Smila ( el, Σμίλα) is a village in the municipality of
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 ...
,
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 ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
. It is situated in the plains north of the river
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 ...
, 1 km north of
Strefi, 3 km west of
Pelopio
Pelopio ( el, Πελόπιο, before 1928: Κριεκούκι - ''Kriekouki'') is a settlement in the municipality of Ancient Olympia, Elis, Greece. Pelopio is 3 km east of Smila, 4 km northwest of Olympia and 5 km southwest of Che ...
, 7 km northwest of Olympia and 10 km east of
Pyrgos. In 2011 its population was 341 for the village and 390 for the municipal district, which includes the small village Karoutes.
The myth says that the village was called Smila because
Praxiteles
Praxiteles (; el, Πραξιτέλης) of Athens, the son of Cephisodotus the Elder, was the most renowned of the Attica sculptors of the 4th century BC. He was the first to sculpt the nude female form in a life-size statue. While no indubita ...
(the artist who made the famous statue of
Hermes
Hermes (; grc-gre, Ἑρμῆς) is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants, and orato ...
), lost his
chisel
A chisel is a tool with a characteristically shaped cutting edge (such that wood chisels have lent part of their name to a particular grind) of blade on its end, for carving or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, or metal by hand, stru ...
( el, σμίλη) here. Many ancient artifacts have been found in this village, especially in the northern part. They are exhibited in the
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia (Greek: Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ολυμπίας) is one of the principal museums of Greece, located in Olympia. It is overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and, as of 2009, is direct ...
. A great cheesemaking tradition has been established in Smila over the past few years, and several well known cheesemakers have been born in Smila, some of whom have found extensive occupation as ship chefs. Smila suffered damage from the
2007 Greek forest fires
The 2007 Greek forest fires were a series of massive forest fires that broke out in several areas across Greece throughout the summer of 2007. The most destructive and lethal infernos broke out on 23 August, expanded rapidly and raged out of con ...
.
Population
See also
*
List of settlements in Elis
This is a list of settlements in Elis, Greece.
* Achladini
* Aetorrachi
* Agios Andreas, Katakolo
* Agia Anna
* Agia Kyriaki
* Agia Mavra
* Agia Triada
* Agioi Apostoloi
* Agios Charalampos
* Agios Dimitrios
* Agios Georgios
* Agios Il ...
References
External links
Smila GTP Travel Pages
{{Ancient Olympia
Olympia, Greece
Populated places in Elis