Phigalia
Encyclopedia
Phigalia or Phigaleia is an ancient Greek city in the south-west corner of Arcadia
. It is also the present name of a nearby modern village
, known up to the early 20th century as Pavlitsa (Παύλιτσα). In modern geography it is located in the southeastern Elis Prefecture
. It is situated on an elevated rocky site, among some of the highest mountains in the Peloponnese
, the most conspicuous being Mt Cotylium and Mt Elasum; the identification of the latter is uncertain.
In 659 BC Phigalia was taken by the Lacedaemonians, but soon after recovered its independence by the help of the Oresthasia
ns. During the struggle between the Achaean
and Aetolian
leagues in 221 BC it was held by Dorimachus
, who left it on the approach of Philip V of Macedon
. In common with the other cities of Arcadia, it appears in Strabo
to have fallen into utter decay under Roman
rule.
Several curious cults were preserved near Phigalia, including that of the fishtailed goddess Eurynome
and the Black Demeter
with a horse's head, whose image was renewed by Onatas
. Notices of it in Greek history are rare and scanty. Though its existing ruins and the description of Pausanias
show it to have been a place of considerable strength and importance, no autonomous coins of Phigalia are known. Nothing remained above ground of the temples of Artemis or Dionysus and the numerous statues and other works of art which existed at the time of Pausanias' visit, about AD 170.
A great part of the city wall, built in fine Hellenic masonry, partly polygonal and partly isodomic, and a large square central fortress with a circular projecting tower, are the only remains now traceable, at least without the aid of excavation. The walls, once nearly 2 m. in circuit, are strongly placed on rocks, which slope down to the little river Neda.
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...
. It is also the present name of a nearby modern village
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...
, known up to the early 20th century as Pavlitsa (Παύλιτσα). In modern geography it is located in the southeastern Elis Prefecture
Elis Prefecture
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.-Geography:...
. It is situated on an elevated rocky site, among some of the highest mountains in 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 most conspicuous being Mt Cotylium and Mt Elasum; the identification of the latter is uncertain.
In 659 BC Phigalia was taken by the Lacedaemonians, but soon after recovered its independence by the help of the Oresthasia
Oresthasium
Oresthasium was a village in ancient Arcadia, south-east of Megalopolis. It was, according to myth, founded by Orestheus, King of Arcadia, but it was also mythologically connected to Orestes. In historical times, it formed part of the territory of Maenalus, but, upon the foundation of Megalopolis...
ns. During the struggle between the Achaean
Achaean League
The Achaean League was a Hellenistic era confederation of Greek city states on the northern and central Peloponnese, which existed between 280 BC and 146 BC...
and Aetolian
Aetolian League
The Aetolian League was a confederation of tribal communities and cities in ancient Greece centered on Aetolia in central Greece. It was established, probably during the early Hellenistic era, in opposition to Macedon and the Achaean League. Two annual meetings were held in Thermika and Panaetolika...
leagues in 221 BC it was held by Dorimachus
Dorimachus
Dorimachus was an Aetolian general who took an active part in the Social War ....
, who left it on the approach of Philip V of Macedon
Philip V of Macedon
Philip V was King of Macedon from 221 BC to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of Rome. Philip was attractive and charismatic as a young man...
. In common with the other cities of Arcadia, it appears in Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
to have fallen into utter decay under Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
rule.
Several curious cults were preserved near Phigalia, including that of the fishtailed goddess Eurynome
Eurynome (oceanid)
Eurynome was a deity of ancient Greek religion worshipped at a sanctuary near the confluence of rivers called the Neda and the Lymax in classical Peloponnesus. She was represented by a statue of what we would call a mermaid...
and the Black Demeter
Demeter
In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
with a horse's head, whose image was renewed by Onatas
Onatas
Onatas was an ancient Greek sculptor of the time of the Persian Wars and a member of the flourishing school of Aegina. Many of his works are mentioned by Pausanias; they included a Hermes carrying the ram, and a strange image of the Black Demeter made for the people of Phigalia; also some elaborate...
. Notices of it in Greek history are rare and scanty. Though its existing ruins and the description of Pausanias
Pausanias (geographer)
Pausanias was a Greek traveler and geographer of the 2nd century AD, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He is famous for his Description of Greece , a lengthy work that describes ancient Greece from firsthand observations, and is a crucial link between classical...
show it to have been a place of considerable strength and importance, no autonomous coins of Phigalia are known. Nothing remained above ground of the temples of Artemis or Dionysus and the numerous statues and other works of art which existed at the time of Pausanias' visit, about AD 170.
A great part of the city wall, built in fine Hellenic masonry, partly polygonal and partly isodomic, and a large square central fortress with a circular projecting tower, are the only remains now traceable, at least without the aid of excavation. The walls, once nearly 2 m. in circuit, are strongly placed on rocks, which slope down to the little river Neda.