| Lepreo Λέπρεο |
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|---|---|
| Location | |
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Lepreo
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| Coordinates | |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | West Greece |
| Regional unit: | Elis |
| Municipality: | Zacharo |
| Municipal unit: | Zacharo |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Community | |
| - Population: | 532 |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
Lepreo (Greek, Modern: Λέπρεο, formerly: Λέπρεος Lepreos, latinized: Lepreus) is a village in the municipality of Zacharo, Elis, Greece. Its population in 2001 was 388 for the village and 532 for the municipal district.
Contents |
| Year | Population | Municipal district population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 615 | - |
| 1991 | 499 | - |
| 2001 | 329 | 532 |
Lepreo is located south of Olympia, west of Andritsaina and Megalopoli, northwest of Kalamata, northeast of Kyparissia and southeast of Pyrgos. It is 8 km east of the old GR-8 (Patras - Pyrgos - Methoni) and is connected with the road linking Neochori and Andritsaina.
The village has about 3 km of paved road and about 4 km of gravel road. It has about 4 km of hydro lines, phone lines are around 3 km.
Its geography compromises of groves and almost the whole crop, farmlands that covers the western portions including some hills, forests are to the west near the municipal district boundary and the remains of a swamp area that once covered the flat part of northern Elis. They are made up of grasses, marshes and bushes lie to the northeast.
Lepreo was an ancient city during that time. It was settled during the prehistoric era and became one of the safest Elean cities. Founded in Triphyllia near Samiko built in the foot of the Minthe mountains, it is named after the founder Lepreus, the son of Pyrgeus. The next and the ruler of the city was the Achaean League during the Peloponnesian War. It was also affected by the Second Messenian War. In 146 BC, it was sacked by the Romans in Ilia [1][2]
200 Lepreans fought in Plataeae and their names were honoured in the statue of Zeus in Olympia and in the oracle of Delphi.[3]
It also had the temple of Demeter built with sided edges, Pausanias visited the temole and it did not had a holy statue inside.[4][5]
The ancient city was excavated in 1982 by Konstantinos Zahos. Located near the modern village, it features the ancient acropolis and ruins of buildings.
Lepreo lost its fame after the Gothic Invasion, Lepreo became a part of Greece after the revolution which ended the Ottoman rule. Its village name was Strovitsi (Στροβίτσι) and is mainly of Slavic origin, it adopted its current name and revived the ancient name in the early to mid 20th century.
After World War II and the Greek Civil War, most of its buildings were rebuilt. 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. During the creation and recreation of the municipalities under the Capodistrian Plan in 1997, it became a part of the municipality of Zacharo and its commune or community was transformed into a municipal district. Lepreo was affected by the furious forest fire, and occurred on Saturday August 15 and Sunday August 26, 2007, firefighters battled the blazed along with hydroplanes and choppers. Most of the area were affected. The affected areas are uncertain and a portions including the southwest escaped that furiosity.
Its main economy is agriculture, its main production includes olives, citrus and cattle.
Lepreon was hit by the devastating forest fires of the August 2007, which they destroy most of the olive trees plantations around the village and many other agricultural activities on the area (citrus and green houses plantations), resulting major economic setback for the last year (2008).
Lepreo has a school, a church, a post office, and a square (plateia). Its nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are in Zacharo.
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