Listed 6 sub titles with search on: History Official pages for wider area of: "LACONIA Prefecture PELOPONNISOS" .
ASSOPOS (Small town) LACONIA
Year of establishment and History. In comparison with other historical events of Lakonikis, the year of establishment of the city of Asopos is somewhere between the prehistoric year and the descent of the Doreis, who conquered Lakonia and did not allow the establishment of colonists. The Town had great prosperity during the Roman Years, and with 18 other coastland cities of Lakonia, were part of the so-called people of the Liberal - Lakonians. It had the luxury of independence, but that didn’t mean they had full independence, native minions commanded them and because of their privilege, they had cut their own coin, one side of it illustrated, the Gods of Posidona, Artemis, Nemesis, and the other side the inscription "Asopiton" or with the head of Dionysus in one and the other with Posidonas and the inscription "Asopiton". A coin like that is now exhibited in the Museum of Sparti.
During the Byzantine Years Asopos had a remarkable presence. Round 450ac. the Bishop of Salonika was elected Exarch of the Church of Greece, which consisted of 12 Cathedrals. In the Cathedral of Achaia came under the Bishopric of Asopos, which during the last Byzantine Years came under the Cathedral of Monemvasia. After the conquest of Lakonia from the Turks in 1461 ac., Asopos came under them. But it was a meaningless little village. The fear of the invasions of Pirates, made the colonists to move higher and build a village called "Kalivia", called like that most likely because of the sloppily and small houses. With the war of the Heneto-turkish, 1669ac. a lot of Cretes came and settled in the area, that is why a lot of names end with -akis. In the memory of their homeland, they named the village Konte-Vianika, the second theme of the name dictates the toponym of Creta, Vianos.
This extract is cited Apr 2003 from the Municipality of Assopos URL below.
DEMONIA (Village) ASSOPOS
According to archeological foundlings close to Demonia today, there was a city South of Plitra close to the coast, with an unknown name. Its position predominated, from the road from the Village Epidavro Limira and was also situated on the road to the plain of Asopos towards Neapoli. Perhaps we should connect it with the city of Kotyrta (which is mentioned by Thoukididis) while there was also the city of Afrodisias, which was later embodied with the city of Vion. The construction of the village to today's position was done during the years of the Turkish Domination. The habitants came from a lot of areas, most of them after the destruction of Psara, prevailing the family Lyra. Also habitants came from Kythira, but from Lyra as well after their destruction in 1770 bc from the Turkish Albanians.
This extract is cited Oct 2002 from the Municipality of Assopos URL below, which contains image.
FINIKI (Village) ASSOPOS
According to Kourtion (History of ancient Greece p.214) the name comes from Finikes "According to Maleon abound are Finikes, so years now the memorial village is called Finiki". So it is ancient. The settlement should have been established then, when the sea reached there or even higher, before the land was turned to a plain after the illuviations. The Finikes (850 bc) had established a merchant station to exploit and monopolize the exceptional quality of the purple shells, which, as Pafsanias mentions were found only on the beaches of Lakonias.
During the Byzantine Years, the habitants preferred the position of today's Krisa, where there are ruins of buildings and the Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary with an exceptional painting of Hers. During the Tourkish seisin, the habitants were transferred higher, today?s position. There was a density of Turkish population, which was attracted there by the plenteous water. The Turks treated the local Christians in a good manner. During the Greek Revolution the habitants took part in a lot of battles, such as the siege of Monambasia, and offered a lot of services.
This text is cited Apr 2003 from the Municipality of Assopos URL below.
MYSTRAS (Byzantine settlement) PELOPONNISOS
SPARTI (Town) LACONIA
1834. Sparta is reborn. The Greeks aim at creating a new city in the place
of olive oils and reeds. The area is surveyed by Yohmous, a resident of Magoula.
There are no other ancient remains but the Tomb of Leonidas, the shuttles of the
theatre, the Roman Baths. The governor Kapodistrias had disagreed with recreating
the city claiming that any excavations would only uncover more ancient ruins.
But Othon signed the recreation enactment based on Schtaufert's plans. It was
an ambitious idea, since the city was supposed to have 100.000 people while today
there are 20.000. Nevertheless, it was a noble idea: a Hippodamian system, wide
avenues, spacious squares, public buildings, shopping centers and commercial areas.
1837. Authorities are situated in Sparta and it becomes the capital with
Meletopoulos as its first Mayor. The Residency has already been built on the upper
square and simple, provincial buildings are starting to fill the space around
it. The new buildings are of pure Greek architecture, roofed verandah to the south
and a fireplace in the winteroom. This presented a problem for the gentry who
prefer high - ceiling houses with symmetrical windows, little decorated balconies
and trimmings under the roof like those of Mistras.
1840. The city becomes alive as Douroutis builds a silk factory, the first
of many, a very demanding and expensive task. Unfortunately, nothing is left of
those first constructions.
1860. The city is expanding. Shops are built on the upper square with high
roofs and arches and a second floor to the south where the craftshops are. The
money to finance new buildings comes from the division of the central square.
What's left today are the buildings on Palaiologou Street.
1870. The city is acculturated. The Ionic Museum is made of marble, which
will later be substituted, with cement. The construction of the Cathedral starts
at the top of the hill. The model is neoclassic like Athens,
except for the artificial decorative elements of course.
1890. The city is growing both upwards towards the acropolis and downwards
towards the Palace. The cost of this expansion will be the constant uncovering
of ancient ruins, just like Kapodistrias had foreseen.
1900. Neoclassicism is peeking influencing buildings that were of a different
style. It is the completion of the City
Hall, the Gallery
and many other houses of the gentry.
1930. The Bauhaus movement is beginning to simplify buildings. As a result
the noblemen now prefer an equally dominating but simpler way of expression. K.
Panagiotakos builds the High School for boys. Silk is becoming more rare. Gortsolagos
is responsible for the water supply of Sparta.
1940. The war breaks out. 118 fall victim to German troops at Monothendri.
1950. The need of work draws villagers to Sparta. It is the beginning of
peripheral construction. The houses are simple, rectangular with a traditional
roof. As time goes by and with the help of mechanics, they become more complicated
but not necessarily more beautiful. As far as beauty is concerned, the Xenia Hotel
is built kindly requesting our tending. As far as innovation is concerned, a house
by T. Zenetos is built opposite the 3rd Elementary School. Even today, the prominence
of that house is notable.
1970. Cement is everywhere and so are blocks of flats. The School of Professions
is pulled down as well as neoclassic buildings. The picturesque arches of the
square are vanishing. Cars fill the streets and the image of the old, calm city
is fading away.
1997. The palm trees of Palaiologou Street are still there. The houses
of craftsmen on Pirsogianni Street are still there. All remaining neoclassic buildings
are renovated. The pedestrian zone is alive and the parks are full of people again.
The State is transforming the square aiming at highlighting ancient Sparta and
turning the FIX building by T. Zenetos into a museum. The word is that a walk
on the Evrotas banks will be possible. The fragrance of the Spartan orange trees
is still in the air every Easter.
George Giaxoglou, ed.
This text is cited Apr 2003 from the Municipality of Sparti URL below.
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