| Alea Αλέα |
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| Location | |
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Alea
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| Coordinates | |
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Location within the regional unit
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| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | Peloponnese |
| Regional unit: | Argolis |
| Municipality: | Argos-Mykines |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Municipal unit | |
| - Population: | 793 |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Auto: | AP |
Alea (Greek: Αλέα) is a village and a former community in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit.[1] In 2001 its population was 146 for the village and 793 for the community. The seat is Skoteini (meaning the darker part).
Contents |
The municipal unit Alea is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):
| Year | Village population | Community population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 170 | - |
| 1991 | 115 | 809 |
| 2001 | 146 | 793 |
Alea is located on the road connecting the GR-66 (Levidi - Stymfalia - Nemea) and Lyrkeia and the GR-7/E65 (Corinth - Tripoli - Kalamata) with its nearest interchange 30 km east. It is located south of Xylokastro, SSW of Kiato, southwest of Corinth, NNW of Argos, north of Tripoli and northeast of Levidi.
The origin of the name and the settlement dates back to the ancient times and was located in Arcadia until the creation of prefectures (then departments or provinces) after the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and sometimes Argolidocorinthia. The settlement was settled by Aleus which is named after, a relative of Aphidamantas. Situated in the same field and Stymphalus or Stymphelus on an ancient road which ran from Argolis to Arcadia. The city had temples of Artemis Ephesias, Athena of Alea and Dionysus with a statue of the gods. Every year were the Skiereia, a celebration by the god Dionysus. After Alea founded Orchomenos.[2]
The location of the ancient settlement is still unexcavated otherwise it is determined to be in the area near the modern village.
Until after the Greek War of Independence, its village was known as Bougiati.
After World War II and the Greek Civil War, some of its buildings were rebuilt and emigration occurred at a higher rate until 1961 through to 1991, it became one of the few villages in mountainous Achaia to regain is population. Dessino became connected with asphalt in the 2000s. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium. In the late-1990s, the ex-community joined to become the newly formed community of Alea (though another form with merging other former communities into the community).
Today, it is a village with a few inhabitants, it is populated during the summer months. The village economy is based on olive production.