Skillountia

Skillountia (Greek: Σκιλλουντία), the ancient Scillus (Ancient Greek: Σκιλλοῦς), is a small village and a municipal district in the municipality of Skillounta, Elis, Greece. In 2001 its population was 28 for the village and 550 for the municipal district, including Nea Skillountia.

Nearest places

• Olympia, northeast
• Makrissia, south

Population

Location

Skillountia is located south of Patras, west-southwest of the capital city of Athens, east-southeast of Pyrgos, southeast of Krestena, north of Zacharo, northwest of Kalamata and north of Kyparissia. The GR-9 (E55, Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia) is 6 km to the west, it is located in the middle where ther are no bridges over the river between the highway and the Krestena Dam and accessible ones up to near the Arcadia prefecture. It is near the villages of Krestena and Mazi.

Geography

The geography of the surrounding area consists of forests with a few bushes and grasslands. mMch of the area is mountainous, and dominated by agriculture.

The name Skillous (Σκιλλούς) came from one of the leaves that grew in the area.

History

Scillus was founded during the ancient period in the area known as Triphylia near ancient Olympia and the Alfeios, and near the boundary of Pisatis. Elis controlled Scillus, along with the rest of Triphylia, for much of the 5th century BC.

The city featured the Temple of Athena of Skillountia. Strabo mentioned that it was founded next to the Alpheus in the area of Fellona (Φελλώνα).^[1] Inside the city was the Temple of the Ephesian Artemis which was constructed by Xenophon.^[2] Having been granted land here by the Spartans, who controlled the area following the Peloponnesian war, Xenophon lived for many years in the city and resided later there following his adventures in Asia, for which he was exiled by the Athenians on account of the help which he brought to Cyrus the Younger, an enemy of Athens, which was allied to the King of Persia, Artaxerxes II. The location of the ancient city has been excavated and is founded 3.5 km from Olympia in the location of Profitis Ilias, Makrissia. It also features the ruins of the Temple of Athena and its buildings.

Skillountia was ruled by the Ottoman Turks, and then it became a part of Greece after the Greek War of Independence. Its history between the Byzantine period and the war of independence went almost unrecorded. It adopted its current name in the early 20th century. Many of its inhabitants live in nearby Nea Skillountia. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its buildings were rebuilt. Alfeioussa became connected with asphalt in the 1960s. More pavement was laid in the late 20th century. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century, and computers and the internet at the turn of the millennium. During the creation and recreation of the municipalities under the Kapodistrian Plan in 1997, the village gives its name to the municipality of Skillounta.

Skillountia was affected by the 2007 Greek forest fires on Sunday 26 August. During the afternoon, firefighters along with planes and helicopters managed to spread out the blaze and affected the southeastern portions. The blaze spread into the mountains and burned pine, spruce and cypress trees as well as a couple of groves, it destroyed half of the village's economy and may takes years to recover.

Economy

Its main economy is agriculture, its main production includes olives, cattle, fruits, vegetables and other crops, the village has about 100 to 200 farms in the area.

See also

• List of places in the Ilia prefecture

References

External links

• Skillountia at the GTP Travel Pages