Asea, Greece

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Asea is a village in Arcadia, Greece, in the middle of the southern Peloponnese peninsula. Asea is about 20 km from both Tripoli and Megalopoli, and 190 km from Athens. Although Asea has only about 200 permanent inhabitants, its natural beauty and archeological sites attract weekend and summer visitors.

[edit] History

Asea is said to be named for Aseatas, son of the Spartan king, Lykaon, however it may have been established as early as 6000 BC. Its treasures are kept in archaelogical museums in Tripoli, Nafplio, and Athens. The ruins of the ancient city still stand, most notably doric temples dedicated to Poseidon and Athena, and they indicate that Asea was once a prosperous city. According to Pausanias, the two temples were erected by Odysseus after his return to Ithaca. Inhabitants of Asea fought in the historic battles of Plataies (479 BC) and Mantinia (362 BC). City coins have been found dated 196 BC. Asea took part in the founding of the city of Megalopoli.

Under Turkish occupation, the village was called Kandreva. However, Asea took back its ancient name in the 1920s. It is one of the municipal centers of the region.