Leontio

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For an Ancient Greek figure, see Leontion

Leontio or Leondio (Greek, Modern: Λεόντιο, Ancient/Katharevoussa: -ον -on), older form: -on, is a community in Achaea, Greece built on the foot of the Panachaiko. Its 2001 population was 373 for the village, 570 for the communal district and 743 for the community. Leontio is located about 40 km southeast of Patras, about 40 to 50 km southwest of Aigio and about 40 km northwest of Kalavryta.

[edit] Settlements

• Golemi
• Katsateika or Katsataiika
• Kounavaiika or Kounaveika
• Ovryokampos or Ovriokambos
• Thomeika
• Vetaiika or Veteika

[edit] Communal districts

• Ano Mazaraki
• Demesticha
• Leontio

[edit] Population

[edit] History

Its settlement then as a city dates back to the ancient times and was known as Leontium. The city was founded by Ionian refugees and was member of the Ionian Dodecapolis or the Achaean Community. It was located by the ancient border of Achaea and Arcadia near Vlassia^[1] where it uncovered a Mycenean tomb and an ancient theater from the 4th century BC^[2][3]. The temple of Artemis is located up by the ancient road which lead ino Arcadia. Its length was 35 m and its width was 11 m^[4]. The city was destroyed at the end of the 3rd century BC by Philip V Macedon^[5]. From Leontio descended a soldier of the Achaean League Callicrates. Leontio ran several places including Chios and Leontopoda^[6]. The city was later became a part of the Roman Empire along with the area, it later ran by the Byzantines, the Franks, Albanians?, the Venetians and the Ottoman. Between the Dark Ages and the Medieval era, its status of a city was lost and the village was renamed Gourzoumisa (Γουρζούμισα). It finally joined Greece after the Greek War of Independence of 1821. Archaeological remains were found in the 1930s and uncovered Mycenean tombs (14th-12th century BC). Also it featured an acropolis that dates back to around the 3rd century BC. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its buildings were rebuilt. Emigration hit the economy hard as they moved to larger cities and the powerful countries for a better life. It became one of a few areas in Greece that the population growth returned, it happened between the 1991 and the 2001 censuses. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television and pavement in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium.

[edit] Panorama

Several mountains block the view of other mountains, Leontio offers views of mounts Omplos and Panachaiko to the northwest, Erymanthos to the southwest and several more to the east. The Gulf of Corinth cannot be seen.

[edit] Economy

Its main economy is based only on agriculture, some employees works in services. Its main crops are cattle, fruits and vegetables and olives.

[edit] Other

Leontio has a school, a lyceums (middle school) a gymnasium (secondary school), a few churches, and a square (plateia).

[edit] References

1. ^ www.styga.gr
2. ^ www.diodos.gr
3. ^ hellascams.gr
4. ^ nea.gr
5. ^ kalavrita.gr
6. ^ Stefanos Thomopoulos, History Of The Cities In Patras From The Ancient Period Until 1821, Volume I, Achaikes Editions, Patras 1998 ISBN 9607960084 which knew that was written by Adamantios Korais in Atakta

[edit] External links

• Leontio (community) on GTP Travel Pages
• Leontio (village) on GTP Travel Pages
• Map and aerial photos:
  • Street map information from: Mapquest, LiveLocal or Google or Yahoo! Maps
  • Satellite images: Google or Microsoft Virtual Earth - image now available