Alifeira

Alifeira
Αλίφειρα
Alifeira

Coordinates: 37°33′N 21°49′E / 37.550°N 21.817°E / 37.550; 21.817Coordinates: 37°33′N 21°49′E / 37.550°N 21.817°E / 37.550; 21.817
Country Greece
Administrative region West Greece
Regional unit Elis
Municipality Andritsaina-Krestena
Elevation 385 m (1,263 ft)
Population (2001)[1]
  Municipal unit 3,829
Community
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 270 62
Area code(s) 26260
Vehicle registration ΗΑ

Alifeira (Greek: Αλίφειρα) is a mountain village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] The seat of the municipality was in the village of Kallithea.

Subdivisions

The municipal unit Alifeira is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):

Geography

Alifeira is situated in a mountainous and forested area, with many deep river valleys. The river Alfeios forms the northern border of the municipal unit. It is about 10 km northwest of Andritsaina, 20 km southeast of Krestena, 40 km southeast of Pyrgos and 50 km west of Tripoli. The Greek National Road 76 (Krestena - Karytaina - Megalopoli) runs through the municipal unit.

History

The ancient Arcadian town Aliphera was located in the Parrhasia country, 40 stadia (about 8 km) from ancient Heraea. It took part in the colonization of Megalopolis in 371 BC and was member of the Arcadian League. The name originates from Alipheros, son of Lycaon. In the city there were sanctuaries of Athena and Asclepius.[3] In 224 BC Lydiades, tyrant of Megalopolis, gave the town to the Eleans. It was taken by Philip V of Macedon in 219 BC after a long siege, and later it joined the Achaean League and minted its own currency.[4] Later, the city was subject to the Romans.

The first excavations were done by Anastasios Orlandos in 1932. In the ancient city the temples of Athena and Asclepius, the acropolis, the cemetery wall and some buildings have been found.[4]

Historical population

Year Kallithea district Alifeira municipality
1981 872 -
1991 1,101 3,169
2001 1,101 3,829

See also

References

  1. De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
  2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  3. Pausanias Description of Greece 8.26
  4. 1 2 Αρχαίες πόλεις πέριξ της Ολυμπίας = Ancient Cities Other Than Olympia, Vasilis Taktikos, Athanasios Kourmatzi, Vasiliki Taktikou, Anadrasi Athens 2002
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, February 28, 2013. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.