Location information

Assopos - Year of establishment and History

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.

• http://www.asopos.gr/istorikaUK1.htm

Demonia

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.

• http://www.asopos.gr/istorikaUK.htm

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.

• http://www.asopos.gr/istorikaUK.htm