Nestani
| Nestani Νεστάνη | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
  Nestani | |
| Coordinates | 37°37′N 22°28′E / 37.617°N 22.467°ECoordinates: 37°37′N 22°28′E / 37.617°N 22.467°E |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Administrative region: | Peloponnese |
| Regional unit: | Arcadia |
| Municipality: | Tripoli |
| Municipal unit: | Mantineia |
| Population statistics (as of 2001)[1] | |
| Community | |
| - Population: | 505 |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 700 m (2,297 ft) |
| Postal code: | 220 05 |
| Telephone: | 2710 |
| Auto: | TP |
Nestani (Greek: Νεστάνη, before 1927: Τσιπιανά - Tsipiana[2]) is a village and a community in the municipal unit Mantineia, Arcadia, Greece. It is situated at the foot of the mountain Artemisio, at about 700 m elevation. It was the seat of the former municipality Mantineia. The community Nestani also contains the village of Milea. Nestani is 11 km east of Kapsas, 13 km southwest of Lyrkeia (Argolis) and 14 km northeast of Tripoli. The Moreas Motorway (Corinth - Tripoli) passes west of the village.
The monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikοos is situated on a hill immediately southeast of the village. The Holy Mother of God is venerated there, with a celebration on 15 August. The present building dates from 1740. It is now a nunnery.[3]
Historical population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,131 |
| 1991 | 881 |
| 2001 | 778 |
History
Nestane dates back to the ancient times and was the seat of Arcadia.[4] Pausanias visited the city in the 2nd century AD and that time was ruined and abandoned. As it said the ruins of the city had an ancient temple of Demeter where the celebration occurred every year in honor by the Mantineans.[5]
The ancient city remains unexcavated today, its acropolis was located in a lower hill near the modern town, with a view of the small fields where the motorway passes today. Other remains included a damaged gate with a tower fortified during the 4th century BC. On the foot of the hill of the acropolis was Philip II's spring made in 338 BC.[4]
A nearby village of Tsipana was formed centuries later and the name Nestani was not revived until 1933 when it changed its name due to the location of the ancient city. The village suffered mass immigration largely to North America and Australia after World War II and the population was declining in the recent years.
External links
- Greek Travel Pages
- Arcadia - Nestani (Greek)
See also
References
- ↑ De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 793 KB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
- ↑ Name changes of settlements in Greece
- ↑ University of Patras
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brooks, Allan. Myths, Games and Conflict, Lulu.com, 2008, p. 103. ISBN 1-4092-2232-2.
- ↑ Pausanias, Travels: Arcadica, Book VIII, original: τόδε μὲν ἡμῖν ἐγένετο ἐπεισόδιον τῷ λόγῳ: μετὰ δὲ τὰ ἐρείπια τῆς Νεστάνης ἱερὸν Δήμητρός ἐστιν ἅγιον, καὶ αὐτῇ καὶ ἑορτὴν ἀνὰ πᾶν ἔτος ἄγουσιν οἱ Μαντινεῖς.
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