,000. Lampeia is in a valley...
belonged to ancient Arcadia
Arcadia
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...
, and Kalogria is now part of Achaea
Achaea
Achaea is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The capital is Patras. The population exceeds 300,000 since 2001.-Geography:...
.
The longest river is the Alfeios. Other rivers are the Erymanthos
Erymanthos River
The Erymanthos is a river in the western part of the Peloponnese in Greece, the river flows in the Achaia, Arcadia and partly in the Ilia prefectures. Historically, the river flowed entirely in the region of Arcadia until after the Greek War of Independence....
, Pineios
Pineios River (Peloponnese)
The Pineiós is a river in Peloponnese, Greece. It is probably not named after the god Peneus. It flows from the mountain Erymanthus , and empties into a bay SW of Gastouni connecting the Ionian Sea. The river flows through the southern half of the Ilia plain...
and Neda
Neda River
The Neda is a river that flows through the Arcadia, Ilia and the Messinia prefectures in the western Peloponnese in Greece. It is unique in the sense that it is the only river in Greece with a female name.-Geography:...
. Alfeios, Pineios and Neda flow into the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
in Elis. Less than 1% of 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
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
and Krestena
Krestena
Krestena is a town in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is the seat of administration....
supplies water to Pyrgos.
The eastern part of the regional unit is forested, with mostly pine trees in the south. There are forest preserves in Foloi
Foloi
Foloi is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archaia Olympia, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in the village Lalas...
and the mountain ranges of Eastern Elis. In the north is the Strofylia forest which has pine trees. Mountain ranges include 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...
(around 400 m/1,700 ft), Divri
Divri
-In Greece:*Divri, in the prefecture of Fthiotis*Divri, a second name of Lampeia in the northeastern part of the prefecture of Ilia...
(around 1500 m), Minthe
Minthe
In Greek mythology, Minthe was a naiad associated with the river Cocytus. She was dazzled by Hades' golden chariot and was about to be seduced by him had not Queen Persephone intervened and metamorphosed Minthe into the pungently sweet-smelling mint, which some call hedyosmus...
(around 1100 m), and more.
About 1/3 of the land is fertile, the rest is mountainous and not suitable for crops. Swamplands used to cover 1-1.5% of the region, especially in the Samiko area. Most of them have been drained for agricultural purposes; only 10 km² has been kept and is now protected.
Here lies the ancient ruins of Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
, Epitalion and Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
, known for the ancient Olympic games which started in 776 BC. A museum is founded with statues that relate with the history of Olympia. Another museum is in Elis, but the size is very small. Monasteries are scattered around the region.
Climate
Elis has a mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical 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 eastern Peloponnese.
Natural disasters
Elis is located in a seismicallySeismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
active zone, and there are several earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s each year. Some of the most significant earthquake to have hit the area are:
- 1909: earthquake in ChavariChavariChavari is a village that is a part of the municipal unit of Amaliada in the Ilia prefecture.-Person:*Christos Laskaris, poet...
- 1910: earthquake in VartholomioVartholomioVartholomio is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is around 3,182 . Elevation is 3 to 4 m above sea level. The Pineios River flows southeast...
- 1920: earthquake in KylliniKastro-KylliniKastro-Kyllini 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 is in the small port town of Kyllini...
- 1953: Ionian earthquake1953 Ionian EarthquakeThe Great 1953 Ionian Earthquake struck the southern Ionian Islands in Greece on August 12, 1953. In mid-August 1953, beginning on 8 August there were over 113 recorded earthquakes in the region between Kefalonia and Zakynthos, but the most destructive was the earthquake of August 12th...
, minor damage in Elis - 2008: 8 June Peloponnese earthquake2008 Peloponnese earthquakeThe 2008 Peloponnese earthquake was a deadly earthquake that killed two people, injured more than 220 and left at least 2,000 people homeless in north western Peloponese, Greece, on June 8, 2008. The earthquake hit the area at 1525 EET , with a moment magnitude of 6.5, according to the Athens...
, 2 deaths, hundreds of damaged homes and buildings were reported in Lechaina, Amaliada and Vartholomio
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
Manolada
Manolada is a Greek village located 54 km southwest of Patras and about 50 km northeast of Pyrgos. The GR-9/E55 are accessed via the road to Varda and the road to Lappa. Manolada had a 2001 population of 1,522 for the village and 1,835 for the municipal district...
, Nea Manolada
Nea Manolada
Nea Manolada is a community in southwestern Greece. It is located in the municipal unit of Vouprasia, Elis. Distance from Varda is 4 km NE, 42 km SW of Patras and 52 km N of Pyrgos...
and Kounoupeli.
In August 2007, enormous forest fires
2007 Greek forest fires
The 2007 Greek forest fires were a series of massive forest fires that broke out in several areas across Greece throughout the summer of 2007. The most destructive and lethal infernos broke out on August 23, expanded rapidly and raged out of control until August 27, until they were put out in early...
took place which led to tens of deaths and a massive environmental and economical disaster. The final toll for 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 burned forests, 2,300 hectares of burned farmland. The archeological site of Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
was seriously threatened, but not damaged.
Administration
The regional unit Elis is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):- Ancient OlympiaOlympia, GreeceOlympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
(4) - Andravida-Kyllini (6)
- Andritsaina-Krestena (3)
- IlidaIlida (municipality)Ilida is a municipality in the Elis peripheral unit, West Greece Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Amaliada. It was named after the ancient region and city Elis.-Municipality:...
(2) - PineiosPineios (municipality)Pineios is a municipality in the Elis peripheral unit, West Greece Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Gastouni. It was named after the river Pineios.-Municipality:...
(7) - PyrgosPyrgos, ElisPyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and...
(1) - ZacharoZacharoZacharo is a town and municipality in southwestern Greece. Administratively, it belongs to the Elis peripheral unit, in the Periphery of West Greece. Zacharo is situated on the Ionian Sea coast, in the area of the Gulf of Kyparissia. The town is crossed by the highway named GR-9/E55, that links...
(5)
Prefecture
As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Elis was created out of the former prefecturePrefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
Elis . The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Olympia Olympia, Greece Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC... (Archaia Olympia) |
Archaia Olympia Olympia, Greece Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC... |
Archaia Olympia |
| Lampeia Lampeia Lampeia is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archaia Olympia, of which it is a municipal unit. The village is also known as Divri. Its population is presently around 1,000. Lampeia is in a valley... |
||
| Lasiona Lasiona, Elis Lasiona is a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archaia Olympia, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration was the village Antroni. It is accessed by a road connecting Patras and Tripoli, the GR-33... |
||
| Foloi Foloi Foloi is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archaia Olympia, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in the village Lalas... |
||
| Andravida-Kyllini | Andravida Andravida Andravída 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 a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of... |
Lechaina |
| 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... |
||
| Kastro-Kyllini Kastro-Kyllini Kastro-Kyllini 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 is in the small port town of Kyllini... |
||
| 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... |
||
| Andritsaina-Krestena | Andritsaina Andritsaina Andritsaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit... |
Krestena |
| Alifeira Alifeira Alifeira is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in the village of Kallithea. It is north of the... |
||
| Skillounta Skillounta Skillounta is a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit. It is named after Scillus, an ancient name for the area. Its seat of administration was in the town... |
||
| Ilida Ilida (municipality) Ilida is a municipality in the Elis peripheral unit, West Greece Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Amaliada. It was named after the ancient region and city Elis.-Municipality:... |
Amaliada Amaliada Amaliada is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ilida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has 32,090 citizens... |
Amaliada |
| Pineia Pineia Pineia is a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ilida, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration is in the village Simopoulo . Simopoulo is located about 5 km west of GR-33 and south of the... |
||
| Pineios Pineios (municipality) Pineios is a municipality in the Elis peripheral unit, West Greece Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Gastouni. It was named after the river Pineios.-Municipality:... |
Gastouni Gastouni Gastouni is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Distance is south of Lechaina, from Kyllini Baths, from Pyrgos, NW of Amaliada and SW of... |
Gastouni |
| Vartholomio Vartholomio Vartholomio is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is around 3,182 . Elevation is 3 to 4 m above sea level. The Pineios River flows southeast... |
||
| Tragano Tragano Tragano is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit... |
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| Pyrgos Pyrgos, Elis Pyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and... |
Pyrgos Pyrgos, Elis Pyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and... |
Pyrgos |
| Volakas Volakas, Elis Volakas is a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pyrgos, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration was in the town of Epitalio. Epitalio is accessed by GR-9 to the north and south which until the... |
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| Iardanos Iardanos Iardanos is a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pyrgos, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration was the village Vounargo. Vounargo is accessed by GR-9 about 3 km west. The hills are to... |
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| Oleni Oleni Oleni is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pyrgos, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was in Karatoula. It is located about 20 km S of Simopoulo, NE of Pyrgos, SE... |
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| Zacharo Zacharo Zacharo is a town and municipality in southwestern Greece. Administratively, it belongs to the Elis peripheral unit, in the Periphery of West Greece. Zacharo is situated on the Ionian Sea coast, in the area of the Gulf of Kyparissia. The town is crossed by the highway named GR-9/E55, that links... |
Zacharo Zacharo Zacharo is a town and municipality in southwestern Greece. Administratively, it belongs to the Elis peripheral unit, in the Periphery of West Greece. Zacharo is situated on the Ionian Sea coast, in the area of the Gulf of Kyparissia. The town is crossed by the highway named GR-9/E55, that links... |
Zacharo |
| Figaleia Figaleia Figaleia is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zacharo, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 184 for the village and 2,499 for the municipality. The seat of the municipality was... |
Provinces
Before 2006, Elis was divided into two provincesProvinces of Greece
The provinces of Greece 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 finance services and education, as well as for electoral purposes...
: Elis Province
Elis Province
Elis was a province covering the northern half of the Elis Prefecture. It was disbanded in 2006. The main places are Pyrgos, Amaliada, Gastouni, Lechaina, Vartholomio, Varda, Andravida, Myrsini, Lampeia and Kyllini...
and Olympia Province
Olympia Province
Olympia Province was one of the provinces of Greece, and one of two in Elis Prefecture.-References:* http://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Επαρχίες_της_Ελλάδας...
. Elis Province contained Hollow or Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis
Pisa (Greece)
Pisa was the name of an ancient town in the western Peloponnese, Greece. The area controlled by Pisa was called Pisatis, which included Olympia, the site of the Ancient Olympic Games. Pisa and Pisatis were subjugated by Elis in 572 BC. Currently, it is a village within the municipality of Olympia...
. It was the smallest, but most populous of the two provinces. The seat was Pyrgos
Pyrgos, Elis
Pyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and...
. Olympia Province contained most of Pisatis and Triphylia. Its seat was Andritsaina
Andritsaina
Andritsaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit...
, in the mountains, Krestena and Zacharo were the largest towns in the province.
Population
- 1991: 174,021, density: 65 inh./km²
- 2001: 192,340, density: 71.74/km²
- 2005: 198,765, density: 75.9/km²
Elis is the second most populous prefecture of the Peloponnese, after Achaea
Achaea
Achaea is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The capital is Patras. The population exceeds 300,000 since 2001.-Geography:...
. Between 70% to 75% of the population live on fertile lands away from 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 history of the population of Elis had suffered sharp population declines during invasion from northern and Eastern Europe, plagues, a couple of wars, and poor economy. Most of the population growth above 1% occurred in the 19th century and well into the 20th century. The biggest decline to its population was probably when invaders from Northern Europe dominate Elis and some wars as well. The population surpassed the 100,000 mark around the quarter of the 20th century and more than 150,000 in the late-20th century. 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 is declining in the southeast and east.
The urban population is about higher than 60% and has surpassed population in the latter part of the 20th century, and rising to 70% and 80% of the population. Over the last 4,000 years, the majority of the population lived in rural areas.
Agriculture
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 (KyknosKyknos S.A.
Kyknos S.A. is a Greek tomato company and it is one of the major tomato paste brands in the country. It is headquartered in Athens in the Athens Industrial Area west of downtown. It manufactures tomato paste, purée, ketchup and tomato sauces, which are used on pasta, lasagna and other cuisines...
), Gastouni (Pelargos
Pelargos
Pelargos is a Greek tomato company and it is one of the major tomato paste brands in the country. It is headquartered in Athens in the Athens Industrial Area west of downtown. It manufactures tomato pastes and are used on pasta, lasagna and other cuisines....
), 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 the Middle Ages. In the 1950s, agriculture was the dominant occupation, except in the towns Amaliada
Amaliada
Amaliada is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ilida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has 32,090 citizens...
and Pyrgos. Currently, one third of jobs in Elis is in the agricultural sector. Some of the new farmers are of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i origin.
Fishing
Squid, and all types of fish are common in the waters of Elis. Fishing is mainly done in the southeastern Ionian SeaIonian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
and in the Bay of Patras. Most of the production is sent into Patras, some into Athens, some elsewhere in the world (with small production) and some into the local markets of Elis from Kyllini and Katakolo. Overfishing is a problem north of Lechaina.
History
In classical antiquityClassical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
was an independent state, centred on the town Elis and the sanctuary at Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
, where the Ancient Olympic Games were held between 776 BC and 394 AD. After 146 BC, Elis was part of the province Achaea
Achaea (Roman province)
Achaea, or Achaia, was a province of the Roman Empire, consisting of the Peloponnese, eastern Central Greece and parts of Thessaly. It bordered on the north by the provinces of Epirus vetus and Macedonia...
within the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. In the Migration Period
Migration Period
The Migration Period, also called the Barbarian Invasions , was a period of intensified human migration in Europe that occurred from c. 400 to 800 CE. This period marked the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages...
(3rd - 4th century AD) Vandals and Visigoths rampaged through the region. After the breakup of the Roman Empire, Elis fell under the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
In the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
, crusaders from Western Europe (traditionally referred to as Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
in southeastern Europe) established the principality of Achaea
Principality of Achaea
The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica...
in territory of the defeated Byzantine Empire, including Elis. They built castles like Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Ilia Prefecture, Greece 12 km west of Andravida, 13 km southwest of Lechaina and 6 km south of Kyllini. It was built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea as their main stronghold, and is perhaps the finest...
. The principality lasted from 1204 until 1460, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire
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...
.
The Ottoman Empire ruled most of Greece until 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 Venetian Republic controlled a few coastal towns in the 1490s, early 16th century and from 1681 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 decennia after the war of independence. Houses were built, and Pyrgos became a regional centre. Like most of the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, the area was unaffected during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. As a result of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), Greek refugees from Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
settled into a.o. the area around Amaliada.
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...
struck parts of Elis, houses were damaged, leaving people homeless, and afterwards 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...
caused more destruction and economic decline. The return to democracy
Metapolitefsi
The Metapolitefsi was a period in Greek history after the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 that includes the transitional period from the fall of the dictatorship to the Greek legislative elections of 1974 and the democratic period immediately after these elections.The long...
after the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, and Greece joining the European Communities
European Communities
The European Communities were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions...
in 1981 stimulated economic development and improvement of infrastructure.
Roads
Elis has 200 km of highwayHighway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s. There are no limited access freeways in the prefecture yet, but a freeway (A9) is being built between Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
and Kyparissia
Kyparissia
Kyparissia is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Trifylia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The town proper has around 5,708 inhabitants. The town is located on Greek National Road 9,...
, planned opening 2012.
The principal highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s include:
- E55European route E55European route E 55 is a E-route. It passes through the following cities:Helsingborg … Helsingør – Copenhagen – Køge – Vordingborg – Nykøbing Falster – Gedser … Rostock – Berlin – Lübbenau – Dresden – Teplice – Prague – Tábor – Linz – Salzburg – Villach – Tarvisio – Udine – Palmanova – Mestre...
(GR Highway 9Greek National Road 9Greek National Road 9 is the second-longest national highway of Greece. It runs through the western Peloponnese, from Patras to Pylos. Its length is around .This highway travels near:*Bypasses:*Patras and Area, since 2002*Vrachneika*Alissos*Kato Achaia...
), Patras-Pyrgos-Kyparissia, along the western coast of the Peloponnese - GR Highway 74Greek National Road 74Greek National Road 74 is a highway linking Pyrgos, Olympia, Tripoli and GR-7/E65. The west to east highway runs in the western and the central part of the Peloponnese. The highway begins in Pyrgos and into the hills and Olympia and used to ran through narrow roads which now bypasses Pyrgos and...
, Pyrgos-LagkadiaLagkadia, ArcadiaLagkadia , is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the seat of the municipality of the same name. The village is connected by GR-74...
, TripoliTripoli, GreeceTripoli 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... - GR Highway 76Greek National Road 76Greek National Road 76 is a west to east highway linking 2 km W of Krestena with GR-9/E55, Andritsaina and SE of Megalopoli . The highway west to Andritsaina is unofficially designated as GR-76 The west to east highway runs in the western and the central part of the Peloponnese...
, Pyrgos-AndritsainaAndritsainaAndritsaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit...
-MegalopolisMegalopolis, GreeceMegalópoli is a town in the western part of the peripheral unit of Arcadia, southern Greece. It is located in the same site as ancient Megalopolis . "Megalopolis" is a Greek word for Great city. When it was founded, in 371 BC, it was the first urbanization in rustic and primitive Arcadia. In...
Railways
The total length of railway tracks in Elis is around 140 km. There is a railway line from Patras to KalamataKalamata
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...
via Pyrgos, and a branch line from Pyrgos to Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
. Both lines are user for passenger services, and there are tens of train stations scattered around Elis.
Ports
The port of Kyllini in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis, with car ferries to the islands of ZakynthosZakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
and Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. The port of Katakolo
Katakolo
Katakolo is a seaside town in western Ilia in the municipality of Pyrgos. It is located south of Patras and Dounaiika, 12 km off downtown Pyrgos, west of Olympia and northwest of Messenia...
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.
Airports
Elis has a military airport near AndravidaAndravida
Andravída 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 a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
, north of Pyrgos. There are no public airports in the area. The nearest airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
on land is in 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...
.
Communications
Telephones became more common after the 1960s when the Hellenic Telecommunication Organization (ΟΤΕ) created hundreds of kilometres of phone lines in 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.- ORT (Olympiaki Radiophonio Teleorassi meaning the Olympic Broadcasting Television) serves the whole of Elia in local programming to the area. ORT is also a Polis affEliste along with Music All Day. The logo includes the five Olympic rings.
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.
Persons
- Panagiotis AdraktasPanagiotis AdraktasPanagiotis Adraktas is a Greek politician. He was born in Kardamas in the northwestern Ilia Prefecture. He is a doctor and doctorate at the Medical Faculty of the University of Athens. He was elected in the 2nd Athens constituency in June 1989, November 1989 and 1990...
(b. September 28, 1948 in Kardamas), a New Democracy politician - Hristodoulos Aholos or Acholos
- Panagiotis AnagnostopoulosPanagiotis AnagnostopoulosPanagiotis Anagnostopoulos was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence and a member of Filiki Eteria.He was born in Andritsaina around 1790 and was descended from a poor family...
, revolutionary leader - AstydameiaAstydameiaIn Greek mythology, Astydameia is a name attributed to five individuals.-Queen of Iolcus:Astydameia, daughter of Cretheus , was the Queen of Iolcus and wife of Acastus. Her husband purified Peleus of the murder of King Eurytion of Phthia. Astydameia fell in love with Peleus but he scorned her...
- AtreusAtreusIn Greek mythology, Atreus was a king of Mycenae, the son of Pelops and Hippodamia, and the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. Collectively, his descendants are known as Atreidai or Atreidae....
- AvgerinosAvgerinosAvgerinos is a community located in the Tsotyli municipal unit, situated in western Kozani peripheral unit, in the Greek region of Macedonia.-References:...
family:- Agamemnon AvgerinosAgamemnon AvgerinosAgamemnon Avgerinos was a Greek politician and leader of the Greek War of Independence of 1821.He was born in Pyrgos, the son of Georgios Avgerinos, a descendant of the Pyrgiotiki family. He studied for a doctorate in Italy and was elected a member in Pyrgos. He ministered as chief doctor during...
- Andreas AvgerinosAndreas AvgerinosAndreas Avgerinos was a Greek politician from Elis.He was born in Pyrgos, now in Elis Prefecture, one year before the start of the Greek War of Independence. His father was the famous Dimitrios Avgerinos who studied Pyrgioti families. He was a prefectural leader of Attica and chief of the police...
- Charalambos AvgerinosCharalambos AvgerinosCharalmbos Avgerinos was a Greek politician He was the father of Nakis Avgerinos. He ran for mayor of Pyrgos...
- Dimitrios AvgerinosDimitrios AvgerinosDimitrios Avgerinos was a Greek politician.Born in Pyrgos, modern-day Elis Prefecture, the son of Georgios Avgerinos, a relative of the old Pyrgiotiki family dominated local politics for a century.He was an attorney in Ilia until 1843....
- Nakis AvgerinosNakis AvgerinosNakis Avgerinos was a Greek politician.He was born in Pyrgos, Ilia, modern-day Elis Prefecture, the son of Charalampos Avgerinos, mayor of Pyrgos, a relative of the old Pyrgiotiki family dominated local politics for over a century. Avgerinos studied in Athens and became a judge in Patras and later...
- Petros AvgerinosPetros Avgerinos-Biography:He was born in Pyrgos, Elis and was related to the Avgerinos family. He was mayor of Pyrgos a number of times between 1868 and 1889.During his term as mayor, he created the public market, the Apollo Theatre, and organised work on the Pyrgos-Katakolo railway line...
- Agamemnon Avgerinos
- Dionyssios N. Bokos, writer of Myrsini, Nihta Pepromenou, etc.
- Andreas Bratis, writer of To Vartholomo (The Vartholonio)
- ChristopoulosChristopoulosThe surname Christopoulos or Hristopoulos may refer to several main families that originate from Olympia, Greece:*Agamemnon Christopoulos, politician of Ilia and brother of Asimakis?...
family:- Agamemnon Christopoulos, politician, brother of Asimakis
- Anastasios ChristopoulosAnastasios ChristopoulosAnastasios Christopoulos was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence and a lawman....
, revolutionary leader - Asimakis Christopoulos, politicians, brother of Tzannetos
- Charalampos Christopoulos, politician
- Christos Christopoulos, father of Anastasios
- Tzannetos Christopoulos, politician, son of Anastasios
- Christos DaralexisChristos DaralexisChristos Daralexis was a Greek historian, a politician and a theatrical writer.-Biography:Daralexis was born in Pyrgos, a city now in the Ilia Prefecture and was a relative of the Avgerinos family. He was a well minded Athenian and one of the courteous changes in Athens' aristocracy. He was...
, journalist - Themistoklis Daralexis, politician
- Vyronas DavosVyronas DavosVyronas Davos , b. 1927 is a Greek historian, writer and poet.-Biography:He was born in the village of Pelopio in Ilia Prefecture and moved to Athens as an employee of the fire department. Davos was member of the Hellenic or Greek Literature Company and the Greek Literature Union...
, a writer, historian and a poet, he published works on Ilia during the Frankish, Ottoman, Venetian periods, the Greek War of Independence and the Modern period - Dionyssis DiakosDionyssis DiakosDionyssis Diakos was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. He was born in Pyrgos and descended from a family or operators and revolutionary leaders. He was a runner for Pyrgos. He took part in a battle against Ibrahim and the fortress of Kastro. With the sack of...
, revolutionary leader - Ioannis DiakosIoannis DiakosIoannis Diakos was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. He was a chief of Pyrgos and battled during the Greek War of Independence and at the time, he was a general of Pyrgos...
, revolutionary leader - Takis Doxas, writer
- Epeus, ancient mythological legend
- Ioannis Giannopoulos, politician
- Kostis GontikasKostis GontikasKostis Gontikas or Gondikas is a Greek politician. He was born in 1934 in Athens and was the son of Dimitrios Gontikas, a politician and president of the Greek parliament. He later studied at the Athens College and law at the University of Athens. He continued his studies at the University of...
(b. 1934), politician - Dimitrios GontikasDimitrios GontikasDimtrios Gontikas or Gondikas was a Greek historian and a linguist.-Bibliography:Gontikas was born in a village named Magouliana in the highland of Arcadia. He later studied law at the University of Patras. He was shortly a judge in Pyrgos until 1936 when he was elected to the Liberal Party as a...
, (1888–1967) a politician and former president of the Greek parliament - Aristeidis Griboutis, journalist
- Miltiadis IatridisMiltiadis IatridisMiltiadis Iatridis was a Greek naval officer active during World War II.He was born in the village Sofiko in the Peloponnese. He entered the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1921 and graduated in 1926. By the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War in 1940 he was captain of the submarine Papanikolis with the...
, revolutionary leader - Nikos Kahtitsis, writer
- Antonios Kalogeropoulos, a revolutionary leader from Myrsini (then Souleimanaga)
- Athanassios Kanellopoulos, politician
- Simon KarasSimon KarasSimon Karas was a Greek musicologist, who specialized in Byzantine music tradition.Simon Karas studied paleography of Byzantine musical notation, was active in collecting and preserving ancient musical manuscripts, collected performances of folk Greek songs and of Byzantine chant from different...
, music historian - Andreas KarkavitsasAndreas KarkavitsasAndreas Karkavitsas or Carcavitsas was a Greek novelist. He was a naturalist, like Alexandros Papadiamantis.-Biography:...
- Kostas KazakosKostas KazakosKostas Kazakos is a Greek actor, director, and politician.He was married to the famous actress Tzeni Karezi with whom he has a son...
, actor - Dimitrios Kioussopoulos, former Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of GreeceThe Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...
- Dionyssos KokkinosDionyssos KokkinosDionyssios Kokkinos was a Greek historian and writer.Kokkinos was born in Pyrgos in the modern Ilia Prefecture. He studierd at the Medical School at the University of Athens, he otherwise cut his studies and he later educated history and literature...
, writer - Dimitrios Korkolis, politician and mayor of Pyrgos
- KrestenitisKrestenitisKrestenitis may refer to several Greek persons. This surname means a resident of Krestena and that is where it mainly originates:*Aristeidis Krestenitis, politician*Georgios Krestenitis, a Greek politician...
family:- Aristeidis Krestenitis
- Georgios KrestenitisGeorgios KrestenitisGeorgios Krestenitis was a Greek politician from the Ilia prefecture.Γεώργιος Κρεστενίτης was descended from the famous Krestenitis family which had many politicians. He was elected for the first time as a politician from Ilia in 1879 and again in 1885, 1895, 1902 and 1905. He was elected as a...
, two politicians - Ioannis Krestenis (elder)
- Ioannis Krestenitis (younger)Ioannis Krestenitis (younger)Ioannis Krestenitis was a Greek politician and a mayor of Pyrgos. He came from the most famous Krestenitis family. He studied at the National University and attended with professor Lambros. He became mayor of Pyrgos in 1883 and later a politician of Ilia in 1887, 1889, 1906 and 1910...
, politician - Lykourgos KrestenitisLykourgos KrestenitisLykourgos Krestenitis was a Greek politician during the early decades of the modern Greek state.Krestenitis was born in Pyrgos in Ilia in 1793, to Ioannis Krestenitis. He studied in Zante and later at the Ionian Academy. He entered the Filiki Eteria and upon the outbreak of the Greek Revolution,...
(1793–1873), president of the Greek parliament - Stamatis KrestenitisStamatis KrestenitisStamatis Krestenitis was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence.Krestenitis was born in the Ilia and belonged to the Krestenitis family...
, a Greek revolutionary leader
- Christos LaskarisChristos LaskarisChristos Laskaris was a Greek poet.Laskaris was born in the village of Chavari in Ilia, but moved to Patras as a child. He studied at the Pedagogical Academy of Tripoli, but did not became a teacher; instead, he worked his entire career in the insurance division of the Patras city bus authority...
, poet - LiourdisLiourdisLiourdis is a Greek surname.*Giannis or Yiannis Liourdis, politician*Spyros Liourdis...
family:- Ioannis LiourdisIoannis LiourdisIoannis Liourdis or Yiannis Liourdis was a Greek politician.He was born in Pyrgos around 1800 and descended from an old family of Pyrgos which had Frankish roots. He was politician and lived in Athens. He councilled with large protests on agriculture for taxing during 1894...
, politician - Spyros Liourdis, Greek revolutionary leader
- Georgios and Petros Mitzos, revolutionary leaders
- Ioannis Liourdis
- Georgios Nikoloutsopoulos, a revolutionary leader from Myrsini (then Souleimanaga)
- Alexandros PanagoulisAlexandros PanagoulisAlexandros Panagoulis was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels in Greece. He became famous for his attempt to assassinate dictator Georgios Papadopoulos on 13 August 1968, but also for the torture that he was subjected to during his...
- Georgios Papandreou, an unrelated historian
- Theodoros PapasimakopoulosTheodoros PapasimakopoulosTheodoros Papasimakopoulos was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence....
, revolutionary leader - Ioannis PesmazoglouIoannis PesmazoglouIoannis Pesmazoglou was a Greek banker, economist and politician. He is a descended from Constantinople and studied economic sciences in Paris and in the beginning, he was employed at Crédit Lyonnais in Alexandria in Egypt and later in 1882, he was member of the Anglo-Egyptian Bank...
- Takis SinopoulosTakis SinopoulosTakis Sinopoulos was a Greek poet and a leading figure among the so-called first postwar generation of Greek poets...
, poet - SisinisSisinisSisinis is the surname of:*Chrysanthos Sisinis, a Greek revolutionary leader and a politician*Georgios Sisinis, a Greek revolutionary leader and a farmer...
family:- Chrysanthos SisinisChrysanthos SisinisChrysanthos Sisinis was a Greek revolutionary leader and a politician.He was born in Gastouni and was the son of Georgios Sisinis. He battled Patras, Athens, Messolongi and severl other battles. He was jailed together with his father in the civil period as an adherent of Kolokotronis...
, A Greek revolutionary leader and a politician
- Chrysanthos Sisinis
- Georgios SisinisGeorgios SisinisGeorg Sisinis was a Greek politician and a Greek revolutionary leader.-Biography:He was born in Gastouni in the modern Ilia Prefecture and descended from a rich and historic family of the area. During the Ottoman rule, he was a chief of Gastouni. He had participated in the Secret Society in 1819...
, a Greek revolutionary leader - Christos StefanopoulosChristos StefanopoulosChristos Stephanopoulos was a Greek politician and mayor of Pyrgos.Christos Stephanopoulos was born in Divri and was the son of Stephanos Stephanopoulos the elder, a politician and the relative of the historic Stephanopoulos family. He studied law at Athens and was married to Fani Vakalopoulou...
, politician - Theodoridis family:
- Thallis Theodoridis (elder)Thallis Theodoridis (elder)Thallis Theodoridis was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence.He was born in Pyrgos and is the descendant of the rich Theodoridis family which descended from Divri . He was the secretary and aide of the Sissinaians and fought with his own army in Attica, Ilia, and the...
, a Greek revolutionary leader - Thallis Theodoridis (younger), a politician
- Vasileios TheodoridisVasileios TheodoridisVasileios Theodoridis was a Greek journalist and anarchist.Theodoridis was born in Pyrgos and studied law in Athens. He was descended from the famous Theodoridis family and was the son of Aristomenis Theodoridis, manager of Stafidikis bank, and grandson of Thallis Theodoridis...
, journalist
- Thallis Theodoridis (elder)
- Konstantinos VarouxisKonstantinos VarouxisKonstantinos Varouxis was a Greek journalist and a publisher.Varouxis was born in Pyrgos and was descended from a family of journalists. The Varouxises was a key of the family Spilotopoulos from Dimitsana in which they participated the Greek War of Independence of 1921. In 1892, he ran the...
, journalist, Patris writer - Leonidas VarouxisLeonidas VarouxisLeonidas Varouxis was a Greek journalist and a politician. The Varouxises was a key element inf the family Spilotopoulos from Dimitsana, and participated the Greek War of Independence of 1921....
, journalist, Patris writer - Alexis Vilaetis, a 19th century politician who was elected in 1868
- Charalambos VilaetisCharalambos VilaetisCharalambos or Haralambos Vilaetis was a Greek Greek revolutionary leader. He descended from a famous family of Pyrgos in which he was one of the first who inhabited the area. He was born in 1781 and moved to Zakynthos in 1806 with the mark of sergeant next to Kolokotronis. He was a member of...
, a Greek revolutionary leader - Lysandros VilaetisLysandros VilaetisLysandros Vilaetis was a chief of Pyrgos and a Greek politician elected from 1823 until 1864. He descended from a noted family of Pyrgos in which he was one of the first who inhabited the area...
, a chief of Pyrgos and a politician - Nikolaos VilaetisNikolaos VilaetisNikolaos Vilaetis was a chief of Pyrgos and a Greek politician. He descended from a famous family of Pyrgos in which he was one of the first who inhabited the area. He was the cousin of Yiannis and brother of Haralambos...
- Panagis VourloumisPanagis VourloumisPanagis Vourloumis was a Greek politician, lawyer, economist and a finance minister. He was one of the main collaborators of Eleftherios Venizelos. He studied law at the University of Athens and worked in Marseilles as the director of a raisin export company. In 1893, he founded his own business...
- For the kings of Elis (now Ilia), see section
Sporting teams
- Aias - Gastouni
- Asteras - Amaliada
- Dafni - AndravidaAndravidaAndravída 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 a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
- Iliakos - Lechaina
- Olympiacos Zacharos - ZacharoZacharoZacharo is a town and municipality in southwestern Greece. Administratively, it belongs to the Elis peripheral unit, in the Periphery of West Greece. Zacharo is situated on the Ionian Sea coast, in the area of the Gulf of Kyparissia. The town is crossed by the highway named GR-9/E55, that links...
- Panileiakos - Pyrgos
- PAO Varda - Varda