Pineios (Peloponnese)

Elis (/ˈiːlɪs/) or Eleia (/ɪˈlaɪ.ə/; Attic Greek: Ἦλις, romanized: Ēlis [ɛ̂ːlis]; Elean: Ϝᾶλις [wâːlis]; Greek: Ήλιδα, romanized: Ilida) was an ancient district in the northwestern Peloponnese in Greece, roughly corresponding to modern regional unit of Elis. It was bounded to the northeast by Achaea, east by Arcadia, south by Messenia, and west by the Ionian Sea. The region is a fertile lowland with extensive plains, watered by the Peneus, Alpheus and other rivers that flow down from the Arcadian highlands. The region's name is probably cognate with the English 'valley'.

The Eleans traced their roots back to the mythical Dorian invasion. They united into a single polis ("city-state") centred on the city of Elis in 471 BC. Over the course of the archaic and classical periods, the city gradually gained control of much of the region of Elis, most probably through unequal treaties with other cities; many inhabitants of Elis were Perioeci—autonomous free non-citizens. Elis' main claim to fame was its control over the sanctuary at Olympia and the Olympic games.

Elis (Ancient Greek: Ἦλις, Doric Greek: Ἆλις, in the local dialect: Ϝᾶλις, Modern Greek: Ήλιδα, romanized: Elida) was the capital city of the ancient polis (city-state) of Elis, in ancient Greece. It was situated in the northwest of the Peloponnese, to the west of Arcadia. Just before the Peneius emerges from the hills into the plain, the valley of the river is contracted on the south by a projecting hill of a peaked form, and nearly 500 feet (150 m) in height. This hill was the acropolis of Elis, and commanded as well the narrow valley of the Peneius as the open plain beyond. The ancient city lay at the foot of the hill, and extended across the river, as Strabo says that the Peneius flowed through the city; but since no remains are now found on the right or northern bank, it is probable that all the public buildings were on the left bank of the river, more especially as Pausanias does not make any allusion to the river in his description of the city.

Elis is mentioned as a town of the Epeii by Homer in the Catalogue of Ships in the Iliad; but in the earliest times the two chief towns in the country appear to have been Ephyra the residence of Augeias, in the interior, and Buprasium on the coast. Some writers suppose that Ephyra was the more ancient name of Elis, but it appears to have been a different place, situated upon the Ladon. Elis first became a place of importance upon the invasion of Peloponnesus by the Dorians. Oxylus and his Aetolian followers appear to have settled on the height which later formed Elis's acropolis as the spot best adapted for ruling the country. From this time it was the residence of the kings, and of the aristocratic families who governed the country after the abolition of royalty. Elis was the only fortified town in the country; the rest of the inhabitants dwelt in unwalled villages, paying obedience to the ruling class at Elis.

Kryovrysi (Greek: Κρυόβρυση meaning "cold spring", before 1928: Βερβενή - Verveni) is a mountain village and a community in the municipal unit of Lasiona, Olympia, Elis, Greece. The community consists of the villages Kryovrysi and Kalyvia. It is situated in the southwestern foothills of Mount Erymanthos, at 960 m elevation. It is 4 km west of Agrampela, 5 km southeast of Kalentzi, 7 km north of Lampeia and 15 km northeast of Antroni. The source of the river Pineios is near Kryovrysi. Downstream from Kryovrysi, near the river bed of the Pineios, is the cave Drakotrypa (also Diakotrypa).

Gastouni (Greek: Γαστούνη) is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 59.325 km. Gastouni is situated in a flat rural area, 5 km from the Ionian Sea. The river Pineios flows into the sea near Gastouni. The town is 6 km (4 mi) south of Andravida, 4 km (2 mi) east of Vartholomio, 11 km (7 mi) northwest of Amaliada and 26 km (16 mi) northwest of Pyrgos. The Greek National Road 9/E55 (Patras - Pyrgos) and the railway from Patras to Pyrgos pass east of Gastouni. There is a 12th-century Byzantine church in the southwestern quarter Katholiki.

Agia Triada (Greek: Αγία Τριάδα, meaning the Holy Trinity) is a village in the northern part of the municipal unit of Lasiona, Olympia, Elis, Greece. It is situated near the river Pineios, which forms the border with Achaea here. It is located 7 km northwest of Antroni, 7 km east of Simopoulo, 9 km south of Stavrodromi and 24 km north of Olympia. The Greek National Road 33 (Patras - Tripoli) runs through the village.

Kalyvia Ilidos (Greek: Καλύβια Ήλιδος) is a village in the northern part of the municipal unit of Amaliada, Elis, Greece. It is located near the left bank of the river Pineios, 1 km northeast of Avgeio, 1 km west of Archaia Ilida (ancient Elis), 10 km north of Amaliada and 11 km northeast of Gastouni.

Agia Mavra (Greek: Άγια Μάυρα) is a village in the municipal unit of Tragano, Elis, Greece. It is situated in a flat, rural area, on the left bank of the river Pineios. It is 3km South of Tragano, 4km East of Kavasila, 2km Northwest of Roupaki, 2km Northeast of Koroivos, and 6km Northeast of Gastouni.

Kavasila (Greek: Καβάσιλα, also Καβάσιλας) is a village in the municipal unit of Gastouni, Elis, Greece. Its population is around 1,200. It is situated in a flat rural area, on the right bank of the river Pineios, at about 20 metres (66 ft) elevation. It is 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) northwest of Lefkochori, 2 kilometres (1 mi) east of Kardiakafti, 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of Andravida and 3 kilometres (2 mi) northeast of Gastouni. Kavasila had a train station on the line from Patras to Kalamata via Pyrgos. A branch line to Vartholomio and Kyllini was shut down around 2001. The Greek National Road 9 (Patras - Pyrgos) passes east of the village.

Vartholomio (Greek: Βαρθολομιό) is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 60.696 km. The municipal unit covers the southern part of the hilly Kyllini peninsula, and the plains to the southeast. The town Vartholomio is in the plains, on the right bank of the river Pineios, which flows into the Ionian Sea south of the town.

The town was at the junction of two railway lines, one from Kavasila to Kyllini, and the branch Vartholomio–Loutra Kyllinis railway line. Both railways have been dismantled. Vartholomio is 1 km northwest of Kalyvia Myrtountion, 4 km west of Gastouni, 3 km southwest of Dimitra, 10 km southeast of Kyllini and 30 km northwest of Pyrgos.