Elis or Ilia ( el, Ηλεία, ''Ileia'') is a historic region in the western part of the

Peloponnese The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...

peninsula of Greece. It is administered as a

regional unit The 74 regional units of Greece ( el, περιφερειακές ενότητες, ; sing. , ) are the country's Seventy-four second-level administrative units. They are divisions of the country's 13 regions, and are further divided into municipa ...

of the modern region of

Western Greece Western Greece Region ( el, Περιφέρεια Δυτικής Ελλάδας, translit=Periféria Dhitikís Elládhas, ) is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It comprises the western part of continental Greece and the northw ...

. Its capital is Pyrgos. Until

2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...

it was Elis Prefecture, covering the same territory. The modern regional unit is nearly coterminous with the

ancient Elis Elis () or Eleia ( el, Ήλιδα, Ilida, grc-att, Ἦλις, Ēlis ; Elean: , ethnonym: ) is an ancient district in Greece that corresponds to the modern regional unit of Elis. Elis is in southern Greece on the Peloponnese, bounded on th ...

of the classical period. Here lie the ancient ruins of cities of

Elis Elis or Ilia ( el, Ηλεία, ''Ileia'') 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 ...

Epitalion Epitalium or Epitalion ( grc, Ἐπιτάλιον) was a town of Triphylia in ancient Elis, near the coast and a little south of the river Alpheius. It was identified with the Homeric Thryon (Θρύον) or Thryoessa (Θρυόεσσα), a town l ...

and

Olympia The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

, known for the

ancient Olympic Games The ancient Olympic Games (Ὀλυμπιακοὶ ἀγῶνες; la, Olympia, neuter plural: "the Olympics") were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of city-states and were one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. ...

which started in 776 BC.

Geography

The northernmost point of Elis is 38° 06'N, the westernmost is 22° 12′E, the southernmost is 37° 18′N, and the easternmost is 21° 54′E. The length from north to south is , and from east-to-west is around . The modern regional unit is not completely congruent with

Lampeia Lampeia ( Greek: Λάμπεια, before 1928: Δίβρη - ''Divri'', between 1928 and 1929: Πρινόφυτον - ''Prinofyton'') is a mountain village, a community and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 loca ...

belonged to ancient

Arcadia Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...

, and Kalogria is now part of

Achaea Achaea () or Achaia (), sometimes transliterated from Greek as Akhaia (, ''Akhaïa'' ), is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Western Greece and is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The ...

. The longest river is the

Alfeios The Alfeiós or Alpheios ( el, Αλφειός, grc, Ἀλφειός, Latin Alpheus) is the main stream of the Alpheios Valley drainage system, a dendritic type, originating on the north slopes of Mount Taygetus, located in the center of the Pelop ...

. Other rivers are the Erymanthos, Pineios and Neda. Alfeios, Pineios and Neda flow into the

Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea ( el, Ιόνιο Πέλαγος, ''Iónio Pélagos'' ; it, Mar Ionio ; al, Deti Jon ) is an elongated bay of the Mediterranean Sea. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea to the north, and is bounded by Southern Italy, including C ...

in Elis. Less than 1% of the prefecture is open water, most of it found in artificial reservoirs and dams, in the north and east. The

Pineios Dam Peneus is a river god in Greek mythology. Peneus or Pineios (Greek: Πηνειός) may also refer to: *Pineios (Thessaly), a river in Thessaly, Greece *Pineios (Peloponnese) The Pineiós ( el, Πηνειός, la, Peneus) is a river in Peloponn ...

supplies water for Northern Elis. The water is not safe for drinking, because it contains some

contaminant Contamination is the presence of a constituent, impurity, or some other undesirable element that spoils, corrupts, infects, makes unfit, or makes inferior a material, physical body, natural environment, workplace, etc. Types of contamination Wi ...

s. A second, smaller reservoir in the river Alfeios near

and

Krestena Krestena ( el, Κρέστενα) is a town and a community in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is the seat of administration. Krestena is situated in ...

supplies water to Pyrgos. The eastern part of the regional unit is forested, with mostly pine trees in the south. There are forest preserves in

Foloi Foloi ( el, Φολόη, Latin: ''Pholoe'') is a village and a former Communities and Municipalities of Greece, municipality in Elis (regional unit), Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ol ...

and the mountain ranges of Eastern Elis. In the north is the Strofylia forest which has pine trees. Mountain ranges include

Movri Movri () is a forested mountain range in western Achaea, Greece. Its highest point is 719 m amsl. It covers part of the municipal units Movri (named after this mountain), Dymi, Larissos and Olenia, all in the municipality of West Achaea. It i ...

(around 720 m or 2,400 ft), Divri (around 1500 m),

Minthe In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, Minthe (also Menthe, Mintha or Mentha; or or ) is an Underworld Naiad nymph associated with the river Cocytus. She was beloved by Hades, the King of the Underworld, and became his mistress, but ...

(around 1100 m), and more. About one-third of the land is fertile; the rest is mountainous and not suitable for crops. Swamplands used to cover 1–1.5% of the region, especially in the

Samiko Samiko ( el, Σαμικό, before 1923: Αλή Τσελεπή - ''Ali Tselepi'') is a village in the municipality of Skillounta, Elis, Greece. In 2011 its population was 389. It is situated on a hill near the Ionian Sea, 2 km south of Kalliko ...

area. Most of them have been drained for agricultural purposes; only 10 km² (4 sq miles) has been kept and is now protected. Here lie the ancient ruins of

and

, known for the ancient Olympic Games which started in 776 BC. There is a museum with statues that relate to the history of Olympia. Another museum is in Elis, but it is very small. Monasteries are scattered around the region.

Climate

Elis has a

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

, with hot, sunny summers. Temperatures over 40 °C have been recorded. The mountainous interior is colder, and snow covers the mountains in winter. Elis is more humid than the eastern Peloponnese.

Natural disasters

Elis is located in a seismically active zone, and there are several

earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...

s each year. Some of the most significant earthquakes to have hit the area are: *1909: earthquake in

Chavari Chavari ( el, Χαβάρι) is a village and a community in the municipal unit of Amaliada, Elis, Greece. The community consists of the villages Chavari, Pera Chavari and Agios Georgios. Chavari is 6 km northeast of Amaliada. Person *Christos Las ...

*1910: earthquake in

Vartholomio Vartholomio ( el, 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 ar ...

*1920: earthquake in Kyllini *1953: Ionian earthquake, minor damage in Elis *2008: 8 June Peloponnese earthquake, 2 deaths; hundreds of damaged homes and buildings were reported in Lechaina, Amaliada and Vartholomio Rainy weather in 2002-2003 caused destruction of villages by mudslides, and some bridges and roads were also cut off. In February 2008, frost devastated many crops in

Manolada Manolada ( el, Μανολάδα) is a village and a community in the municipal unit of Vouprasia, Elis, Greece. It is situated in a vast, rural plain near the Ionian Sea, 2 km northwest of Varda, 3 km west of Nea Manolada and 40 km s ...

Nea Manolada Nea Manolada (Greek: Νέα Μανολάδα) is a community in the municipal unit of Vouprasia, Elis, southwestern Greece. It is located in a vast, rural plain, It is 3 km southwest of Neo Vouprasio, 3 km northeast of Varda and 37 ...

and Kounoupeli. In August 2007, there were enormous

forest fires A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identif ...

which led to tens of deaths and a massive environmental and economic disaster. The final toll for the prefecture was: 45 dead, 100,000 affected by the fire, 3,500 left homeless by the fire, 25,000 dead animals, 8,500 hectares of burnt forests, 2,300 hectares of burnt farmland.newspaper "TA NEA"; September 3, 2007 The archaeological site of

was seriously threatened, but not damaged.

Administration

The regional unit Elis is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): *

Ancient Olympia Olympia ( el, label=Modern Greek, Ολυμπία ; grc, Ὀλυμπία ), officially Archaia Olympia ( el, label=Modern Greek, Αρχαία Ολυμπία; grc, Ἀρχαία Ὀλυμπία, links=no; "Ancient Olympia"), is a small town in E ...

(4) *

Andravida-Kyllini Andravida–Kyllini ( el, Ανδραβίδα-Κυλλήνη) is a municipality in the Elis regional unit, West Greece region, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Lechaina. The municipality has an area of 355.476 km2. Municipali ...

(6) *

Andritsaina-Krestena Andritsaina–Krestena ( el, Ανδρίτσαινα-Κρέστενα) is a municipality in the Elis regional unit, West Greece region, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Krestena. The municipality has an area of 422.334 km2. Mu ...

(3) * Ilida (2) * Pineios (7) * Pyrgos (1) *

Zacharo Zacharo ( el, Ζαχάρω) is a town and municipality in western Peloponnese, Greece. Administratively, it belongs to the regional unit of Elis in West Greece. Zacharo is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Kyparissia, a part of the Ionian Sea. T ...

(5)

2011 reform

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Elis was created out of the former

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

Elis ( el, Νομός Ηλείας). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.

Provinces

Before 2006, Elis was divided into two

provinces A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...

: Elis Province and

Olympia Province Olympia Province ( el, Επαρχία Ολυμπίας) was one of the provinces of the Elis Prefecture, Greece. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipalities Andritsaina-Krestena and Zacharo Zacharo ( el, Ζαχάρω) is a ...

. Elis Province contained

Hollow Hollow may refer to: Natural phenomena *Hollow, a low, wooded area, such as a copse * Hollow (landform), a small vee-shaped, riverine type of valley *Tree hollow, a void in a branch or trunk, which may provide habitat for animals Places * Sleepy ...

or Lowland Elis and the northern part of

Pisatis Pisa ( grc, Πῖσα) is a modern village situated to the east of Olympia, Greece. Currently it is not politically independent but is a neighborhood of the village of Archea Olympia, the capital of the Municipality of Ancient Olympia, of which it ...

. It was the smallest, but most populous of the two provinces. The seat was Pyrgos. Olympia Province contained most of Pisatis and

Triphylia Triphylia ( el, Τριφυλία, ''Trifylia'', "the country of the three tribes") was an area of the ancient Peloponnese. Strabo and Pausanias both describe Triphylia as part of Elis, and it fell at times under the domination of the city of Eli ...

. Its seat was

Andritsaina Andritsaina ( el, Ανδρίτσαινα) is a 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. The municip ...

, in the mountains;

and

were the largest towns in the province.

Population

Elis is the third most populous regional unit of the Peloponnese, after

and

Messinia Messenia or Messinia ( ; el, Μεσσηνία ) is a regional unit (''perifereiaki enotita'') in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, in Greece. Until the implementation of the Kallikratis plan on 1 January 2011, Messenia was a p ...

. Between 70% to 75% of the population live on fertile lands away from the mountains. The population of ancient Elis (from 1000–1 BC) was in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 and reached 10,000 or 20,000 by 1 BC. The population reached 217,000 around 1981, but has been declining since. Pyrgos became the largest city having the population over the 10,000 mark in the mid-20th century, and above 20,000 in the late 1980s. The population in the northwest is growing while the population is declining in the southeast and east.

Economy

Agriculture

The primary source of agriculture is corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, livestock, watermelon, melon and some vegetables. There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia (

Kyknos :''The butterfly genus ''Cycnus'' is now synonymized with '' Panthiades. In Greek mythology, multiple characters were known as Cycnus (Ancient Greek: Κύκνος) or Cygnus. The literal meaning of the name is "swan", and accordingly most of them en ...

), Gastouni ( Pelargos), and north of Andravida ( Asteris). The most fertile land in Peloponnese is the plain that covers the northern part of Elis and the adjacent part of Achaea. Textiles used to be dominant in business from antiquity until the Middle Ages. In the 1950s, agriculture was the dominant occupation, except in the towns

Amaliada Amaliada ( el, Αμαλιάδα, Katharevousa: Ἀμαλιάς, ''Amaliás'') is a town and a former municipality in northwestern Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ilida, of which it i ...

and Pyrgos. Currently, one third of jobs in Elis is in the agricultural sector.

Fishing

Squid, and all types of fish are common in the waters of Elis. Fishing is mainly done in the southeastern

and in the

Bay of Patras A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A cove is a small, circular bay with a na ...

. Most of the production is sent into Patras, some into Athens, some elsewhere in the world (with small production) and some into the local markets of Elis from Kyllini and Katakolo. Overfishing is a problem north of Lechaina.

History

classical antiquity Classical antiquity (also the classical era, classical period or classical age) is the period of cultural history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD centred on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ...

, Elis was an independent state, centred on the town Elis and included the sanctuary at

, where the

Ancient Olympic Games The ancient Olympic Games (Ὀλυμπιακοὶ ἀγῶνες; la, Olympia, neuter plural: "the Olympics") were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of city-states and were one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece. ...

were held between 776 BC and 394 AD. After 146 BC, Elis was part of the province

within the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...

. In the

Migration Period The Migration Period was a period in European history marked by large-scale migrations that saw the fall of the Western Roman Empire and subsequent settlement of its former territories by various tribes, and the establishment of the post-Roman ...

(3rd - 4th century AD) Vandals and Visigoths rampaged through the region. After the final partition of the Roman Empire in 395 Elis was ruled by the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...

. In the aftermath of the

Fourth Crusade The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was a Latin Christian armed expedition called by Pope Innocent III. The stated intent of the expedition was to recapture the Muslim-controlled city of Jerusalem, by first defeating the powerful Egyptian Ayyubid S ...

, crusaders from Western Europe (traditionally referred to as ''

Franks The Franks ( la, Franci or ) were a group of Germanic peoples whose name was first mentioned in 3rd-century Roman sources, and associated with tribes between the Lower Rhine and the Ems River, on the edge of the Roman Empire.H. Schutz: Tools, ...

'' in southeastern Europe) established the

principality of Achaea The Principality of Achaea () or Principality of Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire, which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom o ...

in territory of the defeated Byzantine Empire, including Elis. They built castles like

Chlemoutsi Chlemoutsi ( el, Χλεμούτσι or Χλουμούτσι ''Chloumoútsi''), also known as Clermont, is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Elis regional unit in the Peloponnese peninsula of southern Greece, in the Kastro-Kyllini municip ...

. The principality lasted from 1204 until 1460, when it was conquered by the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

. The Ottoman Empire ruled most of Greece until the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...

of 1821. The

Venetian Republic The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

controlled a few coastal towns in the 1490s, early 16th century and from 1686 until 1715. Battlegrounds of the Greek War of Independence in Elis include Chlemoutsi, Gastouni, Lala, Lampeia, Pyrgos and Andritsaina. As a part of independent Greece, Elis experienced an economic and agricultural upswing in the first decennia after the war of independence. Houses were built, and Pyrgos became a regional centre. Like most of the

, the area was unaffected during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. As a result of the

Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) The Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, ota, گرب جابهاسی, Garb Cebhesi) in Turkey, and the Asia Minor Campaign ( el, Μικρασιατική Εκστρατεία, Mikrasiatikí Ekstrateía) or the Asia Minor Catastrophe ( el, Μικ ...

, Greek refugees from

Asia Minor Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

settled into a.o. the area around Amaliada.

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

struck parts of Elis, houses were damaged, leaving people homeless, and afterwards the

Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος �όλεμος ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom ...

caused more destruction and economic decline. The return to democracy after the

Greek military junta of 1967–1974 The Greek junta or Regime of the Colonels, . Also known within Greece as just the Junta ( el, η Χούντα, i Choúnta, links=no, ), the Dictatorship ( el, η Δικτατορία, i Diktatoría, links=no, ) or the Seven Years ( el, η Ε ...

, and Greece joining the

European Communities The European Communities (EC) were three international organizations that were governed by the same set of institutions. These were the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), and the ...

in 1981 stimulated economic development and improvement of infrastructure.

Transport

Roads

Elis has 200 km of

highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...

s. There are no limited-access freeways in the prefecture, but a freeway (A9) is being built between

Patras ) , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 = , demographics1_info2 = , timezone1 = EET , utc_offset1 = +2 , ...

and

Kyparissia Kyparissia ( el, Κυπαρισσία) is a town and a former municipality in northwestern Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Trifylia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit ...

, planned opening 2012. The principal

s include: * E55 ( GR Highway 9), Patras- Pyrgos–Kyparissia, along the western coast of the Peloponnese * GR Highway 74, Pyrgos– Lagkadia,

Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis may refer to: Cities and other geographic units Greece *Tripoli, Greece, the capital of Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in ...

* GR Highway 76, Pyrgos–

–

Megalopolis A megalopolis () or a supercity, also called a megaregion, is a group of metropolitan areas which are perceived as a continuous urban area through common systems of transport, economy, resources, ecology, and so on. They are integrated enoug ...

Railways

The total length of railway tracks in Elis is around 140 km. There is a railway line from Patras to

Kalamata Kalamáta ( el, Καλαμάτα ) is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula, after Patras, in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. As the capital and chief port of the Messenia reg ...

via Pyrgos, and a branch line from Pyrgos to

. Since January 2011, traffic is suspended on the line from Patras to Kalamata, and only the branch line from Pyrgos to Olympia has regular passenger trains.

Ports

The port of Kyllini in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis, with car ferries to the islands of

Zakynthos Zakynthos (also spelled Zakinthos; el, Ζάκυνθος, Zákynthos ; it, Zacinto ) or Zante (, , ; el, Τζάντε, Tzánte ; from the Venetian form) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Za ...

and

Kefalonia Kefalonia or Cephalonia ( el, Κεφαλονιά), formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the 6th largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It ...

. The port of

Katakolo Katakolo ( el, Κατάκολο) is a seaside town in the municipality of Pyrgos in western Elis, Greece. It is situated on a headland overlooking the Ionian Sea and separating the Gulf of Kyparissia from the rest of the Ionian. It is west of Pyr ...

is an important stop for cruise ships, offering an opportunity for passengers to visit the site of

. Other ports or harbors are small in size and fit only smaller boats.

Airports

Elis has a military airport near

Andravida Andravida ( el, Ανδραβίδα, ) is a town and a former municipality in Elis, in the northwest of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a ...

, north of Pyrgos. There are no public airports in the area. The nearest

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface ...

on land is in

Communications

Telephones became more common after the 1960s when the Hellenic Telecommunication Organization ( ΟΤΕ) created hundreds of kilometres of phone lines in the region. Now nearly every household has a telephone. The ΟΤΕ built tens of towers to connect more lines for the internet, telephones, and cell phones to increase the service. Lines began around the mid-20th century to enable more people to communicate by phones in the whole of Greece. There are also several communication towers throughout the prefecture. * ORT (''Olympiaki Radiofonia Tileorasi'') serves the whole of Elis. ORT is a

Polis ''Polis'' (, ; grc-gre, πόλις, ), plural ''poleis'' (, , ), literally means "city" in Greek. In Ancient Greece, it originally referred to an administrative and religious city center, as distinct from the rest of the city. Later, it also ...

affiliate. There are several local radio stations, for instance RSA (

Radio Station of Amalias Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitt ...

) from Amalias and Eleftheri Radiofonas Krestenas from Krestena. There are hundreds of transmitter towers scattered over Elis.

Persons

Panagiotis Adraktas Panagiotis Adraktas (Greek: Παναγιώτης Αδράκτας, born September 28, 1948) is a Greek politician. He was born in Kardamas in northwestern Elis. He is a doctor and doctorate at the Medical Faculty of the University of Athens. H ...

(b. September 28, 1948 in Kardamas), a New Democracy politician * Hristodoulos Aholos or Acholos *

Panagiotis Anagnostopoulos Panagiotis Anagnostopoulos ( el, Παναγιώτης Αναγνωστόπουλος; c. 1790–1854) was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence and a member of Filiki Eteria, the secret organization whose purpose was ...

, revolutionary leader * Astydameia *

Atreus In Greek mythology, Atreus ( , ; from ἀ-, "no" and τρέω, "tremble", "fearless", gr, Ἀτρεύς ) was a king of Mycenae in the Peloponnese, the son of Pelops and Hippodamia, and the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. Collectively, hi ...

* Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou among the youngest politicians of the Greek Parliament and UN Award recipient *

Avgerinos Avgerinos is a community located in the Tsotyli municipal unit, situated in western Kozani regional unit, in the Greek region of Macedonia. References Populated places in Kozani (regional unit) {{WMacedonia-geo-stub ...

family: ** Agamemnon Avgerinos ** Andreas Avgerinos ** Charalambos Avgerinos ** Dimitrios Avgerinos **

Nakis Avgerinos Nakis Avgerinos (, 1911 – November 4, 2002) was a Greece, Greek politician. He was born in Pyrgos, Elis, Pyrgos, Elis (regional unit), Elis, the son of Charalampos Avgerinos, mayor of Pyrgos, a relative of the old Pyrgiotiki family dominate ...

Petros Avgerinos Petros Avgerinos (, 18th century - 19th century) was a Greek politician Biography He was born in Pyrgos, Elis and was related to the Avgerinos family. He was mayor of Pyrgos a number of times between 1868 and 1889. During his term as mayor, he cr ...

* Dionyssios N. Bokos, writer of ''Myrsini'', ''Nihta Pepromenou'', etc. *Andreas Bratis, writer of ''To Vartholomo'' (''The Vartholonio'') *Christopoulos family: ** Agamemnon Christopoulos, politician, brother of Asimakis ** Anastasios Christopoulos, revolutionary leader ** Asimakis Christopoulos, politicians, brother of Tzannetos **

Charalampos Christopoulos Charalampos Christopoulos ( el, Χαράλαμπος Χριστόπουλος; Andritsaina, possibly 1809 – Athens, 8 April 1871) was a Greek 19th-century politician, MP and six times minister during the 1855–1870 period.Kostis Ailianos, ''Cha ...

, politician **Christos Christopoulos, father of Anastasios ** Tzannetos Christopoulos, politician, son of Anastasios *

Christos Daralexis Christos Daralexis (Greek: Χρήστος Δαραλέξης, 1870 - 1951) was a Greek historian, a politician and a theatrical writer. Biography Daralexis was born in Pyrgos, Elis, and was a relative of the Avgerinos family. He was a well ...

, journalist * Themistoklis Daralexis, politician *

Vyronas Davos Vyronas Davos (Greek: Βύρων Δάβος; born 1927), is a Greek historian, writer and poet. He was born in the village of Pelopio (now part of the municipality of Olympia) in Elis and moved to Athens as an employee of the fire department. ...

, a writer, historian and a poet, he published works on Ilia during the Frankish, Ottoman, Venetian periods, the Greek War of Independence and the Modern period *

Dionyssis Diakos Dionysis Diakos (Greek: Διονύσης Διάκος, 1805-1887) was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. He was born in Pyrgos and descended from a family or operators and revolutionary leaders. He was a runner ...

, revolutionary leader *

Ioannis Diakos Ioannis Diakos (Greek: Ιωάννης Διάκος, 1805-1887) was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. He was a chief of Pyrgos and battled during the Greek War of Independence and at the time, he was a general of ...

, revolutionary leader *

Takis Doxas Takis may refer to: * Takis (snack), a spicy, roll-shaped snack * Takis Christoforidis, a Greek actor * Takis Fotopoulos, a Greek political philosopher * Takis Ikonomopoulos, a Greek football player * Takis Kanellopoulos a Greek film director * Tak ...

, writer *Epeus, ancient mythological legend * Ioannis Giannopoulos, politician *

Kostis Gontikas Kostis Gontikas or Gondikas (Greek: Κωστής Γόντικας, born 1934 in Athens, Greece) is a Greek politician. He was born in 1934 in Athens and was the son of Dimitrios Gontikas, a politician and president of the Greek parliament. He la ...

(b. 1934), politician *

Dimitrios Gontikas Dimitrios Gontikas or Gondikas ( el, Δημήτριος Γόντικας, 1888–1967) was a Greece, Greek politician and Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament. Biography Gontikas was born in the village of Magouliana in Arcadia (regional unit), Ar ...

, (1888–1967) a politician and former president of the

Greek parliament The Hellenic Parliament ( el, Ελληνικό Κοινοβούλιο, Elliniko Kinovoulio; formally titled el, Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Voulí ton Ellínon, Boule of the Hellenes, label=none), also known as the Parliament of the Hel ...

* Aristeidis Griboutis, journalist * Miltiadis Iatridis, revolutionary leader *

Nikos Kahtitsis Nikos ( el, Νίκος, ''Níkos'') is a Greek people, Greek given name. It originates from Greek language, Greek ''Nikolaos'', which means "victory of the people".Liddell & Scott, Abridged Greek Lexicon Although used as a proper first name, Nikos i ...

, writer *

Antonios Kalogeropoulos Antonios or Antónios is a Greek masculine given name that is a variant of Antonis, as well as a surname. Notable people with this name include the following: Given name *Antonios Antoniadis (born 20th-century), Greek physician * Antonios Antonopo ...

, a revolutionary leader from Myrsini (then Souleimanaga) * Athanassios Kanellopoulos, politician *

Simon Karas Simon Karas (3 June 1905 – 26 January 1999) was a Greek musicologist, who specialized in Byzantine music tradition. Simon Karas studied paleography of Byzantine musical notation, was active in collecting and preserving ancient musical manu ...

, music historian * Andreas Karkavitsas *

Kostas Kazakos Kostas Kazakos ( el, Κώστας Καζάκος, alt. sp. Costas Kazakos; 29 May 1935 – 13 September 2022) was a Greek actor, television director, and politician. He was married to the famous actress Tzeni Karezi for 24 years until her deat ...

, actor * Dimitrios Kioussopoulos, former

Prime Minister of Greece The prime minister of the Hellenic Republic ( el, Πρωθυπουργός της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας, Prothypourgós tis Ellinikís Dimokratías), colloquially referred to as the prime minister of Greece ( el, Πρωθυ� ...

Dionyssos Kokkinos Dionysios Kokkinos (Greek: Διονύσιος Κόκκινος; 1884–1967) was a Greek historian, journalist, academic and writer. Early life and education Kokkinos was born in Pyrgos in Elis, Greece. His father, Antonios Kokkinos, was a ...

, writer *

Dimitrios Korkolis Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning “Demetris” - "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, Dimitri, Dimitrie, Dimitar, Dumi ...

, politician and mayor of Pyrgos * Krestenitis family: ** Aristeidis Krestenitis ** Georgios Krestenitis, two politicians ** Ioannis Krestenis (elder) **

Ioannis Krestenitis (younger) Ioannis Krestenitis (Greek: Ιωάννης Κρεστενίτης, died 1915) was a Greek politician and a mayor of Pyrgos. He came from the most famous Krestenitis family. He studied at the National University and attended with professor L ...

, politician ** Lykourgos Krestenitis (1793–1873), president of the Greek parliament **

Stamatis Krestenitis Stamatis Krestenitis (Greek: Σταμάτης Κρεστενίτης) was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. Krestenitis was born in Elis and belonged to the Krestenitis family. He battled in the Battle of Chle ...

, a Greek revolutionary leader *

Christos Laskaris Christos Laskaris (Greek: Χρίστος Λάσκαρης, 1931 – December 11, 2008) was a Greek poet. Laskaris was born in the village of Chavari in Elis, but moved to Patras as a child. He studied at the Pedagogical Academy of Tripoli, bu ...

, poet *Liourdis family: **

Ioannis Liourdis Ioannis Liourdis (Greek: Ιωάννης Λιούρδης, ca. 1800 in Pyrgos - 1899) was a Greek politician. He was born in Pyrgos around 1800 and descended from an old family of Pyrgos which had Frankish roots. He was politician and lived i ...

, politician **

Spyros Liourdis Spiro(s) may refer to: * Spiro, Oklahoma, a town in the U.S. ** Spiro Mounds, an archaeological site * Spiro (band), a British music group * Spiro (name), including a list of people with the name * Špiro, South Slavic masculine given name * ARA ...

, Greek revolutionary leader **

Georgios Georgios (, , ) is a Greek name derived from the word ''georgos'' (, , "farmer" lit. "earth-worker"). The word ''georgos'' (, ) is a compound of ''ge'' (, , "earth", "soil") and ''ergon'' (, , "task", "undertaking", "work"). It is one of the most ...

and

Petros Mitzos Petros, the original Greek and Coptic version of the name Peter, meaning "stone" or "rock", may refer to: People * Petros (given name) * Petros (surname) * Petros (footballer), Brazilian footballer Petros Matheus dos Santos Araújo (born 1989) ...

, revolutionary leaders * Georgios Nikoloutsopoulos, a revolutionary leader from Myrsini (then Souleimanaga) *

Alexandros Panagoulis Alexandros Panagoulis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Παναγούλης; 2 July 1939 – 1 May 1976) was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels (1967–1974) in Greece. He became fa ...

Georgios Papandreou Georgios Papandreou ( ''Geórgios Papandréou''; 13 February 1888 – 1 November 1968) was a Greek politician, the founder of the Papandreou political dynasty. He served three terms as prime minister of Greece (1944–1945, 1963, 1964–196 ...

, an unrelated historian *

Theodoros Papasimakopoulos Theodoros Papasimakopoulos (Greek: Θεόδωρος Παπασημακόπουλος; 1790 – 1800s) was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. He was born in 1790 in Bostenitsa (now Oreini in the municipality of Ol ...

, revolutionary leader *

Ioannis Pesmazoglou Ioannis Pesmazoglou ( el, Ιωάννης Πεσμαζόγλου; 1857–1906) was a Greek banker, economist and politician. Ioannis Pesmazoglou was from Constantinople (now Istanbul), although his family originate from Enderlik, in Cappadocia. P ...

Takis Sinopoulos Takis Sinopoulos ( el, Τάκης Σινόπουλος; Pyrgos, Elis, March 17, 1917 – Athens, April 25, 1981) was a Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic gro ...

, poet * Sisinis family: ** Chrysanthos Sisinis (died 1845), a Greek revolutionary leader and a politician *

Georgios Sisinis Georgios Sisinis ( el, Γεώργιος Σισίνης, 1769–1831) was a Greek revolutionary leader and politician of the Greek War of Independence. Biography He was born in Gastouni in Elis, to a rich and historic family of the area. Georgios, ...

, a Greek revolutionary leader *

Christos Stefanopoulos Christos Stefanopoulos (Greek: Χρήστος Στεφανόπουλος, 1853 in Elis – 1918) was a Greek politician and mayor of Pyrgos. Christos Stefanopoulos was born in Divri and was the son of Stefanos Stefanopoulos the elder, ...

, politician *Theodoridis family: **

Thallis Theodoridis (elder) Thallis Theodoridis (Greek: Θαλλής Θεοδωρίδης, died 1850) was a Greek revolutionary leader during the Greek War of Independence. He was born in Pyrgos and is the descendant of the rich Theodoridis family which descended from D ...

, a Greek revolutionary leader ** Thallis Theodoridis (younger), a politician **

Vasileios Theodoridis Vasileios Theodoridis (Greek: Βασίλειος Θεοδωρίδης) was a Greek journalist and anarchist. Theodoridis was born in Pyrgos and studied law in Athens. He was descended from the famous Theodoridis family and was the son of Aristom ...

, journalist *

Konstantinos Varouxis Konstantinos Varouxis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Βαρουξής) was a Greek journalist and a publisher. Varouxis was born in Pyrgos and was descended from a family of journalists. The family had familial ties with the Spilotopoulos fam ...

, journalist, ''Patris'' writer *

Leonidas Varouxis Leonidas Varouxis ( el, Λεωνίδας Βαρουξής) was a Greek journalist and a politician. The Varouxises had familial ties with the Spilotopoulos family from Dimitsana, which participated in the Greek War of Independence of 1821. Var ...

, journalist, ''Patris'' writer * Alexis Vilaetis, a 19th-century politician who was elected in 1868 *

Charalambos Vilaetis Charalambos Vilaetis (Greek: Χαράλαμπος Βιλαέτης, 1781–1821) was a Greek revolutionary leader. He descended from a famous family of Pyrgos and was one of the first to inhabit the area. He moved to Zakynthos in 1806 with the ...

, a Greek revolutionary leader *

Lysandros Vilaetis Lysandros Vilaetis (Greek: Λύσανδρος Βιλαέτης) was a chief of Pyrgos and a Greek politician elected from 1823 until 1864. He descended from a noted family of Pyrgos in which he was one of the first who inhabited the area. He ...

, a chief of Pyrgos and a politician *

Nikolaos Vilaetis Nikolaos Vilaetis (Greek: Νικόλαος Βιλαέτης, c. 1835–1860) was a chief of Pyrgos and a Greek politician. He descended from a famous family of Pyrgos in which he was one of the first who inhabited the area. He was the cousin of ...

* Panagis Vourloumis *

Panagiotis Kondylis Panagiotis Kondylis ( el, Παναγιώτης Κονδύλης; german: Panajotis Kondylis; 17 August 1943 – 11 July 1998) was a Greek philosopher, intellectual historian, translator and publications manager who principally wrote in German, in ...

, philosopher, writer and editor *

Dimitris Eleas Dimitris (Δημήτρης) is the Modern Greek form of the older forms Demetrios, Dimitrios (Δημήτριος, usually Latinized as Demetrius) and may refer to: * Dimitris Arvanitis (born 1980), Greek professional football defender who plays fo ...

, writer living in London *

Panos Karnezis Panagiotis Karnezis ( el, Παναγιώτης (Πάνος) Καρνέζης; born 1967 in Amaliada), known as Panos Karnezis, is a Greek writer. Born in Greece, he moved to England in 1992 to study Engineering. He was later awarded a M.A. in Crea ...

, writer living in London *For the kings of Elis (now Ilia), see

section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sign ...

Pyrrho Pyrrho of Elis (; grc, Πύρρων ὁ Ἠλεῖος, Pyrrhо̄n ho Ēleios; ), born in Elis, Greece, was a Greek philosopher of Classical antiquity, credited as being the first Greek skeptic philosopher and founder of Pyrrhonism. Life ...

, father of Skepticism

Sporting teams

Aias Ajax () or Aias (; grc, Αἴας, Aíās , ''Aíantos''; archaic ) is a Greek mythological hero, the son of King Telamon and Periboea, and the half-brother of Teucer. He plays an important role, and is portrayed as a towering figure an ...

- Gastouni *

Asteras Asteras is a Greek word meaning star. See also: * Ethnikos Asteras F.C. * Asteras Tripolis F.C. * Agrotikos Asteras F.C. * Kyanos Asteras Vari F.C. * Asteras Amaliada F.C. * Nafpaktiakos Asteras F.C. * Asteras Magoula F.C. *Neos Asteras Rethymno F. ...

- Amaliada * Dafni -

* Iliakos - Lechaina * Olympiacos Zacharos -

Panileiakos Paniliakos Football Club ( el, Πανηλειακός Α.Ο. Πύργου) is a Greek association football club based in Pyrgos, Elis, Greece. The club plays in Gamma Ethniki, the third tier of Greek football. It plays its home matches at the Pyr ...

- Pyrgos *

PAO Varda Pamvouprasiakos Athlitikos Omilos Vardas ( el, Παμβουπρασιακός Α.Ο. Βάρδας), aka PAO Vardas, is a association football, football club founded in 1948 in Varda, Greece, Varda. The team colors are green and white and the headq ...

- Varda

In popular culture

* The central action of

Maeve Binchy Anne Maeve Binchy Snell (28 May 1939Born 1939 as per biography, ''Maeve Binchy'' by Piers Dudgeon, Thomas Dunne Books 2013; (hardcover), pp. 4, 280, 302; (ebook) – 30 July 2012) was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, colum ...

's romance novel, ''

Nights of Rain and Stars ''Nights of Rain and Stars'' is a 2004 novel by the Irish author Maeve Binchy. Plot In a small town in Greece, a group of people witness a boating accident and subsequently become tangled in each other's lives. Thomas is a California university ...

'' (2004), is set in

Agia Anna, Elis Agia Anna ( el, Αγία Άννα meaning Saint Anne) is a mountain village in the municipal unit of Oleni, Elis, Greece. In 2011 its population was 168. Agia Anna is built on the slopes of the hill Axofolia, a western spur of the Foloi plateau ...

. * Elis is known within the Greek internet community for the strange or tragicomic news stories that are reported from the region, similar to the " Florida Man" meme.

Notes

References

*''I Ileia Dia Meson ton Aionon'' (''Ilia In The Middle Of The Age'')

*''Ston Pyrgo kai stin Ileia tou 1821-1930'' (''Στον Πύργο και στην Ηλεία του 1821-1930'' = ''In Pyrgos And In Ilia (1821–1930)'')

1996 *''Ilia Before The Revolution of 1821'' (''η Ηλεία πρίν την επανάσταση του 1821'' = ''I Ileia prin tin epanastasi tou 1821'') Vyronas Davos 1997 *''The Life Of The Inhabitants Of Ilia During The Turkish Rule'' (''η ζωή των κατοίκων της Ηλείας κατα την τουρκοκρατία'' = ''I zoi ton katoikon tis Ileias kata ton tourkokratia'') Vyronas Davos 1997 *''Toponmia tis Ileias'' (''Τοπονύμια της Ηλείας'' = ''Toponym of Elis'') Vyronas Davos

External links

Amaliada City Web Portal- Η Διαδικτυακή Πύλη της Αμαλιάδας (''I Diadiktyaki Pyli tis Amaliadas'') - www.amaliada.netThe Prefectural administration of Ilia
(in Greek)

(in Greek)
Structurae: Structural engineering and architecture Guide to Ilia Prefecture
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elis (Regional Unit) Prefectures of Greece 1899 establishments in Greece Regional units of Western Greece Peloponnese