Elis (regional unit) in the context of "Ancient Elis"

⭐ In the context of Ancient Elis, the region’s agricultural potential and overall prosperity were most directly influenced by what geographical feature?

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⭐ Core Definition: Elis (regional unit)

Elis, also known as Ellis or Ilia (Greek: Ηλεία, Eleia), is a historic region in the western part of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. It is administered as a regional unit of the modern region of Western Greece. Its capital is Pyrgos. Until 2011 it was Elis Prefecture, covering the same territory.

The modern regional unit is nearly coterminous with the ancient Elis of the classical period. Here lie the ancient ruins of cities of Elis, Epitalion and Olympia, known for the ancient Olympic Games which started in 776 BC.

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👉 Elis (regional unit) in the context of Ancient Elis

Elis (/ˈlɪs/) or Eleia (/ɪˈl.ə/; Attic Greek: Ἦλις, romanized: Ēlis [ɛ̂ːlis]; Elean: Ϝᾶλις [wâːlis]; Greek: Ήλιδα, romanizedIlida) 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.

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Peloponnese (region)

The Peloponnese Region (Greek: Περιφέρεια Πελοποννήσου, romanizedPeriféria Peloponnísou, [periˈferia pelopoˈnisu]) is a region in southern Greece. It borders Western Greece to the north and Attica to the north-east. The region has an area of about 15,490 square kilometres (5,980 square miles). It covers most of the Peloponnese peninsula, except for the northwestern subregions of Achaea and Elis which belong to Western Greece and a small portion of the Argolid peninsula that is part of Attica.

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Foloi oak forest

37°45′N 21°45′E / 37.750°N 21.750°E / 37.750; 21.750

The Folóï oak forest (Greek: Δρυοδάσος Φολόης) is an oak forest in southwestern Greece. It is located in the municipal unit of Foloi, Olympia, Elis, in the western part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The Folóï oak forest is situated at an altitude of 688m, on the plateau of the Folóï mountain. It is an ecosystem unique in the Balkan peninsula and consists of a territory of 9,900 acres (40 km), which is almost entirely covered by deciduous oaks that form a dense forest area.

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Pineios (Peloponnese)

The Pineiós (Greek: Πηνειός, Latin: Peneus) is a river in Peloponnese, Greece. It is probably not named after the god Peneus. It is 70 km (43 mi) long. Its source is on the southwestern slope of the mountain Erymanthus, near the village Kryovrysi. It empties into a bay of the Ionian Sea, southwest of Gastouni. For a part of its upper course, it forms the border between Elis and Achaea. The river flows through the plain of Elis. The river passes through the following villages:

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Phigalia

Phigalia or Phigaleia or Phigalea (Ancient Greek: Φιγαλεία or Φιγαλέα or Φιγάλεια or Φιγαλία), also known as Phialia (Φιαλία or Φιάλεια), was an ancient Greek city in the south-west corner of ancient Arcadia, in the region of ancient Parrhasia close to the frontiers of Messenia, and upon the right bank of the Neda, about halfway between the sources and the mouth of this river. It is also the present name of a nearby modern village, known up to the early 20th century as Pavlitsa (Παύλιτσα). In modern geography it is located in southeastern Elis. It is situated on an elevated rocky site, among some of the highest mountains in the Peloponnese, the most conspicuous being called Cotylium and Elaeum; the identification of the latter is uncertain.

Within the ancient territory of Phigalia stands the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, which the Phigalians built on the mountain known as Cotylium in the late fifth century BC.

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Pyrgos, Elis

Pyrgos (Greek: Πύργος, romanizedPýrgos, lit.'tower') is a city in the northwestern Peloponnese, Greece, capital of the regional unit of Elis and the seat of the Municipality of Pyrgos. The city is located in the middle of a plain, 4 kilometres (2 miles) from the Ionian Sea. The river Alfeios flows into sea about 7 km (4 mi) south of Pyrgos. The population of the town Pyrgos is 26,052, and of the municipality 45,365 (2021). Pyrgos is 16 km (10 mi) west of Olympia, 16 km (10 mi) southeast of Amaliada, 70 km (43 mi) southwest of Patras and 85 km (53 mi) west of Tripoli.

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Foloi

Foloi (Greek: Φολόη, Latin: Pholoe) is a village and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Archaia Olympia, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 174.202 km. The seat of the municipality was in the village Lalas, in the southern part of the municipal unit. The village Foloi is situated in the northwestern part. Foloi is situated in a mountainous, sparsely populated area. The Foloi oak forest is located in the municipal unit. Foloi is located about 15 km northeast of Olympia, 30 km east of Pyrgos and 55 km south of Patras. It borders on Arcadia to the east, across the river Erymanthus.

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Kryovrysi, 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).

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Elis (regional unit) in the context of Gastouni

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.

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