Tag Archives: elis

Ancient Platiana (Tipaneai or Aipy)

21 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by in Ancient Aipy, ancient Greek sites, Ancient Tipaneai

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ancient Platiana (Tipaneai or Aipy)

(37.57 km – approx. 45 mins from Katakolon)

The remains of the ancient city (Tipaneai or Aipy) are located on a hill of the Lapitha Mountain, South of the village called Platiana (district of Olympia). This fortified, oblong city (max length: 600m, width: 200 m) is surrounded my walls, which probably date to the 4th or 3rd century BC and are preserved in quite good condition (reaching 5m in height in some places). Three large gates are set in the North-West, South-West and East side of the walls-the latter being the main gate. There are also several square or trapezoidal defensive towers. The walls are built of large blocks in polygonal masonry.

ancient Tipaneai or ancient Aipy

Ancient Platiana

One of the terraces is occupied by the theatre, whose stage-building and cavea are partially preserved. On the other terraces one can see: a) the “Acropolis”, b) the “Agora” with a large cistern carved in the natural limestone rock, c) the retaining wall of the “Temple”. In the East part of the city are the foundations of several different buildings, which may be houses of distinguished persons of the city.

plan ancient platiana

General plan

Systematic works at the acropolis were conducted during 2002-2003 by the 7th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.

Ancient Samia (Kato Samiko)

14 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by in ancient Greek sites, Ancient Samia

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Ancient Samia (Kato Samiko)

(38.15 km – approx. 35 mins from Katakolon)

 

The acropolis of ancient Samia (Kato Samiko) is probably located on the westernmost offshoot of the Eleian mountain Minthe, called Lapitha. The acropolis was founded at the end of the 5th century BC and was inhabited until the Roman period. During the 2nd century AD, the traveler Pausanias saw it destroyed.

Kato Samiko

The acropolis of ancient Samia

Its walls, which have the form of an irregular trapezium and constitute a typical example of pseudo-polygonal masonry, have a length of 1500 metres. Four small gates are set in the walls, while large rectangular towers are located on their outer side (max. preserved height: approx. 5m).

The remains of many buildings can be found inside the acropolis. In recent times a large oblong construction, whose roof was supported by columns, has been discovered. This was probably a public building. There are also several large cisterns for water supply.

This site is considered as one of the most important cities of ancient Triphylia. Samia occupied an important strategic position because it controlled the narrow coastal passage from Eleia towards Triphylia and Messenia. It took actively part in the struggle of the Triphylian cities for independence from the domination of the Eleians. In 244 BC, however, the Aitolian Polysperchon occupied the city and used it as a base of operations, in order to separate the Triphylian cities from the Arcadians and to concede them to his allies, the Eleians.

Kato Samiko

Ancient Samia

Systematic works at the acropolis were conducted during 2002-2003 by the 7th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Atiquities.

The Archimedes’ Museum

08 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by in ancient olympia, museums

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ancient Olympia

Archimedes’ Museum

The Archimedes’ museum in Ancient Olympia

The Archimedes’ museum is permanently hosted in a two-storey building in the center of the city of Ancient Olympia. The Archimedes’ Museum is of the most unique thematic museums in Greece and is dedicated to the great Mathematician, Physicist, Engineer, Astronomer and Inventor in ancient Greece and a genius of the technology of his time. Archimedes passed on great theses of all the ancient sciences and, above all, he became the springboard for the development of modern science. Some of his inventions are in use even today. It is known that Archimedes inspired Da Vinci and even influenced Galileo and Newton.

In the field of mathematics, he invented the infinitesimals and the method of exhaustion, which are the modern Differential and Integral calculus, a numbering system for measuring very large sizes which is similar to the modern exponential – logarithmic system and (without taking into account the recent retrievals from the famous “palimpsest”) he had a “modern” perception of combinatorics and actual infinity that made Leibniz quote, “He who understands Archimedes … will admire less the achievements of the foremost men of later times”.

Similarly, in the field of mechanics, the hydraulic screw, the accurate mechanical planetarium, the winch with gears and endless screw, the dioptra, the odometer, the nautical odometer, the mechanical and the hydraulic paradox, the means to check the purity of gold, the density meter, burning using mirrors, the Roman scale, the giant cranes and the powerful war machines are some of his 24 inventions that are exhibited on the ground floor of the Museum. Located in the central hall is the famous Antikythera mechanism, which recent research has shown indirect fatherhood of the Syracusian man. Also, 24 exceptional inventions from the time of Archimedes, such as the “cinema” and the “robot – servant” of Philon, the most accurate automatic clock, the “hydraulis”, the twin suction force piston pump of Ktesibios, the repeating catapult of Dionysios and more, are exhibited on the first floor of the museum.

The aim of the Archimedes’ museum is to feature, in absolute validity and reliability, this unknown perspective of that great wise man of antiquity and to prove that the technology of the Ancient Greeks during the 3rd century B.C. was shockingly similar to the beginning of our modern technology.

The bolts and nuts, gears and rules, pulleys and belts, sprockets and roller chains, hydraulic controllers and valves, programmers and auto-pilots (which are also parts of the motor in a contemporary automobile), are just some of the inventions of the ancient Greeks which were the foundations of their complex technology. These legacies, identical and irreplaceable, continue today to constitute the building blocks of our modern technology, the development of which would be doubtful without its effortless and undemanding adoption. Only after a millennium of maturation was humanity able to “recover” this remarkable forgotten technology. The exploration of this age, when ownership for peak technology was not claimed, demonstrates, without a doubt, how much more (than we think) the modern Western Technological Civilization owes the Greeks.

The exhibits are accompanied by rich audio-visual material (in Greek and English), such as explanatory labels and giant posters with information, detailed diagrams, photos and complete bibliographical references, while many of the exhibits are interactive. There are projecting stations with video and animation as well as documentaries in which the exhibitor explains the function and the use of the mechanisms. The exhibition (in thematic sections) follows the modern educational perception in Pedagogic and Museum Education so that it acts multileveled, as far as the greatness of ancient Greek technological thought and technique is concerned, in all levels of the educational community and the wider public.

 

Ancient Pheia (the submerged city) & Pontikokastro

06 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by in agios andreas, Ancient Pheia

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Agios Andreas

(1.98 km – approx. 4 mins from Katakolon)

Ancient Pheia (the submerged city) and Pontikokastro

In the bay of Agios Andreas are the remains of Ancient Pheia, which was an important harbor for ancient Olympia. Pheia was partially sucked into the sea by the earthquake that overthrew the Temple of Zeus at Olympia in the 6th century AD. Remains from the wall of Pheia can be traced under water, which were explored by several archaeologists in the 1970’s. Unfortunately, it is not allowed to dive here since there are so many antiquities. (Pheia is not the only submerged ancient city in Greece. In the southern part of the Peloponnese, there are at least 2 more prehistoric settlements (Pavlopetri and one near Methoni) that were sunk into the sea. There are actual plans to turn these submerged cities into underwater archaeological parks. Greece’s underwater wealth was first shown in the 1957 movie “Boy on a Dolphin” with Sophia Loren.)

Immortalized in dozens of works of fiction, the Peloponnesian War took place in the fifth century B.C. between the city-state of Athens and various armies of the Peloponnese, who called themselves the Peloponnesian League. The war lasted nearly 30 years, raging across the Aegean Sea and the northern Mediterranean. One of the cities involved in the war was Pheia, which was conquered by the Athenians and turned into a shipping headquarters for its military supply line.

Near the close of the fifth century, the area along the western coast of Greece was shaken by an earthquake that plunged the city of Pheia five meters (16 ft) below the surface of the Mediterranean. The city was lost until 1911, when an excavation team found the ancient civilization. Since then, numerous archaeologists have studied the city. Despite the global interest in the Pheia ruins, we still don’t know much about this important fragment of history.

continue reading…

Ancient Pheia (Fouache and Dalongeville, 1998), which is now completely under water, situated in the Bay of Aghios Andreas, on the northern side of the cape of Katakolon in Ilia, was the port of Olympia during Greek and Roman times. It is a good example of the high tectonic activity at the front of the Aegean Arc. At the bottom of the bay a fossil beachrock and a fossil notch can be observed. At the end of the 5th century AD, a 6.5m tectonic subsiding movement drowned the site of Pheia, thus providing the sea with an enormous amount of sediments which it shaped into a prograding beach including extremely varied elements, some taken from the submerged city (ceramic, slags, stones), some from the cliff. Later, at an undetermined period, the whole lot was raised, thus leaving the archaeological vestiges 5 meters deep under water and raising the top of the intertidal zone of the beach up to 1.5 m.

continue reading…

beach

Pheia’s low acropolis had a byzantine castle (Pontikokastro or “mouse” castle), which became the Beauvoir of the Villehardouins. The steep site is considerably overgrown, with low remains, one or two towers, and a plethora of potentially dangerous cisterns.

castle

The main thing here is the view, still beautiful!

24th Festival Ilida – programme 2014

23 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by in events, katakolon

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

The program of the 24th Festival Ilida

programme 2014

Festival Ilida

 

The art of theatre ‘meets’ once again, for the 24th year, Ancient Elis and the homonymous festival, which has established itself as one of the best in the country.

Exceptional performances of ancient drama, performances of the new stage and the children’s scene, bearing the signature of remarkable filmmakers and cast members involved, frame the program of the 24th Festival of Ancient Ilida, which premiered on 12 July and drops its curtain on August 21.

The “heart” of culture will ring for two months in Ancient Elis, where they present a total of fifteen performances six ancient dramas, five of the new scene and four of the children’s scene.

The municipality of Ilida is again organizing a festival of high claims, as illustrated by the program, and aims to gather theater goers to Ancient Elis.

 

THE PROGRAMME

 

In July

Friday 25th July, the children’s performance of “DON QUIXOTE” by Miguel de Cervantes, adapted and directed by Dimitris Adami
Cast: Dimitris Agoras, Alexis Vidalakis, Petros Ioannis, Thomi Koskosi, Giorgos Balopita, Danae Sdougkou and Marilisa Chronea.

Saturday 26th July, the comedy of Alexandros Rigas and Dimitris Apostolou “FONISSES OF PAPADIAMANTI”
Cast: Eleni Kastani, Konstantina Michael, Natalia Dragoumi Jenny Botsi, Foteini Demiri, Sophia Vogiatzaki, Patrikios Kostis, Parthena Chorozidou and Jessi Papoutsi

Monday 28th July,  performance of “MARIA PENTAGIOTISSA” by Bost, directed by Giannis Bostantzoglou
Cast: Giannis Bostantzoglou, Giannis Aivazi, Dimitra Papadema, Kostas Flokatoulas, Pericles Albanis, Petros Petrou, Marios Leonidis, Konstantinos Prasa, Giorgos Mataraga and Petros Xekoukis

 

In August

Friday 1st August, the children’s performance of “The Magic Key” by Carmen Ruggeri
Cast: Helen Zioga, Orestes Karidas, Alexandros Kompogiorgas, Giannis Nikolaos, Nadia Mitroudi, Amanda Sofianopoulou and Myrto Chryssanthakopoulou

Saturday 2nd August,  the performance of “TROADES” by Euripides, directed by Themis Moumoulidis
Cast: Filareti Komnenou, Stelios Mainas, Aris Lempesopoulos, Zeta Duka, Ioanna Pappa, Maria Protopappa, Christos Plainis, Lena Papaligoura, Marouska Panagiotopoulou, Loukia Michalopoulou, Georgina Palaiothodorou, Eirini Kyrmizaki
Music: Iris Mara (clarinet), Io Kyriakidi (accordion)

Thursday 7th August, the performance of “Oops … ELECTRA” parody of Alexis Kallitsis, directed by Petros Filippidis and Anna Panagiotopoulou
Cast: Petros Filippidis, Elizabeth Konstandinidou, Gerasimos Skiadaresis,  Dimitris Mavropoulos, Crateros Katsoulis, Panos Stathakopoulos, Alberto Fais, Manos Ioannis, Christos Spanos, Stavros Karagiannis and Kyriakos Markatos

Saturday 9th August, the performance of “THESMOFORIAZUSAE” by Aristophanes, directed by Giorgos Kimoulis
Cast: Giorgos Kimoulis, Dimitris Piata, Fay Xyla, Thanassis Alevras, Konstantinos Giannakopoulos, Dimitris Rafailo and Harris Chiotis

Sunday 10th August, the children’s performance of “SLEEPING BEAUTY AWOKE” by Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Thomas Moschopoulos, directed by Vangelis Theodoropoulos
Cast:  Amalia Arseni, Anthi Efstratiadou, Christos Pitsas, Stavros Svigkos, Evangelia Syriopoulou, Foteini Timothyeou and Orestes Tziovas

Wednesday 13th August, the performance of “DINNER WITH FRIENDS” by Donald Margulies, directed by Grigoris Valtinos
Cast: Grigoris Valtinos, Kleona Gregoriadi, Renia Loizidou and Alexandra Palaiologou

Saturday 16th August the performance of “IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS” by Euripides, directed by Kerasia Samaras
Cast: Kerasia Samara, Alexander Ntavris, Vasilis Giakoumaros, Kostas Tsachras, Vangelis Salefris, Eleni Kakkali, Despina Bougiatioti, Tonia Apostolou and Kelly Anyfanti

Monday 18th August, provided by the National Theatre of Northern Greece, the performance of “PERSIANS” by Aeschylus, directed by Niketis Kondouris
Cast: Giannis Fertis (Darius), Akis Sakellariou (Atossa), Lazaros Georgakopoulos (Messenger) and Giorgos Kolovos (Xerxes).

Thursday 21st August, the National Theatre project of “FROGS” by Aristophanes, directed by Giannis Kakleas
Cast: Basilis Charalampopoulos, Fanis Mouratidis, John Zouganeli, Panos Vlachos

 

Chlemoutsi Castle

20 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by in castles, sights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chlemoutsi Castle

Chlemoutsi Castle

(48.24 km – approx. 51 mins from Katakolon)

This beautiful medieval castle stands on the summit of a hill on the westernmost headland of the Peloponnese. It was built between 1220/1230 by the Frankish prince Geoffrey I de Villehardouin and was the strongest fortress in the Frankish principate of Achaia.

Chlemoutsi Castle

Upon arrival in the nearby picturesque village of Kastro (which means Castle in Greek), take your time to enjoy a Greek coffee in one of the traditional kafeneia. Make sure you use the toilet facilities in the kafeneion since there are only chemical toilettes at the site and are closed most of the time. From the main plateia (square) it is another 5 minutes on foot up the hill or a few minutes by car.

The location chosen for the castle was due to strategic purposes. From the top of the hill Chlemoutsi protected the famous commercial port of Glarentza (now Kyllini) and the capital of the Principate, Andravida, and controlled the area that formed the core of the Frankish possessions in the Morea  (Morea is a corruption of the word for mulberry tree in Greek (mouria).  This was the name given to the Peloponnese in medieval times since there were so many mulberry trees.

The castle consists of two enclosures: the outer Enclosure which is polygonal in shape and the Interior Enclosure.

Access to the core of the castle, where the prince’s palace was located, was via one gate, which led, through a vaulted passage, into the central inner courtyard.

chlemoutsi castle

Admire the stone catapult projectiles which were once used to defend the castle. Huge cisterns for collecting the rainwater under the ground provided the castle with water in times of siege since there was no well. The complex was arranged in 6 wings, 5 of which are two-storey.

The ground floor was where the stables, staff rooms, storerooms and workshops were. The upper storey was the princely residence. There were private apartments, kitchens, a chapel and the bedrooms. The princess’ bedroom has now been converted into a beautiful museum. The bedroom of the princess has a beautiful fireplace (the first in Greece) and two large light-windows with seats and, of course, the built-in closets.

Built-in cupboard at Chlemoutsi Castle

After your visit to the castle, on your way back, make sure you make a stop at Arkoudi beach (near Kyllini) for lunch or a coffee.

aethlios 2014 – Olympian race

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in events, olympia

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

A modern athlos through the traces of a legend

 

olympian race

aethlios 2014

Aethlios was the first king of Elis in ancient Olympia. He was the son of Zeus and Protogeinia. After Hercules, it is stated that Aethlios continues to protect the Races at Olympia.

From his name derive the words athlete, athlos … to define for ever the endeavour of man to surpass his natural powers.

OLYMPIAN RACE  2014

Starting on Friday, 16th May 2014 at 14:30, Ancient Stadium of Nemea

Finishing on Saturday, 17th May 2014, no later than 18:30, Ancient Stadium of Olympia

Total length of race 180km, 28hrs duration, non-stop.

Total length of race 180km,

 

62 Km Race

will take place alongside with Olympian Race and with

common start and route 62 Km race. The race will follow the route from

the  Ancient stadium of Nemea to Levidi and will have a duration of 10 hours.

day trips

23 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in day trips, katakolon, sights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Temple of Apollo Epikourios

History

In the beginning of the 7th century BC, the Spartans captured Phigaleia and the inhabitants abandoned their city to save themselves. They consulted the oracle of Delphi to learn how they could recover their city. The oracle told them that they had to fight the Spartans hiring one hundred warriors from a neigbouring city and that god Apollo would help them as well. When the people of Phigaleia were restored to their homeland, they wished to thank Apollo for assisting them in returning to their native city. Thus, 8 km from their city they built, on a natural plateau, a temple dedicated to the god (Apollo the Helper). The first temple of Apollo Epikourios was made of wood. A few centuries later, during the fifth century BC, when Apollo saved them once more from the plague, the inhabitants decided to call Ictinus, the architect from Athens, to build them a new temple so as to satisfy Apollo once more.

Site

This remote temple is situated high up in the mountains at a height of 1130 m. The fact that it is so well preserved has partly to do with the inaccessibility of the area. In other areas they would have used the temple material to build their houses or churches. The temple escaped both these fates since it was not easy to get here. In the autumn of 1987, the monument was covered with a temporary canopy. The tent was constructed to protect the temple against the elements (weather can be quite rough at this altitude).

The temple, as we see it today, was built during the 5th century BC by the very famous architect from Athens, Ictinus (the same architect who built the Parthenon).

The building material used for the temple is the local limestone and what makes this building really special is that it combines all three architectural orders (Doric, Ionic and Corinthian).

Apart from all the special architectural features of the temple, it is worth seeing how technology has been applied in order to preserve the temple. For example, a network of special devices has been set in place to record seismic events and the behavior of the individual parts. If you decide to visit, ask the guard to show you the documentary which explains everything about the restoration project.

pyrgos

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in pyrgos, sights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Municipal Museum of Pyrgos

Before entering the Municipal Museum of Pyrgos, make sure you walk around this beautiful neoclassical building and admire one of Ernst Ziller’s architectural accomplishments. What used to be the city’s marketplace, now houses many impressive finds from this prefecture.

See the boar’s tusk helmet; a similar one (according to Homer) would have been worn by Odysseus. Admire the costume jewellery from the late bronze era (1600-1200bc). These pieces are 3000 year old but they would sit proudly on the style pages of a glossy magazine.

Other findings really worthy of seeing are the ancient “safety-pins” and the ancient “thylastra”, baby feeding bottles.

ancient elis

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in katakolon, sights

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Ancient Elis

History

Ancient Elis (58 km from Olympia) was the city which had, under its supervision, the organization of the Olympic Games. One month before the games, all the athletes and trainers had to gather there to train under the supervision of the local judges. They would see if the athletes were good enough, otherwise they were excluded from the Games, and they would divide them into categories. Of course, in those times, they didn’t have birth certificates, so they would determine which category they belonged to from their built and body hair. Two days before the Games began, a procession set out from this city-state and all the athletes and trainers had to walk the whole distance to Olympia (58 km).  Imagine how tiring it must have been to walk such a distance before even competing in the stadium.

This procession was meant as spiritual cleansing, to prepare themselves psychologically for the religious games they were about to take part in.

Site

At the site, the remains are scattered and, with the exception of the theatre, considerably neglected. There are also remains of training facilities, a marketplace (agora) and roman baths.

During the summer a theatre festival takes place here and people from all over the area have the opportunity to watch ancient tragedies, comedies etc. under the moonlight.

Museum

Find out that women in antiquity were just as vain as they are today since a large number of bronze mirrors and jewellery pieces were found in the archaeological site.