Εμφανίζονται 100 (επί συνόλου 179) τίτλοι με αναζήτηση: Πληροφορίες για τον τόπο στην ευρύτερη περιοχή: "ΑΧΑΪΑ Νομός ΕΛΛΑΔΑ" .
ΑΚΡΑΤΑ (Κωμόπολη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Η όμορφη παραλιακή πόλη της Ακράτας με τα καταγάλανα νερά, τις θαυμάσιες
ακρογιαλιές και την σύγχρονη τουριστική υποδομή της προσφέρει πολλές συγκινήσεις
σε όσους επιθυμούν να συνδυάσουν ξεκούραση και περιπέτεια στις διακοπές τους.
Η Ακράτα καθώς και οι γραφικές παραλίες των γύρω χωριών Τράπεζα,
Πλάτανος, Αιγείρα
προσελκύουν κατά τους καλοκαιρινούς μήνες πλήθος παραθεριστών που απολαμβάνουν
τις ιδιαίτερες ομορφιές της περιοχής.
Νοτιοανατολικά της Ακράτας βρίσκονται τα ερείπια της Αρχαίας
Αιγείρας με το φημισμένο αρχαίο θέατρο καθώς επίσης και τα ίχνη της αρχαίας
πόλης Αιγές που καταστράφηκε γύρω στο 281 π.Χ.
Στα περίχωρα της Ακράτας είναι κτισμένη η μεταβυζαντινή Ιερά
Μονή της Αγίας Τριάδας, τόπος φιλόξενος και γοητευτικός, ενώ 20 χιλιόμετρα
από την πόλη ο επισκέπτης συναντά τη Σελιάνα,
όπου έχουν εντοπισθεί τα ίχνη της αρχαίας
Φελλόης, την οποία αναφέρει στα Αχαϊκά ο Παυσανίας. Στο Περιθώρι,
4 χιλιόμετρα νότια της Σελιάνας,
υπάγεται η μεταβυζαντινή Μονή
των Αγίων Αποστόλων και το κρατικό εκτροφείο θηραμάτων.
Κοντά στο Περιθώρι,
η Εξοχή (Ράχοβα) - όπου από
το 1829 μέχρι το 1837 λειτουργούσε "Ελληνική Σχολή" από τις πρώτες που
ιδρύθηκαν στην Ελλάδα μετά την
απελευθέρωση από τους Τούρκους - είναι ο τόπος που ανέδειξε πολλές ιστορικές φυσιογνωμίες
της επανάστασης του 1821 καθώς και επιφανείς κληρικούς όπως οι Πατριάρχες Ιεροσολύμων
Δοσίθεος και Χρύσανθος.
Οι ορεινές περιοχές νότια της Ακράτας παρουσιάζουν ιδιαίτερο τουριστικό
ενδιαφέρον. Εδώ θαυμάζει ο επισκέπτης την μαγευτική λίμνη του Τσιβλού
και τα ιστορικά αλλά και γραφικά Κλουκινοχώρια - Αγρίδι,
Μεσορούγγι, Περιστέρα,
Σόλος, Ζαρούχλα
κ.α. - χωριά με έντονα παραδοσιακά στοιχεία και σκορπισμένα μέσα σε πυκνό ελατοδάσος.
Στην Ζαρούχλα
βρίσκεται η βυζαντινή εκκλησία της Παναγίας ενώ στις πλαγιές του Χελμού
ο επισκέπτης συναντά την περίφημη βρύση της Γκόλφως από το ομώνυμο έργο του Περεσιάδη
και η εκκλησία του Αγίου Γεωργίου με ξυλόγλυπτο τέμπλο. Κοντά στο χωριό Σόλος
τοποθετείται η αρχαία Αρκαδική Νωνάκρις.
Ο Πύργος του Αργυριάδη στην Αγία
Βαρβάρα και το σπίτι του οπλαρχηγού Θεοχαρόπουλου αποτελούν δύο από τα σημαντικότερα
ιστορικά σημεία αναφοράς του συμπλέγματος των ορεινών χωριών που ονομάζονται Κλουκινοχώρια.
Από το χωριό Σόλος και μετά
από πεζοπορία τριών περίπου ωρών φθάνει κανείς στα μυθικά "αθάνατα νερά"
- τα Ύδατα της Στυγός - στα οποία κατά την μυθολογία ορκίζονταν οι θεοί του Ολύμπου.
Στα Ύδατα της Στυγός η Θέτις έλουσε τον γιό της Αχιλλέα για να γίνει άτρωτος.
Από την Στύγα ο επισκέπτης μπορεί περπατώντας να φθάσει στο Μέγα
Σπήλαιο διασχίζοντας τις θαυμάσιες και απόκρημνες βουνοπλαγιές του Χελμού.
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Μάρτιο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
της Νομαρχίας Αχαϊας
(1999).
ΔΙΑΚΟΠΤΟ (Κωμόπολη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
Στη βόρεια ακτή της Πελοποννήσου,
λούζεται από τα κύματα του Κορινθιακού
το Διακοπτό, μια όμορφη κωμόπολη με πολλά λουλούδια, όπου κυριαρχεί το άρωμα από
τους δεντρόκηπους με τις λεμονιές και τις πορτοκαλιές. Από δω ξεκινά ο μοναδικός
στη χώρα οδοντωτός σιδηρόδρομος που οδηγεί μέσω της Ζαχλωρούς
στα Καλάβρυτα.
Στην πλατεία του σιδηροδρομικού σταθμού θα δείτε την παλιά ατμομηχανή
του οδοντωτού που ονομαζόταν “Μουτζούρης” και κυκλοφορούσε από το
1890 μέχρι το 1965. Το γραφικό τραινάκι περνά μέσα από τη χαράδρα του Βουραϊκού,
πραγματοποιώντας μια διαδρομή που θα σας συναρπάσει και θα σας μείνει αξέχαστη.
Δίπλα από τις γραμμές του οδοντωτού κυλά τα κρυστάλλινα νερά του ο Βουραϊκός,
ενώ αριστερά και δεξιά υψώνονται ψηλά βράχια.
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Φεβρουάριο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
της Περιφέρειας Δυτικής
Ελλάδας.
ΠΑΤΡΑ (Πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Το λιμάνι της Πάτρας έχει στο παρελθόν παίξει πρωτεύοντα ρόλο στην
οικονομική ζωή της σύγχρονης Ελλάδας
από τα πρώτα χρόνια της ανεξαρτησίας της. Υπήρξε σημαντικό εισαγωγικό και εξαγωγικό
κέντρο της χώρας μας.
Με το πέρασμα του χρόνου και την ανάπτυξη του Πειραιά,
η κίνηση άρχισε να λιγοστεύει. Το 1893 που έγινε η διάνοιξη της διώρυγας της Κορίνθου
με συνέπεια να συνδεθεί το Αιγαίο
με το Ιόνιο και να μειωθεί
έτσι η θαλάσσια απόσταση μεταξύ της Πάτρας και του Πειραιά
καθώς δεν ήταν υποχρεωτικός πλέον ο περίπλους της Πελοποννήσου.
Μεγάλη ήταν η συμβολή του λιμανιού στην υπερπόντια μετανάστευση ιδιαίτερα στα
τέλη του 19ου και στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα. Κύριο μέσο μεταφοράς των μεταναστών
μέχρι και τη δεκαετία του 1960 προτού γίνει άνισος ο συναγωνισμός με το αεροπλάνο
αποτελούσαν τα υπερωκεάνια - που συχνά προσέγγιζαν και στην Πάτρα.
Το ελληνικό μεταναστευτικό κύμα προς την Αμερική έως το 1907, οπότε
και ιδρύθηκε η πρώτη ελληνική ωκεανοπόρος επιβατική γραμμή, το διακινούσαν ξένες
ακτοπλοϊκές γραμμές. Δύο τέτοιες εταιρίες, που τα υπερωκεάνιά τους προσέγγιζαν
στην Πάτρα ήταν η γερμανική “Hambourg American Line” και κυρίως η
αυστριακή “Austro Americana” που κατ’εξοχήν μετέφερε Έλληνες
μετανάστες στην Αμερική έως το 1907.
Τα πρώτα χρόνια μετά το Β' Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο το λιμάνι βρισκόταν σε
μαρασμό μέχρι προ 30ετίας οπότε άρχισε να λειτουργεί η σύνδεση Ελλάδας
- Ιταλίας με F/B.
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Νοέμβριο 2003 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
του Οργανισμού Λιμένος
Πατρών.
ΑΙΓΕΙΡΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Η Aρχαία Αιγείρα υπήρξε μία από τις σημαντικότερες πόλεις της Αχαϊας
και της Αχαϊκής Συμπολιτείας. Βρισκόταν ανατολικά της σημερινής κοινότητας Αιγείρας,
πάνω στο λόφο "Παλιόκαστρο" που έχει υψόμετρο 650 μ. και ο κεντρικός
οικισμός της ήταν οχυρωμένος με ισχυρά τείχη.
Με την αρχαία Αίγειρα, η οποία υπήρχε και πριν από την εποχή του Ομήρου
έχουν ασχοληθεί πολλοί από τους αρχαίους συγγραφείς, οι οποίοι την εντοπίζουν
μεταξύ Σικυώνος και Αιγίου.
Ο Πολύβιος αναφερόμενος στη θέση της Αίγειρας γράφει "... η δε των Αιγειρατών
πόλις έκτισται μεταξύ της Αιγιέων και Σικυωνίων πόλεως, κείται δε επί λόφων ερυμνών
και δυσβάτων, νεύει δε προς τον Παρνασσόν" (Η πόλη Αίγειρα βρίσκεται μεταξύ
Αιγίου και Σικυώνος και είναι χτισμένη σε οχυρούς και δύσβατους λόφους, βλέπει
δε προς τον Παρνασσόν).
Κατά τον Alzinger, οι πρώτοι άνθρωποι εγκαταστάθηκαν σ' αυτήν την
3η χιλιετία π.Χ. στην πρωτοελλαδική δηλαδή περίοδο. Την παρουσία τους μαρτυρούν
θραύσματα κεραμικής που βρέθηκαν στις ανασκαφές, στα κατώτερα στρώματα.
Κατά την ομηρική περίοδο ήταν γνωστή ως Υπερησίη, και με το όνομα
αυτό αναφέρεται από τον Όμηρο στον κατάλογο των πλοίων που έλαβαν μέρος μαζί με
άλλες αχαϊκές πόλεις, στην εκστρατεία της Τροίας. Το όνομα Υπερησίη, και κατά
τον Παυσανία Υπηρησία, διατηρήθηκε στην αρχαία Αίγειρα για πολλούς αιώνες και
κατά τον αρχαιολόγο Otto Walter μέχρι την 23η Ολυμπιάδα, το 688 π.Χ.
Όπως αναφέρει ο Παυσανίας, η Υπερησία πήρε το όνομα Αίγειρα όταν κατοικούσαν
εκεί οι Ίωνες και έκαναν επιδρομή οι Σικυώνιοι εναντίον της. Τότε οι κάτοικοι
για να αμυνθούν αποτελεσματικά και επειδή ήταν λίγοι, μάζεψαν όλες τις γίδες (αίγες)
της περιοχής και αφού τους άναψαν τα δαδιά που είχαν τοποθετήσει στα κέρατά τους
τις εξαπέλυσαν εναντίον των Σικυωνίων, οι οποίοι φοβήθηκαν και έφυγαν. Έτσι επειδή
οι Υπερησίες σώθηκαν από τις γίδες (αίγες) άλλαξαν το όνομα της πόλης τους σε
Αίγειρα."Οι Υπερησιείς δε τη τε πόλει το όνομα το νυν μετέθεντο από των αιγών".
Υπάρχουν όμως και εκείνοι που υποστηρίζουν ότι η αρχαία Αίγειρα πήρε
το όνομα αυτό από ένα είδος Λεύκας, τους αιγείρους, οι οποίοι ήταν άφθονοι στην
περιοχή κατά την αρχαιότητα. Μια τρίτη τέλος, εκδοχή για την προέλευση του ονόματος
της αρχαίας Αίγειρας είναι και αυτή που αναφέρει ο Νικόλαος Παπανδρεάδης στο βιβλίο
του "Ιστορία και Λαογραφία της Ζαχόλης". Εκεί υποστηρίζει ότι πήρε το
όνομά της από έναν άρχοντα από την Πάτρα,
ονόματι Αίγειρο, ο οποίος αφού την κατέλαβε εβασίλευσε σ' αυτήν και της έδωσε
το όνομά του.
Η αρχαία Αίγειρα πέρασε περιόδους μεγάλης ακμής και ευημερίας. Λόγω
της περίβλεπτης θέσης που κατείχε στο ανατολικό τμήμα της Αιγιάλειας,
στα βόρεια του βουνού Ευρωστίνα, ήταν ορατή τόσο από τις γειτονικές πόλεις της
Κορινθίας όσο και από τις
απέναντι, της Στερεάς Ελλάδας, πόλεις των Αιτωλών. Έτσι πολλές φορές υπέστη εχθρικές
επιδρομές με πιο γνωστές των Αιτωλών το 220 ή 219 π.Χ. και των Συκιωνίων. Μάλιστα
οι κάτοικοί της για τη νίκη τους εναντίον των Σικυωνίων έχτισε το ιερό της Αγροτέρας
Αρτέμιδος γιατί πίστευαν ότι το τέχνασμα (με τις αίγες που αναφέραμε) εναντίον
των επιδρομέων το ενέπνευσε η Αρτεμις.
Στην αρχαία Αίγειρα, σύμφωνα με τις περιγραφές του Παυσανία, υπήρχε
άγαλμα του Δία φτιαγμένο από Πεντελίσιο μάρμαρο, άγαλμα της Αθηνάς, ναός της Αρτέμιδος,
με αρχαία αγάλματα του Αγαμέμνονα και της Ιφιγένειας, αγάλματα του "Ασκληπιού"',
του Σεράπιδος και της Ίσιδος και ιερό αφιερωμένο στον Απόλλωνα.
Νομίσματα της αρχαίας Αιγείρας
Από τον κατάλογο των νομισμάτων της νομισματικής συλλογής της Κοπεγχάγης
φαίνεται ότι η Αίγειρα το 330 π.Χ. περίπου έκοψε χάλκινα νομίσματα με την Αθηνά
στη μπροστινή όψη και στη πίσω το μπροστινό μέρος αιγός εντός στεφάνου ελιάς.
Ακόμα έκοψε νομίσματα, με κεφαλή πεπλοφόρου γυναικός που στη μπροστινή όψη υπάρχει
η επιγραφή "Αιγίρατον" και στην πίσω, αίγα σε στέφανο. Επίσης το 193-221
μ.Χ. με τη προτομή της Πλαυτίλλας, συζύγου του Ρωμαίου αυτοκράτορα Καρακάλα.
ΟΛΥΜΠΙΟΝΙΚΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΙΓΕΙΡΑΣ
Η αρχαία Αίγειρα ανέδειξε πολλούς αξιόλογους Ολυμπιονίκες. Πιο γνωστοί
απ' αυτούς είναι ο Κρατίνος ο Αιγειράτης και ο Ίκαρος. Ο Κρατίνος ήταν πολύ σπουδαίος
παλαιστής και νίκησε στους Ολυμπιακούς παιδικούς αγώνες πάλης. Ο Ίκαρος νίκησε
στον αγώνα δρόμου του ενός σταδίου στην 23η Ολυμπιάδα.
Η ΠΑΡΑΚΜΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΑΣ ΑΙΓΕΙΡΑΣ
Η πόλη της Αιγείρας πρέπει να βρισκόταν σε ακμή μέχρι τον 4ον μ.Χ.
αιώνα και αυτό βγαίνει σαν συμπέρασμα από ένα διάταγμα του Ρωμαίου αυτοκράτορα
Διοκλητιανού που καθόριζε τις τιμές των διάφορων τροφίμων τα οποία αγοράζονταν
από τους Ρωμαίους στρατιώτες ώστε να αποφεύγεται η εκμετάλλευση από τους εμπόρους
της εποχής εκείνης. Το διάταγμα ήταν γραμμένο σε μαρμάρινες πλάκες που βρέθηκαν
στις ανασκαφές στην αρχαία Αίγειρα και έχει χρονολογηθεί ότι γράφτηκε το 303 μ.Χ.
Υποστηρίζεται ότι καταστράφηκε από ισχυρό παλιρροϊκό κύμα, θεωρείται όμως πιο
πιθανό να καταστράφηκε από ισχυρό σεισμό.
ΤΑ ΕΥΡΗΜΑΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΑΝΑΣΚΑΦΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΑΣ ΑΙΓΕΙΡΑΣ
Οι πρώτες ανασκαφές στο χώρο της αρχαίας Αίγειρας άρχισαν το 1916
από το Αυστριακό Αρχαιολογικό Ινστιτούτο, το οποίο τις διενεργεί μέχρι και σήμερα.
Τα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα των μέχρι σήμερα ανασκαφικών ερευνών καλύπτουν
χρονικό διάστημα από το 3000 π.Χ. μέχρι τους αυτοκρατορικούς χρόνους της Ρώμης
και σχεδόν μέχρι τον 4ο αιώνα μ.Χ. Από τις πρώτες μέρες, η έρευνα που γινόταν
από τον Otto Walter στέφτηκε από εκπληκτική επιτυχία. Στις 31 Αυγούστου του 1916
βρέθηκε μαρμάρινο κεφάλι αγάλματος του Δία. Κατά τον Παυσανία το άγαλμα αυτό ήταν
έργο του περίφημου πλάστη Ευκλείδη από την Αθήνα,
και πρέπει το ύψος του να ξεπερνούσε τα τρία μέτρα. Σε μεταγενέστερες έρευνες
βρέθηκε και ο αριστερός βραχίονας του ιδίου αγάλματος και ένα δάκτυλο από το δεξί
χέρι.
Η δεύτερη συνταρακτική ανακάλυψη του O.Walter ήταν το "Κοίλον"'
του θεάτρου της αρχαίας Αίγειρας. Σύμφωνα με τον Wilhem Alzinger, ο οποίος συνέχισε
τις έρευνες από το 1972 και πέρα, το θέατρο κατασκευάστηκε τον 5ο προς 4ο αιώνα
π.Χ.
Το προσκήνιο του θεάτρου ήταν διακοσμημένο με ημικίονες. Διατηρείται
ακόμη η αποχέτευση της ορχήστρας και ο βόρειος τοίχος της σκηνής με μία κεντρική
πύλη που στα ρωμαϊκά χρόνια την ενετείχισαν. Το μεγαλύτερο μέρος από αυτά τα στοιχεία
του θεάτρου καταστράφηκε τον 2ο αιώνα μ.Χ. όταν έγινε η μετατροπή της σκηνής.
Με τη μετατροπή αυτή δημιουργήθηκε μια τρίπατη σκηνή που τον αρχιτεκτονικό της
διάκοσμο μαρτυρούν λίγα λείψανα.
Η πρόσοψη ήταν χωρισμένη σε τρεις ορόφους με προστατευτική στέγη.
Ο κάτω όροφος ήταν Δωρικού ρυθμού, ο μεσαίος Ιωνικού και ο επάνω Κορινθιακού.
Το κτίσιμο της τρίπατης σκηνής χρονολογείται στα χρόνια του Ανδριανού, 117-138
μ.Χ.
Στο χώρο των ανασκαφών έχουν βρεθεί επίσης μέρος των τοιχών της πόλεως,
κλίβανος για αγγεία και θραύσματα αγγείων από το 3000 π.Χ., μαρμάρινες πλάκες
στις οποίες είναι γραμμένο το διάταγμα του Ρωμαίου αυτοκράτορα Διοκλητιανού, πολλές
επιγραφές και ονόματα. Στις ανασκαφές του 1972, στο βόρειο μέρος του θεάτρου αποκαλύφθηκε,
όπως πιστεύει ο Alzinger, μέρος ναού του Δία. Το δάπεδό του είναι στρωμένο με
ένα θαυμάσιο ψηφιδωτό από ποταμίσια χαλίκια και είναι διακοσμημένο με διάφορες
παραστάσεις, όπως γύπες, κάνθαρους, έναν αετό που επιτίθεται σε φίδι και δύο αγγεία.
Από το 1989 ως και σήμερα οι ανασκαφές και οι έρευνες γίνονται από
τον Αντώνιο Φάμπερ, αρχιτέκτονα και καθηγητή του Πανεπιστημίου της Βιέννης, την
καθηγήτρια Ο. Μους και φοιτητές του Πανεπιστημίου.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Δεκέμβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα, με φωτογραφία, της Γενικής Γραμματείας Περιφέρειας Δυτικής Ελλάδας/a>
ΑΙΓΙΟ (Πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Η δεύτερη σε πληθυσμό πόλη του νομού, απέχει 41 χλμ. από την Πάτρα,
με 27.741 κατοίκους. Βρίσκεται στη θέση της αρχαίας πόλης, η οποία σύμφωνα με
τα ευρήματα των ανασκαφών κατοικείται χωρίς διακοπή από τα προϊστορικά χρόνια.
Το Αίγιο χτίστηκε από τους Πελασγούς και, σύμφωνα με τοπική παράδοση,
την ονομασία του την οφείλει στην Αίγα που έθρεψε εκεί το Δία. Αργότερα αποικίστηκε
από Ίωνες και γνώρισε μεγάλη ακμή στους ιστορικούς χρόνους, ιδιαίτερα μετά την
καταστροφή της γειτονικής πόλης Ελίκης,
όταν έγινε και πρωτεύουσα της Αχαϊκής Συμπολιτείας.
Το 146 π.Χ. υποδουλώθηκε στους Ρωμαίους, αμέσως μετά την άλωση της
Κορίνθου, και αργότερα σε
όλους τους επιδρομείς κατακτητές που κυρίεψαν τον ελλαδικό χώρο. Στους βυζαντινούς
χρόνους, και μετά την κάθοδο των Σλάβων στην Πελοπόννησο
(9ος αιώνας), το Αίγιο μετονομάστηκε σε "Βοστίτσα".
Θρησκευτικό και πολιτικό κέντρο των Αχαιών αποτέλεσε έδρα της Αχαϊκής
Συμπολιτείας (276 π.Χ.) Η πόλη δεν έχασε ποτέ τη σημασία της, παρά τις βαρβαρικές
επιδρομές (βυζαντινή εποχή) και την περίοδο της Φραγκοκρατίας (1209-1422), αποτελούσε
έδρα βαρονίας (Βοστίτσα). Ακμάζουσα παρέμεινε και την περίοδο της Τουρκοκρατίας.
Το Αίγιο ήταν η πρώτη πόλη που ελευθερώθηκε από τους Τούρκους κατά την Επανάσταση
του 1821 (26 Μαρτίου). Ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζει το παλιό τμήμα της πόλης προς την
παραλία, από την Παναγία Τρυπητή μέχρι τα όρια του σιδηροδρομικού σταθμού και
τις παλιές αποθήκες σταφίδας
Αξιοθέατα
Στα αξιοθέατα της πόλης περιλαμβάνεται η εκκλησία της Μητρόπολης,
χτισμένη σε σχέδια του Τσίλερ, καθώς και η εγκαταλειμμένη παλιά αγορά. Στην παραλία
δεσπόζει ακόμη ο πλάτανος που αναφέρει ο Παυσανίας στις περιηγήσεις του.
Λίγο έξω από την πόλη είναι η εκκλησία της Παναγίας της Τρυπητής (Ζωοδόχου
Πηγής), χτισμένη κυριολεκτικά μέσα στο βράχο. Η εκκλησία χάρη στη μικρή πηγή που
βρίσκεται στην είσοδο του ναού, με το αγίασμα της θαυματουργής εικόνας, είναι
φορτωμένη αναθήματα και έχει φήμη πανελλήνια. Γιορτάζει την Παρασκευή του Πάσχα.
Έξω από το Αίγιο, υπάρχει το γνωστό αντρικό μοναστήρι
των Ταξιαρχών, που βρίσκεται πάνω από τον ποταμό Σελινούντα,
με τη θαυμάσια σταυροειδή εκκλησία, το επιβλητικό κωδωνοστάσιο, την πλούσια σε
αρχέτυπο βιβλιοθήκη και το σκευοφυλάκιο με τα άμφια και τα αργυρά και τα χρυσά
σκεύη. Η αρχική μονή ιδρύθηκε το 1415 από τον όσιο Λεόντιο, αλλά καταστράφηκε
από τους Τούρκους το 1500 (τα ερείπιά της διακρίνονται αρκετά ψηλότερα από τη
σημερινή θέση της μονής). Από τότε χτίστηκε και καταστράφηκε επανειλημμένα και,
τελικά, το σημερινό κτίσμα είναι του τέλους του 18ου αι. Κοντά στα ερείπια της
πρώτης μονής θα δείτε το εκκλησάκι του Αρχάγγελου Μιχαήλ, με τοιχογραφίες του
16ου αιώνα. Στο μοναστήρι παρασκευάζεται από τους μοναχούς το γλυκό ροδοζάχαρη.
Αριστερά του ποταμού Σελινούντα βρίσκεται η γυναικεία μονή
Πεπελενίτσας. Το αρχικό μοναστήρι έχτισε, σύμφωνα με την παράδοση, η μητέρα
του οσίου Λεοντίου, λίγο χαμηλότερα όπου και βρίσκονται τα ερείπιά του, γνωστά
σήμερα με το όνομα Παλαιομονάστηρο. Καταστράφηκε το 1772 από τους Τουρκαλβανούς
και η σημερινή μονή, λίγο ψηλότερα, είναι κτίσμα του τέλους του 18ου αι. Το καταπράσινο
χωριό Πλατανιώτισσα, γνωστό
για την εκκλησία της Παναγίας.
Έξω από το Αίγιο, 9 χλμ. νοτιοανατολικά, στη θέση του σημερινού χωριού
Ροδιά σημειώνεται η αρχαία Ελίκη. Εδώ λατρευόταν ο Ελικώνιος Ποσειδώνας. Το 373
καταποντίστηκε από σεισμό.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Δεκέμβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα, με φωτογραφία, της Γενικής Γραμματείας Περιφέρειας Δυτικής Ελλάδας/a>
ΑΚΡΑΤΑ (Κωμόπολη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
A seaside village in a wonderful physical environment and with clear
seas. It is 71 klm away from Patra.
The city, which was named after the river Krathi,
is at the position of the ancient city of Eges.
The post-Byzantine convent of the Holy Trinity which was built in
1715. Its wall paintings are in a good condition. There are many important heirlooms,
portable icons, ecclesiastic books and a hand made Gospel of 1672. Many of the
cells have been built on ancient remains.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains image.
ΑΧΑΪΑ (Νομός) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
0 Νομός Αχαΐας βρίσκεται στο βορειοδυτικό τμήμα της Πελοποννήσου
και έχει πληθυσμό 300.078 κατοίκους. Αποτελείται από τις επαρχίες Πατρών,
Αιγιαλείας και Καλαβρύτων
με σημαντικότερες πόλεις την Πάτρα,
το Αίγιο, τα Καλάβρυτα
και την Ακράτα.
Η Αχαΐα παρουσιάζει μεγάλη μορφολογική ποικιλία. Ενώ το 60% της συνολικής
της έκτασης είναι ορεινό (κυριότεροι όγκοι, ο Ερύμανθος
ή Ωλονός με 2.341 μ. και ο Χελμός με 2.355 μ. υψόμετρο),
ο νομός διαθέτει μεγάλο μήκος ακτών, ποτάμια και αρκετούς χείμαρρους. Σ' όλες
τις παραπάνω φυσικές ομορφιές έχει δημιουργηθεί η κατάλληλη υποδομή που παρέχει
στον επισκέπτη τη δυνατότητα να απολαύσει μεγάλη ποικιλία δραστηριοτήτων όπως
ανεμόπτερο, οικολογικό τουρισμό κ.ά. Γενικά η Αχαΐα με το εύκρατο κλίμα, την εναλλαγή
των τοπίων, (βουνά, θάλασσα, φαράγγια, σπήλαια, βιότοποι, δάση), προσφέρεται για
εκείνους που θέλουν να συνδυάσουν διακοπές με ψυχαγωγία και τις τέσσερις εποχές
του χρόνου.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Δεκέμβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα, με φωτογραφίες, της Γενικής Γραμματείας Περιφέρειας Δυτικής Ελλάδας/a>
ΚΑΛΑΒΡΥΤΑ (Κωμόπολη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Η ιστορική, πανέμορφη και γραφική πόλη των 2.000 κατοίκων, κτισμένη
στους πρόποδες του μυθικού Χελμού
σε υψόμετρο 750 μ., αποτελεί πόλο έλξης για χιλιάδες επισκέπτες .
Απέχει 14 χλμ. από τις χιονοδρομικές πίστες και 32 χλμ. από τις παραλίες
της Β. Πελοποννήσου. Διαθέτει εκπληκτικές φυσικές ομορφιές, έντονα παραδοσιακά
στοιχεία και την ατμόσφαιρα ενός σύγχρονου τουριστικού θέρετρου που συνεχώς αναπτύσσεται.
Η ιστορική διαδρομή των Καλαβρύτων ξεκινάει από τα χρόνια της αρχαιότητας
(776 π.Χ ) όπου τα Καλάβρυτα έφεραν το όνομα Κύναιθα, σύμφωνα με τις περιγραφές
του ιστορικού περιηγητή Παυσανία.
Στις αρχές του 13ου αιώνα οι Φράγκοι κατέλαβαν την Πελοπόννησο, τα
Καλάβρυτα παραχωρήθηκαν στο βαρόνο Raoul de Tournay και χτίστηκε το κάστρο που
φέρει το όνομά του για τον έλεγχο των περασμάτων του Χελμού και το οποίο αναδείχτηκε
σε ένα από τα σημαντικότερα Μεσαιωνικά κάστρα της Πελοποννήσου.
Λόγω έλλειψης αρρένων απογόνων, η βαρονία των Καλαβρύτων πέρασε αργότερα
στην οικογένεια των Ντε λα Τρεμουίγ μέχρι και το 1330, όταν ελευθερώθηκαν από
τους Βυζαντινούς στρατηγούς του Μυστρά
και παρέμειναν ελεύθερα ως το 1460.
Κατά τους Βυζαντινούς χρόνους ανεγέρθηκαν η Μονή
της Αγίας Λαύρας (961) και η Μονή
του Μεγάλου Σπηλαίου (360), δύο σημαντικά μοναστήρια που απέχουν από την πόλη
των Καλαβρύτων 5χλμ. και 12χλμ. αντίστοιχα.
Το 1460, παρά τη γενναία αντίσταση των υπερασπιστών, τα Καλάβρυτα
υποτάχθηκαν στους Τούρκους. Το 1687 περιήλθαν στη κυριαρχία των Ενετών μέχρι και
το 1715 οπότε γύρισαν και πάλι στην κατοχή των Τούρκων και παρέμειναν σε αυτούς
έως και το 1821.
Στις 21 Μαρτίου 1821 ο Παλαιών Πατρών Γερμανός υψώνοντας το Λάβαρο
στην Αγία Λαύρα κήρυξε την έναρξη της Επανάστασης εναντίον των Τούρκων, η οποία
χάρισε την ελευθερία όχι μόνο στα Καλάβρυτα αλλά και σε όλη την Ελλάδα.
Το 1896 ολοκληρώθηκε η κατασκευή του οδοντωτού σιδηρόδρομου, η οποία
συνέδεσε τα Καλάβρυτα με το Διακοπτό
μέσω της κοιλάδας του Βουραϊκού ποταμού.
Κατά τη διάρκεια του 2ου Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου και συγκεκριμένα στις
13 Δεκεμβρίου 1943 τα Καλάβρυτα γνώρισαν τη γερμανική θηριωδία. Τα Γερμανικά στρατεύματα
κατοχής πυρπόλησαν την πόλη και εκτέλεσαν όλο τον ανδρικό πληθυσμό από12 ετών
και άνω στο λόφο του Καπή, μετατρέποντας τα Καλάβρυτα σε νεκρή πολιτεία. Μια πολιτεία
που το όνομα της ταυτίστηκε με τον ηρωισμό, την τραγική μοίρα και τους αγώνες
για την ελευθερία.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Δεκέμβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα, με φωτογραφία, της Γενικής Γραμματείας Περιφέρειας Δυτικής Ελλάδας/a>
ΚΛΕΙΤΟΡΙΑ (Χωριό) ΚΑΛΑΒΡΥΤΑ
Η Κλειτορία βρίσκεται στο νότιο άκρο του νομού
Αχαΐας, κοντά στα Αροάνια όρη και σε υψόμετρο 550 μέτρων. Έχει περίπου 1.000
μόνιμους κάτοικους και είναι έδρα του Δήμου Λευκασίου.
Απέχει 200 χιλιόμετρα από την Αθήνα,
110 χιλιόμετρα από την Πάτρα
και 65 χιλιόμετρα από την Τρίπολη.
Η Κλειτορία είναι χτισμένη 2 χιλιόμετρα από τον αρχαίο Κλείτωρ,
αρκαδική αρχαία πόλη την οποία αναφέρει ο Παυσανίας, περιηγητής και γεωγράφος
ο οποίος έζησε τον 2ο αιώνα μ.Χ. Ευρήματα έχουν ήδη βρεθεί σε ανασκαφές. Οι κάτοικοί
της ασχολούνται κυρίως με την κτηνοτροφία, το εμπόριο και τον τουρισμό. Κι αυτό
γιατί η Κλειτορία αποτελεί θαυμάσιο ορμητήριο για τους τουρίστες, τους λάτρεις
των βουνών, της φυσικής ομορφιάς και των χειμερινών σπορ.
Στα 7 χιλιόμετρα βρίσκεται το Σπήλαιο
των Λιμνών. Ένα μοναδικό σπήλαιο με υπόγειο ποταμό και λίμνες, το οποίο αναφέρεται
και στην ελληνική μυθολογία. Βορειότερα και σε απόσταση 20 χιλιομέτρων υπάρχει
το Χιονοδρομικό Κέντρο
στο Χελμό, άρτια οργανωμένο, που υποδέχεται χιλιάδες τουρίστες κάθε χρόνο. Στο
Χελμό βρίσκονται επίσης και τα Ύδατα της Στυγός. Η ιστορική Μονή
Αγίας Λαύρας βρίσκεται στα 25 χιλιόμετρα περίπου και σε ακόμα 7 χιλιόμετρα
τα Καλάβρυτα. Συνεχίζοντας
προς Αίγιο συναντούμε το Μέγα
Σπήλαιο. Προς νότο σε απόσταση 20 χιλιομέτρων θα συναντήσει κανείς την τεχνητή
λίμνη του ποταμού Λάδωνα στην κοίτη του οποίου επιδίδονται αθλητές στο κανώ-καγιάκ.
Αλλα αξιοθέατα είναι οι πηγές του Αροανίου, οι πηγές του Λάδωνα,
οι αρχαίοι Λουσοί, και τα
αναρίθμητα εκκλησάκια που βρίσκονται διάσπαρτα σε όλη την περιοχή.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Δεκέμβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα της Γενικής Γραμματείας Περιφέρειας Δυτικής Ελλάδας/a>
ΑΙΓΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Aipsai: Eth. Aigaios, Aigeates, Aigaieus. Or Aega (Aiga), a town of
Achaia, and one of the 12 Achaean cities, was situated upon the river Crathis
and upon the coast, between Aegeira and Bura. It is mentioned by Homer, and was
celebrated in the earliest times for its worship of Poseidon. It was afterwards
deserted by its inhabitants, who removed to the neighbouring town of Aegeira;
and it had already ceased to be one of the 12 Achaean cities on the renewal of
the League in B.C. 280, its place being occupied by Ceryneia. Its name does not
occur in Polybius. All traces of Aegae have disappeared, but it probably occupied
the site of the Khan of Akrata, which is situated upon a commanding height rising
from the left bank of the river. Neither Strabo nor Pausanias mention on which
bank of the Crathis it stood, but it probably stood on the left bank, since the
right is low and often inundated.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited May 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΑΙΓΕΙΡΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Aigeira: Eth. Aigeirhates, fem. Aigeiratis. A town of Achaia, and
one of the 12 Achaean cities, situated between Aegae and Pellene, is described
by Polybius as opposite Mount Parnassus, situated upon hills strong and difficult
of approach, seven stadia from the sea, and near a river. This river was probably
the Crius, which flowed into the sea, a little to the W. of the town. According
to Pausanias the upper city was 12 stadia from its port, and 72 stadia from the
oracle of Heracles Buraicus. (Herod. i. 146; Strab. viii. p. 386; Pol. ii. 41,
iv. 57; Paus. vii. 26. § 1; Plin. iv. 6.) Pausanias (l. c.) relates that Aegeira
occupied the site of the Homeric Hyperesis (Hpspereshie, Il. ii. 573, xv. 254;
Strab. p. 383: Eth. Hupereslens), and that it changed its name during the occupation
of the country by the Ionians. He adds that the ancient name still continued in
use. Hence we find that Icarus of Hyperesia was proclaimed victor in the 23rd
Olympiad. (Paus. iv. 15. § 1.) On the decay of the neighbouring town of Aegae
its inhabitants were transferred to Aegeira. (Strab. p. 386.) In the first year
of the Social war (B.C. 220) Aegeira was surprised by a party of Aetolians, who
had set sail from the opposite town of Oeantheia in Locris, but were driven out
by the Aegiratans after they had obtained possession of the place. (Pol. iv. 57,
58.) The most important of the public buildings of Aegeira was a temple of Zeus.
It also contained a very ancient temple of Apollo, and temples of Artemis, of
Aphrodite Urania, who was worshipped in the town above all other divinities, and
of the Syrian goddess. (Pans. vii. 26.) The port of Aegeira Leake places at Mavra
Litharia, i. e., the Black Rocks, to the left of which, on the summit of a hill,
are some vestiges of an ancient city, which must have been Aegeira. At the distance
of 40 stadia from Aegeira, through the mountains, there was a fortress called
Phelloe (Ellhoe, near Zakhuli), abounding in springs of water. (Paus. vii. 26.
§ 10)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΑΙΓΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Aegium, Aigion, Ageion: Eth. Aigiens, Aegiensis: Vostitza. A town of Achaia,
and one of the 12 Achaean cities, was situated upon the coast W. of the river
Selinus, 30 stadia from Rhypae, and 40 stadia from Helice. It stood between two
promontories in the corner of a bay, which formed the best harbour in Achaia next
to that of Patrae. It is said to have been formed out of an union of 7 or 8 villages.
It is mentioned in the Homeric catalogue; and, after the destruction of the neighbouring
city of Helice by an earthquake, in B.C. 373, it obtained the territory of the
latter, and thus became the chief city of Achaia. From this time Aegium was chosen
as the place of meeting for the League, and it retained this distinction, on the
revival of the League, till Philopoemen carried a law that the meeting might be
held in any of the towns of the confederacy. Even under the Roman empire the Achaeans
were allowed to keep up the form of their periodical meetings at Aegium, just
as the Amphictyons were permitted to meet at Thermopylae and Delphi. (Paus. vii.
24. § 4.) The meetings were held in a grove near the sea, called Homagyrium or
Homarium, sacred to Zeus Homagyrius or Homarius (Houagnion, Hhouarion; in Strab.
pp. 385, 387, Hhouarion should be read instead of Arnharion and Ainharion). Close
to this grove was a temple of Demeter Panchaea. The words Homagyrium, assembly,
and Homarium, union, 1 have reference to those meetings, though in later times
they were explained as indicating the spot where Agamemnon assembled the Grecian
chieftains before the Trojan War. There were several other temples and public
buildings at Aegium, of which an account is given by Pausanias. (Hom. Il. ii.
574; Herod. i. 145; Pol. ii. 41, v. 93; Strab. pp. 337, 385, seq.; Paus. vii.
23, 24; Liv. xxxviii. 30; Plin. iv. 6.) Vostitza, which occupies the site of the
ancient Aegium, is a place of some importance. It derives its name from the gardens
by which it is surrounded (from bhosta, bosthani, garden). It stands on a hill,
terminating towards the sea in a cliff about 50 feet high. There is a remarkable
opening in the cliff, originally perhaps artificial, which leads from the town
to the ordinary place of embarkation. A great part of the town was destroyed by
an earthquake in 1819, of which an account is given under Helice. The principal
remains of the ancient town have been lately discovered on a hill to the E. of
Vostitza. There are also several fragments of architecture and sculpture, inserted
in the walls of the houses at Vostitza.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited May 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΑΡΟΗ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
(Patra) It is said to have been formed by an union of three small places, named
Aroe (Aroe), Antheia (Antheia), and Mesatis (Mesatis), which had been founded
by the Ionians, when they were in the occupation of the country. After the expulsion
of the Ionians, the Achaean hero Patreus withdrew the inhabitants from Antheia
and Mesatis to Aroe, which he enlarged and called Patrae after himself. The acropolis
of the city probably continued to bear the name of Aroe, which was often used
as synonymous with Patrac.
This extract is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΒΟΥΡΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΔΙΑΚΟΠΤΟ
Boura: Eth. Bouraios, Bourios. A town of Achaia, and one of the 12
Achaean cities, situated on a height 40 stadia from the sea, and SE. of Helice.
It is said to have derived its name from Bura, a daughter of Ion and Helice. Its
name occurs in a line of Aeschylus, preserved by Strabo. It was swallowed up by
the earthquake, which destroyed Helice, B.C. 373, and all its inhabitants perished
except those who were absent from the town at the time. On their return they rebuilt
the city, which was visited by Pausanias, who mentions its temples of Demeter,
Aphrodite, Eileithyia and Isis. Strabo relates that there was a fountain at Bura
called Sybaris, from which the river in Italy derived its name. On the revival
of the Achaean League in B.C. 280, Bura was governed by a tyrant, whom the inhabitants
slew in 275, and then joined the confederacy. A little to the E. of Bura was the
river Buraicus; and on the banks of this river, between Bura and the sea, was
an oracular cavern of Heracles surnamed Buraicus. (Herod. i. 145; Pol. ii. 41;
Strab. pp. 386, 387, and 59; Diod. xv. 48; Paus. vii. 25. § 8, seq.) The ruins
of Bura have been discovered nearly midway between the rivers of Bokhusia (Cerynites),
and of Kalavryta (Buraicus) near Trupia. (Leake, Morea, vol. iii. p. 399, Peloponnesiaca,
p. 387.) Ovid says that the ruins of Bira, like those of Helice, were still to
be seen at the bottom of the sea; and Pltny makes the same assertion. (Ov. Met.
xv. 293; Plin. ii. 94.) Hence it has been supposed that the ancient Bura stood
upon the coast, and after its destruction was rebuilt inland; but neither Pausanias
nor Strabo states that the ancient city was on the coast, and their words render
it improbable.
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ΔΥΜΗ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
(Dume, Dymae, Liv. xxvii. 31: Eth. Dumaios, also Dumios, Steph. B.
s. v., Dymaeus, Cic. ad Att. xvi. 1; The territory he Dumaia, Pol. v. 17: nr.
Karavostasi).
A town of Achaia, and the most westerly of the 12 Achaean cities,
from which circumstance it is said to have derived its name. (Herod. i. 145; Pol.
ii. 41; Strab. viii. p. 387.) It was situated near the coast, according to Strabo
60 stadia from the promontory Araxus, and according to Pausanias 30 stadia from
the river Larisus, which separated its territory from Elis. It is further said
by Strabo (viii.) to have been formed out of an union of 8 villages, one of which
was called Teuthea; and it is probable, that some of the different names, by which
the city is said to have been called, were originally the names of the separate
villages. Thus, its more ancient name is stated by Pausanias to have been Paleia
(Paleia), and by Strabo to have been Stratus (Stratos). The poet Antimachus gave
it the epithet Cauconis, which was derived by some from the iron Caucon in the
neighbourhood, and by others from the Caucones, who were supposed to have originally
inhabited this district. (Strab., Paus. vii. 17. § 5, seq.) After the death of
Alexander the Great, Dyme fell into the hands of Cassander, but his troops were
driven out of the city by Aristodemus, the general of Antigonus, B.C. 314. (Diod.
xix. 66.) This city had the honour, along with Patrae, of reviving the Achaean
League in 280; and about this time or shortly afterwards its population received
an accession from some of the inhabitants of Olenus, who abandoned their town.
(Pol. ii. 41.) In the Social War (B.C. 220, seq.), the territory of Dyme, from
its proximity to Elis, was frequently laid waste by the Eleans. (Pol. iv. 59,
60, v. 17.) It is mentioned by Livy in the history of the war between Philip and
the Romans, and Pausanias says that, in consequence of its being the only one
of the Achaean cities which espoused the cause of the Macedonian king, it was
plundered by the Romans (Paus. l. c.). From this blow it never recovered; and
it is said to have been without inhabitants when Pompey settled here a large number
of Cilician pirates. In the civil wars which followed, some of these new inhabitants
were expelled from their lands, and resumed in consequence their old occupation.
(Strab. pp. 387, 665; Appian Mithr. 96; Plut. Pomp. 28; Cic. ad Att. xvi. 1, Dymaeos
agro pulses mare infestum habere, nil miruim.) Both Strabo and Pliny (iv. 6) call
Dyme a colony; but this statement appears to be a mistake, since we know that
Dyme was one of the towns placed under the authority of Patrae, when it was made
a Roman colony by Augustus (Paus. l. c.); and we are expressly told that no other
Achaean town except Patrae was allowed the privilege of self-government. The remains
of Dyme are to be seen near the modern village of Karavostasi.
In the territory of Dyme, near the promontory Araxus, there was a
fortress, called Teichos, which was said to have been built by Hercules, when
he made war upon the Eleans. It was only a stadium and a half in circumference,
but its walls were 30 cubits high. It was taken by the Eleans under Euripides
in the Social War, B.C. 220, but it was recovered by Philip and restored to the
Dymaeans in the following year. Its site is perhaps occupied by the castle of
Kallogria. (Pol. iv. 59, 88) There were also two other places in the territory
of Dyme, between the city and the frontiers of Elis, named Hecatombeon (Ekatombaion)
and Langon (Langon, the latter of which, however, appears properly to have belonged
to the Eleans. Near Hecatombaeon Aratus and the Achaeans were defeated by Cleomenes,
who followed up his victory by gaining possession of Langon, B.C. 224. (Pol. ii.
51; Plut. Cleom. 14.)
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ΕΛΙΚΗ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
Helike: Eth. Helikonios (Steph. B. s. v.); Helikeus (Strab.viii.).
A town in Achaia, and one of the 12 Achaean cities, was situated on the coast
between the rivers Selinus and Cerynites, and 40 stadia E. of Aegium. It seems
to have been the most ancient of all the cities in Achaia. Its foundation is ascribed
to Ion, who is said to have made it his residence, and--to have called it after
his wife Helice, the daughter of Selinus. It possessed a celebrated temple of
Poseidon, who was hence called Heliconins; and here the Ionians were accustomed
to hold those periodical meetings which were continued in Asia Minor under the
name of Panionia. After the conquest of the country by the Achaeans, the latter
likewise made Helice the place of meeting of their League, and it continued to
be their capital till the destruction of the city by an earthquake in B.C. 373,
two years before the battle of Leuctra. This earthquake happened in the night.
The city and a space of 12 stadia below it sank into the earth, and were covered
over by the sea. All the inhabitants perished, and not a vestige of Helice remained,
except a few fragments projecting from the sea. Its territory was taken possession
of by Aegium. The neighbouring city of Bura was destroyed by the same earthquake.
The catastrophe was attributed to the vengeance of Poseidon, whose wrath was excited
because the inhabitants of Helice had refused to give their statue of Poseidon
to the Ionian colonists in Asia, or even to supply them with a model. According
to some authorities, the inhabitants of Helice and Bura had even murdered the
Ionian deputies.
On the 23rd of August, 1817, the same spot was again the scene of
a similar disaster. The earthquake was preceded by a sudden explosion, which was
compared to that of a battery of cannon. The shock which immediately succeeded
was said to have lasted a minute and a:.half, during which the sea rose at the
mouth of the Selinus, and extended so far as to inundate all the level immediately
below Vostitza (the ancient Aegium). After its retreat not a trace was left of
some magazines which had stood on the shore, and the sand which had covered the
beach was all carried away. In Vostitza 65 persons lost their lives, and two thirds
of the buildings were entirely ruined. Five villages in the plain were destroyed.
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ΕΡΥΜΑΝΘΟΣ (Βουνό) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Erymanthus (Erumanthos), a lofty range of mountains on the frontiers
of Arcadia, Achaia, and Elis. It formed the western point of the northern barrier
of Arcadia; and Mt. Lampeia, which extends southwards, is a portion of the range.
The two principal heights are now called O/lonos and Kalefoni, the former being
7.297 feet above the level of the sea, and the latter 6.227 feet. From Erymanthus
four rivers rise, - the Eleian Peneius, the Arcadian Erymanthus, and the Peirus
and Selinus of Achaia. The river Erymanthus, which is a tributary of the Achelous,
is spoken of under the latter name. Mount Erymanthus is celebrated in mythology
as the haunt of the fierce boar destroyed by Hercules. (Strab. viii. pp. 343,
357; Pans. v. 7. § 1, viii. 24. § 4, seq.; Hom. Od. vi. 104; Apollod. ii. 5; Leake,
Morea. vol. ii. p. 253, Peloponneaiaca, pp. 203, 204, 224; Boblaye, Recherches,
&c. pp. 118, 124; Curtius, Peloposnesos, vol. i. pp. 17, 384.)
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ΚΕΡΥΝΕΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Keruneia, also Kerunia, Keraunia, Kerauneia, &c.: Eth. Keruneus. A
town of Achaia, was not originally one of the 12 Achaean cities, though it afterwards
became so, succeeding to the place of Aegae. Its population was increased by a
large body of Mycenaeans, when the latter abandoned their city to the Argives
in 468. Ceryneia is mentioned as a member of the League on its revival in B.C.
280; and one of its citizens, Marcus, was chosen in 255 as the first sole General
of the League. In the time. of Strabo, Ceryneia was dependent upon Aegium. It
was situated inland upon a lofty height, W. of the river Cerynites (Bokhusia),
and a little S. of Helice. Its ruins have been discovered on the height, which
rises above the left bank of the Cerynites, just where it issues from the mountains
into the plain. (Pol. ii. 41, 43; Paus. vii. 6. § 1, vii. 25. § 5; Strabo.) Theophrastus
stated that the wine of Ceryneia produced abortion. (Theophr. Hist. Plant. ix.
20)
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ΚΛΕΙΤΩΡ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΚΑΛΑΒΡΥΤΑ
Kleitor; Clitorium,; Eth. Kleitorios. A town in Arcadia, the name
of which is derived by Muller, from its being situated in an enclosed plain (from
kleio), while others connect it with Clivia and Clusium. It possessed. a small
territory called Cleitoria (Kleitoria, Polyb. iv. 10. § 6), bounded on the E.
by the territory of Pheneus, on the W. by that of Psophis, on the N. by that of
Cynaetha and Achaia, and on the S. by the territories of Caphyae, Tripolis, and
Thelpusa. The lofty Aroanian mountains formed the NE. boundary of the territory
of Cleitor, separating it from that of Pheneus. In these mountains the river Aroanius
(Katzana) rises, which flowed through the territory of Cleitor from N. to S.,
and falls into the Ladon near the sources of the latter. The valley of this river
opens out into two plains. In the upper plain, now called the plain of Sudhena,
was situated Lusi, at. one.time an independent town, but at a later period a dependency
of Cleitor. In the lower plain, now called the plain of Katzana, or Katzanes,
was the town of Cleitor itself.
Besides the valley of the Aroanius, the upper valley of the Ladon
also formed part of the territory of Cleitor. The Ladon rose in this district,
and flowed through the southern part of it in a south-westerly direction. The
road from Caphyae to Psophis passed through the Cleitoria, and was traversed by
Pausanias. (viii. 23. § § 8, 9). At the distance of seven stadia from Caphyae
was Nasi, in the territory of the latter city; and 50 stadia beyond, the road
crossed the Ladon, but Pausanias does not mention where the territory of Cleitor
began. The road then entered a forest of oaks called Soron, and passed through
Argeathae, Lycuntes, and Scotane, till it arrived at the ruins of Paus, situated
at the end of the forest, and not far from Seirae, which was distant 30 stadia
from Psophis, and was the boundary between the Cleitorii and Psophidii. There
are still some remains of this forest, which, in the time of Pausanias, contained
bears and wild boars. The position of these places is uncertain; though Leake
attempts to identify some of them. Paus is also mentioned by Herodotus (Paion,
or Pagou polis, vi. 127), who speaks of it as a town of Azania.
Cleitor was situated in the midst of the plain of Katzana, upon a
hill. of moderate height between two rivulets. The more important of these streams,
running. S. of the town, was also called Cleitor, now Klitora. The other stream,
now called the river of Karnesi, rises in the district of Lusi, and falls into
the Klitora just beyond the remains of the ancient city., The Cleitor, after flowing
rapidly through the plain, falls into the Aroanius, at the distance of seven stadia
from the city of Cleitor, according to Pausanias; but the real distance is at
least double. (Paus. viii. 21. § 1; rapidus Clitor, Stat. Theb. iv.289; Athen.v.
iii. p.331, d.; kleitoen hudor potamos Arkadias, Hesych.) A little north of the
junction of the river Cleitor with the Aroanius is the Kalyvia of Mazi upon. a
gentle elevation, in the neighbourhood of which Dodwell discovered the remains
of a small Doric temple.
Cleitor is said to have been founded by a hero of the same name, the
son of the Arcadian king Azan. (Paus. viii. 4. § 5, viii. 21. § 3.) The Cleitoria
formed an important part of the Azanian district. The Cleitorian fountain, of
which we shall speak presently, was regarded as one of the curiosities of Azania;
and the Aroanian mountains, on the summits of which the daughters of Proetus wandered
in their madness, are called the Azanian mountains. (Eudoxus, ap. Steph. s. v.
Azania.) The Cleitorians were renowned among the Peloponnesians for their love
of liberty. (to Kleitorion phileleutheron kai gennaion), of which an instance
is cited even from the mythical times, in the brave resistance they offered to
Sous, king of Sparta. (Plut. Lyc. 2, Apophth. p. 234.) Their power was increased
by the conquest of Lusi, Paus, and other towns in their neighbourhood. In commemoration
of these, conquests they dedicated at Olympia a brazen statue of Zeus, 18 feet
in height, which was extant in the time of Pausanias, who has preserved the inscription
upon it. (Paus. v. 23. § 7.) Cleitor seems to have occupied an important position
among the Arcadian cities. In the Theban war it carried on hostilities against
Orchomenus. (Xen. Hell. v. 4. 36) In the Social War it belonged to the Achaean
League, and bravely repelled the assaults of the Aetolians, who attempted to scale
the walls. (Polyb. iv. 18, 19, ix. 38.) It was sometimes used as the place of
meeting of the Achaean League. (Polyb. xxiii. 5.; Liv. xxxix. 5.) Strabo mentions
Cleitor among the Arcadian towns destroyed in his time, or of which scarcely any
traces existed; but this is not correct, since it was not only in existence in
the time of Pausanias, but it continued to coin money as late as the reign of
Septimius Severus.
Pausanias gives only a brief description of Cleitor. He says that
its three principal temples were those of Demeter, Asclepius, and Eileithyia;
that at the distance of four stadia from the city the Cleitorians possessed a
temple of the Dioscuri, whom they called the great gods; and that further on the
summit of a mountain, at the distance of 30 stadia from the city, there was a
temple of Athena Coria. (Paus. viii. 21. § 3.) The ruins of Cleitor are now called
Paleopoli, distant about three miles from a village which still bears the name
of the ancient town. It would seem, as Leake remarks, that the river, having preserved
its name after the city had ceased to exist, at length gave that name to a village
built at its sources. The walls of the ancient city may still be traced in nearly
their full extent. They inclose an irregular oblong space, not more than a mile
in circumference; they were about 15 feet in thickness, and were fortified with
towers. But the space inclosed by these walls seems to have been properly the
acropolis of the ancient city, since the whole plain between the river of Klitora
and the river of Karnesi is covered with stones and pottery, mixed with quadrangular
blocks and remains of columns. There are remains of a theatre towards the western
end of the hill.
In the territory of Cleitor was a celebrated fountain, of which those
who drank lost for ever their taste for wine:
Clitorio quicunque sitim de fonte levarit,
Vina fugit: gaudetque meris abstemius undis.
(Ov. Met. xv. 322)
A spring of water, gushing forth from the hill on which the ruins
stand, is usually supposed to be this miraculous fountain; but Curtius places
it in the territory of Lusi, because it is said to have been situated upon the
confines of the Cleitoria, and is mentioned in connection with the purification
of the daughters of Proetus by Melampus, which is said to have taken place at
Lusi. (Eitiskai pege para tois Kleitoriois, Hesych.; situated an eschatias Kleitoros,
Vitruv. l. c.; en Kleitori in Phylarch. ap. Athen. l. c., is to be understood
of the territory.)
Another marvel in the territory of Cleitor was the singing fish of
the river Aroanius. These fish, which were called poikiliai, were said to sing
like thrushes. Pausanias relates (viii. 21. § 2) that he had seen these fish caught;
but that he had never heard them sing, although he had remained for that purpose
on the banks of the river till sunset, when they were supposed to be most vocal.
These singing fish are also mentioned by Athenaeus and Pliny. The former writer
cites three authorities in proof of their existence, of whom Philostephanos placed
them on the Ladon, Mnaseas in the Cleitor, and the Peripatetic Clearchus in the
Pheneatic Aroanius. (Athen. viii. pp. 331, 332.) Pliny improperly identifies them
with the exocoetus or adonis, which was a sea-fish. (Plin. ix. 19.) The poikilia
was probably trout, and was so called from its spotted and many-coloured scales.
The trout of the Aroanius are described by Dodwell as of a fine bright colour,
and beautifully variegated.
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ΚΥΝΑΙΘΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
he Kunaitha: Eth. Kunaitheus, Kunaithaieus, Polyb.; Kunaithaeus, Paus.:
Kalavryta), a town in the north of Arcadia, situated upon the northern slope of
the Aroanian mountains, which divided its territory from those of Cleitor and
Pheneus. The inhabitants of Cynaetha were the only Arcadians who lived beyond
the natural boundaries of Arcadia. Their valley sloped down towards the Corinthian
gulf; and the river which flowed through it, fell into the Corinthian gulf a little
to the east of Bura: this river was called in ancient times Erasinus or Buraicus,
now river of Kalavryta. (Strab. viii; Paus. vii. 24. § 5.) The climate and situation
of Cynaetha are described by Polybius as the most disagreeable in all Arcadia.
The same author observes that the character of the Cynaethians presented a striking
contrast to that of the other Arcadians, being a wicked and cruel race, and so
much disliked by the rest of their countrymen, that the latter would scarcely
hold any intercourse with them. He attributes their depravity to their neglect
of music, which had tended to humanize the other Arcadians, and to counteract
the natural rudeness engendered by their climate. Accordingly, he regarded the
terrible misfortune which overtook the Cynaethians in the Social war, when their
city was destroyed by the Aetolians, as a righteous punishment for their wickedness.
(Polyb. iv. 18--21.) Although Strabo (viii.) mentions Cynaetha as one of the Arcadian
towns no longer existing in his time, it must have been restored at some period
after its destruction by the Aetolians, as it was visited by Pausanias, who noticed
in the agora altars of the. gods and a statue of the emperor Hadrian. At the distance
of two stadia from the town was a fountain of cold water, called Alyssus, because
it was said to cure hydrophobia. (Paus. viii. 19.) There can be no doubt that
the modern village of Kalavryta occupies the site of Cynaetha, although it contains
scarcely any traces of the ancient city.
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ΛΕΟΝΤΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
Leontion: Eth. Leontesios. A town of Achaia, was originally not one
of the 12 Achaean cities, though it afterwards became so, succeeding to the place
of Rhypes. It is only mentioned by Polybius, and its position is uncertain. It
must, however, have been an inland town, and was probably between Pharae and the
territory of Aegium, since we find that the Eleians under the Aetolian general
Euripidas, after marching through the territory of Pharae as far as that of Aegium,
retreated to Leontium. Leake places it in the valley of the Selinus, between the
territory of Tritaea and that of Aegium, at a place now called Ai Andhrea, from
a ruined church of that saint near the village of Guzumistra. Callicrates, the
partizan of the Romans daring the later days of the Achaean League, was a native
of Leontium.
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ΛΟΥΣΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΚΑΛΑΒΡΥΤΑ
Lusi, Lousoi, Lousoi, Loussoi, ta Loussa. Eth. Lousios, Louseus, Lousiates,
Lousieus. A town in the north of Arcadia, originally independent of, but afterwards
subject to, Cleitor. Lusi was situated in the upper valley of the Aroanius, and
probably on the site of Sudhena, which stands in the NE. corner of the valley
at the foot of Mt. Khelmos (the ancient Aroanian mountains), and on the road from
Tripolitza to Kalavryta. The upper valley of the Aroanius, now called the plain
of Sudhena, consists of two plains, of which the more easterly is the one through
which the Aroanius flows, the waters of which force their way through a gorge
in the mountains into the plain of Cleitor, now Katzana, to the south. The more
westerly plain of Sudhena is entirely shut in by a range of hills; and the waters
of three streams which flow into this plain are carried off by a katavothra, after
forming an inundation, apparently the Lacus Clitorius mentioned by Pliny (xxxi.
2. s. 13). The air is damp and cold; and in this locality the best hemlock was
grown (Theophr. ix. 15. § 8).
Lusi was still independent in the 58th Olympiad; since one of its
citizens is recorded to have gained the victory in the 11th Pythiad. (Paus. viii.
18. § 8.) Its territory was ravaged by the Aetolians in the Social War (Polyb.
iv. 18); but in the time of Pausanias there were no longer even any ruins of the
town. Its name, however, was preserved in consequence of its temple of Artemis
Lusia or Hemerasia (the Soother ). The goddess was so called, because it was here
that the daughters of Proetus were purified from their madness. They had concealed
themselves in a large cavern, from which they were taken by Melampus, who cured
them by sacred expiations. Thereupon their father Proetus founded this temple
of Artemis Hemerasia, which was regarded with great reverence throughout the whole
Peloponnesus as an inviolable asylum. It was plundered by the Aetolians in the
Social War. It was situated near Lusi, at the distance of 40 stadia from Cynaetha.
(Paus.; Polyb. ll. cc.; Callim. Dian. 233.) The interior of the temple, with the
purification of the daughters of Proetus, is represented on an ancient vase. The
ruins, which Dodwell discovered above Lusi towards the end of the plain, and on
the road to Cynaetha, are probably those of the temple of Artemis Leake discovered
some ancient foundations at the middle fountain of the three in the more westerly
of the two plains of Sudhena, which he supposes to be the remains of the temple.
One of the officers of the French Commission observed a large cave on the western
side of the Aroanian mountains, in which the inhabitants of Sudhena were accustomed
to take refuge during war, and which is probably the one intended in the legend
of the daughters of Proetus.
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ΛΥΚΟΥΡΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΚΑΛΑΒΡΥΤΑ
Lukouria. A village in Arcadia, which still retains its ancient name, marked the
boundaries of the Pheneatae and Cleitorii.
ΠΑΤΡΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Patrai, Patrees, properly the name of the inhabitants: Eth. Patreus,
Patraieus, Patrensis: Patrasso, Patras, Patra. A town of Achaia, and one of the
twelve Achaean cities, was situated on the coast, W. of the promontory Rhium,
near the opening of the Corinthian gulf. (Herod. i. 145; Pol. ii. 41; Strab. viii.
p. 386.) It stood on one of the outlying spurs of Mount Panachaicus (Voidhia),
which rises immediately behind it to the height of 6322 feet. It is said to have
been formed by an union of three small places, named Aroe (Aroe), Antheia (Antheia),
and Mesatis (Mesatis), which had been founded by the Ionians, when they were in
the occupation of the country. After the expulsion of the Ionians, the Achaean
hero Patreus withdrew the inhabitants from Antheia and Mesatis to Aroe, which
he enlarged and called Patrae after himself. The acropolis of the city probably
continued to bear the name of Aroe, which was often used as synonymous with Patrac.
Strabo says that Patrae was formed by a coalescence of seven demi; but this statement
perhaps refers to the restoration of the town mentioned below. (Paus. vii. 18.
§ 2, seq.; Strab. viii. p. 337.) In the Peloponnesian War Patrae was the only
one of the Achaean cities which espoused the Athenian cause; and in B.C. 419,
the inhabitants were persuaded by Alcibiades to connect their city by means of
long walls with its port. (Thuc. v. 52; Plut. Alc. 15.) After the death of Alexander
the city fell into the hands of Cassander, but his troops were driven out of it
by Aristodemus, the general of Antigonus, B.C. 314. (Diod. xix. 66.) In B.C. 280
Patrae and Dyme were the first two Achaean cities which expelled the Macedonians,
and their example being shortly afterwards followed by Tritaea and Pharae, the
Achaean League was renewed by these four towns. In the following year (B.C. 279)
Patrae was the only one of the Achaean cities which sent assistance to the Aetolians,
when their country was invaded by the Gauls. In the Social War Patrae is frequently
mentioned as the port at which Philip landed in his expedition into Peloponnesus.
In the war between the Achaeans and the Romans Patrae suffered so severely, that
the greater part of the inhabitants abandoned the city and took up their abodes
in the surrounding villages of Mesatis, Antheia, [p. 558] Bolina, Argyra, and
Arba. (Pol. v. 2, 3, 28, &c.; Paus. vii. 18. § 6.; Pol. xl. 3.) Of these places
we know only the position of Bolina and Argyra. Bolina was a little S. of the
promontory Drepanumn, and gave its name to the river Bolinaeus. (Pans. vii. 24.
§ 4.) Argyra was a little S. of the promontory Rhium. (Paus. vii. 23. § 1.) Patrae
continued an insignificant town down to the time of Augustus, although it is frequently
mentioned as the place at which persons landed going from Italy to Greece. (Cic.
ad Fam. vii. 2. 8, xvi. 1, 5, 6, ad Att. v. 9, vii. 2.) After the battle of Pharsalia
(B.C. 48) Patrae was taken possession of by Cato, but shortly afterwards surrendered
to Calenus, Caesar's lieutenant. It was here also that Antony passed the winter
(32--31) when preparing for the war against Augustus; and it was taken by Agrippa
shortly before the battle of Actium. (Dion Cass. xlii. 13, 14, 1. 9, 13.) It owed
its restoration to Augustus, who resolved after the battle of Actium to establish
two Roman colonies on the western coast of Greece, and for this purpose made choice
of Nicopolis and Patrae. Augustus colonised at Patrae a considerable body of his
soldiers, again collected its inhabitants from the surrounding villages, and added
to them those of Rhypes. (Paus. vii. 18. § 7; Plin. iv. 5.) He not only gave Patrae
dominion over the neighbouring towns, such as Pharae (Paus. vii. 22. § 1), Dyme
(Paus. vii. 17. § 5), Tritaea (Paus. vii. 23. § 6), but even over Locris. (Paus.
x. 38. § 9.) On coins it appears as a Roman colony with the name of Colonia Augusta
Aroe Patrensis. Strabo describes it in his time as a populous place with a good
anchorage, and Pausanias has devoted four chapters to an account of its public
buildings. (Strab. viii. p. 387; Paus. vii. 18 - 21.) Of these the most important
appear to have been a temple of Artemis Laphria, on the acropolis, with an ancient
statue of this goddess, removed from Calydon to Patrae by order of Augustus, and
in whose honour an annual festival was celebrated; the Odeum, which was the most
magnificent building of the kind in Greece, after the Odeum of Herodes at Athens;
the theatre; and on the seaside a temple of Demeter, which was remarkable on account
of a well in front of it, which was supposed to foretell the fate of sick persons;
a mirror was suspended on the water, and on this mirror there were certain appearances
indicating whether the person would live or die. In the time of Pausanias Patrae
was noted for its manufacture of byssus or flax, which was grown in Elis, and
was woven at Patrae into head-dresses (kekrnphaloi) and garments. Women were employed
in this manufacture, and so large was their number that the female population
was double that of the male; and as a natural consequence there was great immorality
in the town. (Paus. vii. 21. § 14.)
Patrae has continued down to the present day to be one of the most
important towns in the Morea, being admirably situated for communicating with
Italy and the Adriatic, and with eastern Greece by means of the gulf of Corinth.
It is frequently mentioned in the Byzantine writers. In A.D. 347 there was an
archbishop of Patrae at the council of Sardica. In the sixth century it was destroyed
by an earthquake. (Procop. Goth. iv. 25.) It is subsequently mentioned as a dukedom
of the Byzantine empire; it was sold to the Venetians in 1408; was taken by the
Turks in 1446; was recovered by the Venetians in 1533; but was shortly afterwards
taken again by the Turks, and remained in their hands till the Greek revolution.
The country around Patras is a fine and fertile plain, and produces
at present a large quantity of currants, which form an article of export. The
modern town occupies the same site as the ancient city. It stands upon a ridge
about a mile long, the summit of which formed the acropolis, and is now occupied
by the ruins of the Turkish citadel. From the town there is a beautiful sea-view.
The outline of the land on the opposite side of the gulf, extends from the snowy
tops of Parnassus in the east, to the more distant mountains of Acarnania in the
same direction, while full in front, in the centre of the prospect, are the colossal
pyramids of Kakiscala (the ancient Taphiassus) and Varasova (the ancient Chalcis),
rising in huge perpendicular masses from the brink of the water. (Mure, Tour in
Greece, vol. ii. p. 300.) There are very few remains of antiquity at Patras. The
modern citadel contains some pieces of the walls of the ancient acropolis, and
there are ruins of the Roman aqueduct of brick. The well mentioned by Pausanias
is still to be seen about three quarters of a mile from the town under a vault
belonging to the remains of a church of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Patras.
Before the Greek revolution, in which Patras suffered greatly, its population
was about 10.000; but its present population is probably somewhat less. (Leake,
Morea, vol. ii. p. 123, seq.)
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ΡΥΠΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
Hpupai, : Eth. Rhups, Hpupos. A city of Achaia, 30 stadia W. of Aegium,
was originally one of the twelve Achaean cities. It had ceased to be a member
of the League in the time of Polybius, who mentions Leontium in its place. Rhypes,
however, continued to exist down to the time of Augustus; but this emperor transferred
its inhabitants to Patrae, and its territory (Rhupis, or he Hpupike) was divided
between Aegium and Pharae. Its ruins were seen by Pausanias at a short distance
from the main road from Aegium to Patrae. We learn from Strabo that this town
was mentioned by Aeschylus as keraunias Hpupas, or Rhypes stricken by the thunderbolt.
It was the birthplace of Myscellus, the founder of Croton. (Herod. i. 145; Paus.
vii. 6. § 1, vii. 18. § 7, vii. 23. § 4; Strab. viii. pp. 386, 387.) In the territory
of Rhypes there was a demus called Leuctrum (Leuktron, Strab. p. 387), and also
a seaport named Erineum (Erineon, or Erineos limen) which is mentioned by Thucydides,
and which is described by Pausanias as 60 stadia from Aegium. (Thuc. vii. 34;
Paus. vii. 22. § 10; Plin. iv. 6.) The geographers of the French Commission place
Rhypes at some ruins on the right bank of the river Tholo, where it issues into
the plain; and the distance of the position on the Tholo from Vostitza (Aegium)
is that which Pausanias assigns as the interval between Aegium and Rhypes. But
Leake, thinking it highly improbable that two of the chief cities of Achaia should
have been only 30 stadia from each other, suspects the accuracy of Pausanias or
his text, as to the distance between Rhypes and Aegium. He accordingly places
Rhypes further W. on the banks of the river of Salmeniko, and supposes Erineum
to have been its port and to have been situated immediately above it at the harbour
of Lambiri. The position of Lambiri answers very well to that of Erineum; but
the reason given by Leake does not appear sufficient for rejecting the express
statement of Pausanias as to the distance between Aegium and Rhypes. (Leake, Peloponnesiaca,
p. 408)
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ΣΤΥΞ (Καταρράκτης) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
Styx (Stux), a waterfall descending from a lofty rock in the Aroanian
mountains, above Nonacris, a town in the NE. of Arcadia, in the district of Pheneus.
The water descends perpendicularly in two slender cascades, which, after winding
among a labyrinth of rocks, unite to form a torrent that falls into the Crathis.
It is by far the highest waterfall in Greece; the scenery is one of wild desolation;
and it is almost impossible to climb over the rocks to the foot of the cascade.
The wildness of the scenery, the inaccessibility of the spot, and the singularity
of the waterfall made at an early period a deep impression upon the Greeks, and
invested the Styx with superstitious reverence. It is correctly described by both
Homer and Hesiod. The former poet speaks of the down-flowing water of the Styx
(to kateibomenon Stugos hudor, Il. xv. 37), and of the lofty torrents of the Styx
(Stugos hudatos aipa rheethra, Il. viii. 369). Hesiod describes it as a cold stream,
which descends from a precipitous lofty rock (hudor psuchron ho t ek petres kataleibetai
elibatoio hupseles, Theog. 785), and as the perennial most ancient water of the
Styx, which flows through a very rugged place (Stugos aphthiton hudor ogugion,
to d lesi katastuphelou dia chorou, Theog. 805). The account of Herodotus, who
does not appear to have visited the Styx, is not so accurate. He says that the
Styx is a fountain in the town Nonacris; that only a little water is apparent;
and that it dropt from the rock into a cavity surrounded by a wall (vi. 74). In
the same passage Herodotus relates that Cleomenes endeavoured to persuade the
chief men of Arcadia to swear by the waters of the Styx to support him in his
enterprise. Among the later descriptions of this celebrated stream that of Pausanias
(viii. 17. § 6) is the most full and exact. Not far from the ruins of Nonacris,
he says, is a lofty precipice higher than I ever remember to have seen, over which
descends water, which the Greeks call the Styx. He adds that when Homer represents
Hera swearing by the Styx, it is just as if the poet had the water of the stream
dropping before his eyes. The Styx was transferred by the Greek and Roman poets
to the invisible world [see Dict. of Gr. and Rom. Biogr. and Myth. art. Styx];
but the waterfall of Nonacris continued to be regarded with superstitious terrors;
its water was supposed to be poisonous; and it was believed that it destroyed
all kinds of vessels, in which it was put, with the exception of those made of
the hoof of a horse or an ass. There was a report that Alexander the Great had
been poisoned by the water of the Styx. (Arrian, Anab. vii. 27; Plut. Alex. 77,
de Prim. Frig. 20. p. 954; Paus. viii. 18. § 4; Strab. viii. p. 389; Aelian, H.
An. x. 40; Antig. Hist. Mirab. 158 or 174; Stob. Ecl. Phys. i. 52. § 48; Plin.
ii. 103. s. 106, xxx. 16. s. 53, xxxi. 2. s. 19; Vitruv. viii. 3; Senec. Q. N.
iii. 25.) The belief in the deleterious nature of the water continues down to
the present day, and the inhabitants of the surrounding villages relate that no
vessel will hold the water. It is now called ta Mauraneria, or the Black Waters,
and sometimes ta Drako-neria or the Terrible Waters. (Leake, Morea, vol. iii.
p. 160, seq.; Fiedler, Reise durch Griechenland, vol. i. p. 400, who gives a drawing
of the Styx; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. i. p. 195.)
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ΦΑΡΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
Pharai. Sometimes Phara, Pherae, Pharees, the name of the people:
Eth. Pharieus, Pharaieus. The territory (he Pharaike, Strab. viii. p. 388, Polyb.
iv. 59). A town of Achaia, and one of the twelve Achaean cities, was situated
on the river Pierus or Peirus, 70 stadia from the sea, and 150 stadia from Patrae.
It was one of the four cities which took the lead in restoring the Achaean League
in B.C. 280. In the Social War (B.C. 220, seq.) it suffered from the attacks of
the Aetolians and Eleans. Its territory was annexed by Augustus to Patrae, when
the latter city was made a Roman colony after the battle of Actium. Pharae contained
a large agora, with a curious statue of Hermes. The remains of the city have been
found on the left bank of the Kamenitza, near Prevezo.
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ΨΩΦΙΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
Psophis: Eth. Psophidios, a city in the NW. extremity of Arcadia, bounded on the
N. by Arcadia, and on the W. by Elis. It was a very ancient place. It is said
to have been originally called Erymanthus, and its territory to have been ravaged
by the Erymanthian boar. (Paus. viii. 24. § 2; Hecat. ap. Steph. B. s. v. Psophis;
Apollod. ii. 5. § 4.) It afterwards received the name of Phegia or Phegeia (Phegia,
Phegeia), apparently from the oaks (phegoi), which are still found upon the site
of the town; though the ancients, as usual, derived the name from an eponymous
founder, Phegeus. (Steph. B. s. vv. Phegeia, Psophis; Paus. l. c.) It was called
Psophis by Echephron and Promachus, sons of Hercules, who are said to have come
from Sicily and given to the town this name after their mother Psophis. (Paus.
l. c.) Psophis, while still called Phegia, was celebrated as the residence of
Alcmaeon, who fled thither from Argos, after slaying his mother, and married Alphesiboea,
the daughter of Phegeus. (Paus. viii. 24. § 8; Dict. of Biogr. s. v. Alcmaeon.)
In consequence of their connection with Alcmaeon, the Psophidii took part in the
second expedition against Thebes, and refused to join the other Greeks in the
Trojan War. (Pans. viii. 24. § 10.)
Psophis is rarely mentioned in history. In B.C. 219 it was in possession
of the Eleians, and was taken by Philip, king of Macedonia, who was then in alliance
with the Achaeans. In narrating this event Polybius gives an accurate description
of the town. Psophis, he says, is confessedly an ancient foundation of the Arcadians
in the district Azanis. It is situated in the central parts of Peloponnesus, but
in the western corner of Arcadia, and adjoining the Achaeans dwelling furthest
towards the west. It also overhangs conveniently the country of the Eleians, with
whom the city was then in close alliance. Philip marched thither in three days
from Caphyae, and encamped upon the hills opposite to the city, where he could
safely have a view of the whole city and the surrounding places. When the king
observed the strength of the place, he was at a [p. 676] loss what to do. On the
western side of the town there is a rapid torrent, impassable during the greater
part of the winter, and which, rushing down from the mountains, makes the city
exceedingly strong and inaccessible, in consequence of the size of the ravine
which it has gradually formed. On the eastern side flows the Erymanthus, a large
and impetuous river, concerning which there are so many stories. As the western
torrent joins the Erymanthus on the southern side of the city, its three sides
are surrounded by rivers, and rendered secure in the manner described. On the
remaining side towards the north a strong hill hangs over, surrounded by a wall,
and serving the purpose of a well-placed citadel. The town itself also is provided
with walls, remarkable for their size and construction. (Polyb. iv. 70.) From
this description it is evident that the Erymanthus on the eastern side of the
city is the river of Sopoto; and that the western torrent, which we learn from
Pausanias (viii. 24. § 3) bore the name of Aroanius, is the river of Ghermotzana.
About 300 feet below the junction of these rivers the united stream is joined
by a third, smaller than the other two, called the river of Lopesi or Skupi, which
rises on the frontiers of Cleitor, near Seirae. From these three rivers the place
is now called Tripotamo. The banks of the Erymanthus and the Aroanius are precipitous,
but not very high; and between them and the steep summit of the hill upon which
the town stood there is a small space of level or gentlyrising ground. The summit
is a sharp ridge, sending forth two roots, one of which descends nearly to the
single of junction of the two streams, the other almost to the bank of the Erymanthus
at the eastern extremity of the city. (Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 242.)
Philip, in his attack upon Psophis, crossed the bridge over the Erymanthus,
which was probably in the same position as the modern bridge, and then drew up
his men in the narrow space between the river and the walls. While the Macedonians
were attempting to scale the walls in three separate parties, the Eleians made
a sally from a gate in the upper part of the town. They were, however, driven
back by the Cretans in Philip's army, who followed the fugitives into the town.
Euripidas and the garrison then retreated into the citadel, and shortly afterwards
surrendered to Philip. (Polyb. iv. 71, 72.)
Pausanias saw at Psophis a ruined temple of Aphrodite Erycina, heroa
of Promachus and Echephron, the tomb of Alcmaeon, and near the Erymanthus a temple
sacred to that stream. (Paus. viii. 24. § 7.) Leake also noticed a part of a theatre,
not mentioned by Pausanias, on the side of the hill towards the Aroanius. Nine
hundred feet above the junction of the two rivers, and near the walls on the bank
of the Erymanthus, Leake also found some remains of a public building, 96 feet
in length, below which there is a source of water in the bank. He conjectures
that they may be the remains of the temple of Erymanthus.
Psophis was about 2 miles in circumference. The town-walls followed
the crest of the ridge to the northward and the bank above the two rivers on the
opposite side; and they are traceable nearly throughout the entire circuit of
the place. On the northeastern side of the town, which is the only part not protected
by the two rivers or by the precipices at the back of the hill, there was a double
inclosure. Leake could not trace the inclosure of the citadel.
At the distance of 30 stadia from Psophis was Seirae (Seirai), which
Pausanias describes as the boundary of the Psophidii and Cleitorii (viii. 23.
§ 9, 24. § 3). On the road from Psophis to Thelpusa lay Tropaea, upon the left
bank of the Ladon, near which was the grove Aphrodisium, after which caine a column
with an ancient inscription upon it, marking the boundaries of Psophis and Thelpusa.
(Leake, More, vol. ii. p. 240, seq.; Boblaye, Recherches, &c. p. 158; Curtius,
Peloponnesos, vol. i. p. 384, seq.)
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ΩΛΕΝΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
Olenus. A town of Achaia, and originally one of the 12 Achaean cities,
was situated on the coast, and on the left bank of the river Peirus, 40 stadia
from Dyme, and 80 stadia from Patrae. On the revival of the Achaean League in
B.C. 280, it appears that Olenus was still in existence, as Strabo says that it
did not join the league; but the inhabitants subsequently abandoned the town,
and retired to the neighbouring villages of Peirae (Peirai), and Euryteiae (Euruteiai),
and to Dyme. In the time of Polybius, however, Olenus was no longer inhabited;
and in the time of Strabo it was in ruins, and its territory belonged to Dyme.
There are some remains of the ancient city at Kato or Palea-Akhaia.
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ΑΙΓΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
A town in Achaea, with a celebrated temple of Poseidon, originally one of the twelve Achaean towns; but its inhabitants subsequently removed to Aegira.
ΑΧΑΪΑ (Αρχαία χώρα) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
The northern coast of the Peloponnesus, originally called Aegialea or Aegialus, i. e. the coast-land, was bounded on the north by the Corinthian Gulf and the Ionian Sea, on the south by Elis and Arcadia, on the west by the Ionian Sea, and on the east by Sicyonia.
ΒΟΥΡΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΔΙΑΚΟΠΤΟ
One of the twelve original cities of Achaea, formerly situated near the sea; but having been destroyed by an earthquake, it was rebuilt by the survivors about forty stadia from the shore, on the river Buraicus.
ΔΥΜΗ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
(Dume) or Dymae (Dumai). A town in the west of Achaia, near the coast; one of the twelve Achaean towns.
ΕΛΙΚΗ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
One of the chief cities of Achaia, situated on the shore of
the Sinus Corinthiacus, near Bura. It was celebrated for the temple and worship
of Poseidon, thence called Heliconius. Here, also, the general meeting of the
Ionians was convened, while yet in the possession of Aegialus, and the festival
which then took place is supposed to have resembled that of the Panionia, which
they instituted afterwards in Asia Minor. A tremendous influx of the sea, caused
by a violent earthquake, overwhelmed and completely destroyed Helice two years
before the battle of Leuctra, B.C. 373. The details of this catastrophe will be
found in Pausanias and Aelian. Eratosthenes, as Strabo reports, beheld the site
of this ancient city, and he was assured by sailors that the bronze statue of
Poseidon was still visible beneath the waters, holding an hippocampus, or sea-horse,
in his hand, and that it formed a dangerous shoal for their vessels. Two thousand
workmen were afterwards sent by the Achaeans to recover the dead bodies, but without
success.
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ΕΡΥΜΑΝΘΟΣ (Βουνό) ΑΧΑΪΑ
A mountainchain in the northwest angle of Arcadia, celebrated in fable as the haunt of the savage boar destroyed by Heracles. Apollonius places the Erymanthian monster in the wilds of Mount Lampea; but this mountain was that part of the chain where the river Erymanthus took its rise.
ΕΡΥΜΑΝΘΟΣ (Ποταμός) ΑΧΑΪΑ
A river of Arcadia, descending from the mountain of the same name, and flowing near the town of Psophis. After receiving another small stream, called the Aroanius, it joins the Alpheus on the borders of Elis. The modern name of the Erymanthus is the Dogana.
ΚΛΕΙΤΩΡ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΚΑΛΑΒΡΥΤΑ
or Clitorium. A town in the north of Arcadia on a river of the same name, a tributary of the Aroanius. There was a fountain in the neighbourhood, the waters of which are said to have given to persons who drank of them a dislike for wine.
ΚΥΝΑΙΘΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
nbsp; A town of Arcadia, on the river Crathis, near the northern borders,
and some distance to the northwest of Cyllene. It had been united to the Achaean
League, but was betrayed to the Aetolians in the Social War. This was effected
by some exiles, who, on their return to their native city, formed a plot for admitting
the enemy within its walls. The Aetolians, accordingly, having crossed into Achaia
with a considerable force, advanced to Cynaetha and easily scaled the walls; they
then sacked the town and destroyed many of the inhabitants, not sparing even those
to whose treachery they were indebted for their success. Polybius observes that
the calamity which thus overwhelmed the Cynaethians was considered by many as
a just punishment for their unusually depraved and immoral life.
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ΛΕΟΝΤΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
A town in Achaia, between Pharae and Aegium.
ΝΩΝΑΚΡΙΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
A town in the north of Arcadia, surrounded by lofty mountains, in which the river Styx took its origin. From this town Evander is called Nonacrius, Atalanta Nonacria, Callisto Nonacrina virgo, and Hermes Nonacriates, in the general sense of Arcadian.
ΠΑΝΑΧΑΪΚΟΝ (Βουνό) ΑΧΑΪΑ
(to Panachai:kon oros). A mountain in Achaia, 6300 feet high, immediately behind Patrae.
ΠΑΝΟΡΜΟΣ (Αρχαίο λιμάνι) ΡΙΟ
A harbour in Achaia.
ΠΑΤΡΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΧΑΪΑ
(Patrai). Now Patras. One of the twelve cities of Achaea, and situated west of Rhium, near the opening of the Corinthian Gulf. It was the only Achaean city that sided with Athens in the Peloponnesian War ( Thuc.v. 52). Augustus made it the chief city of Achaia.
ΡΙΟΝ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΡΙΟ
Now Castello di Morea. A promontory in Achaia, opposite to the promontory of Antirrhium (Castello di Romelia), on the borders of Aetolia and Locris, with which it formed the narrow entrance to the Corinthian Gulf, which strait is now called the Little Dardanelles.
ΡΥΠΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
One of the twelve cities of Achaia, situated between Aegium and Patrae. It was destroyed by Augustus, and its inhabitants removed to Patrae.
ΣΤΥΞ (Καταρράκτης) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
Styx (Stux). A name connected with the verb stugeo, to hate
or abhor, and applied to the principal river in the nether world, around which
it flows seven times. Styx is described as a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. As
a nymph she dwelt at the entrance of Hades, in a lofty grotto which was supported
by silver columns. As a river, Styx is described as a branch of Oceanus, flowing
from its tenth source; and the river Cocytus again is a branch of the Styx. By
Pallas, Styx became the mother of Zelus, Nike, Bia, and Cratos. She was the first
of all the immortals who took her children to Zeus, to assist him against the
Titans; and, in return for this, her children were allowed forever to live with
Zeus, and Styx herself became the divinity by whom the most solemn oaths were
sworn. When one of the gods had to take an oath by Styx, Iris brought a cup full
of water from the Styx, and the god, while taking the oath, poured out the water.
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ΤΡΙΤΑΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
One of the twelve cities of Achaia, 120 stadia east of Pharae and near the frontiers of Arcadia.
ΦΑΡΑΙ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
One of the twelve Achaean cities in the western part of Achaea.
ΑΧΑΪΑ (Αρχαία χώρα) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Region of northern Peloponnese
along the southern coast of the gulfs of Corinth
and Calydon. Achaia (or Achaea)
owes its name to the mythological hero Achaeus, brother of Ion (the eponym of
the Ionians) and son of Xouthus, a son of Hellen and grandson of Deucalion. Achaeus'
mother was Creusa, a daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens.
“Achaeans” was the name given to the offspring of Achaeus, one of
the Hellenic tribes that populated Greece;
it is also one of the names that Homer uses most often to designate the Greeks
as a whole.
In his Histories, I, 145-146, Herodotus tells us that the Achaeans
settled in what later became known as Achaia by driving the Ionians that had settled
there earlier out (after they had themselves been expelled from Argolis
and Laconia by the Dorians).
Bernard Suzanne (page last updated 1998), ed.
This text is cited July 2003 from the Plato and his dialogues URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks.
ΣΕΛΙΝΟΥΣ (Ποταμός) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
Η περιοχή βρίσκεται νοτίως της πόλης του Αιγίου. Περιλαμβάνει τα όρη Μαρμπάς (Μπαρμπάς ή Χιονίστρα) και Κλωκός, τις απότομες πλαγιές του φαραγγιού του ποταμού Σελινούντα που ρέει ανάμεσά του, καθώς επίσης και το παραποτάμιο οικοσύστημα ..
ΝΩΝΑΚΡΙΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΙΓΙΑΛΕΙΑ
ΤΡΙΤΑΙΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
Tritia, Triteia, Tritea, Tritaea
ΔΥΜΗ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΠΑΤΡΑ
Perseus Project index : Dyme, Palea, Paleia
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