Elos

For other uses, see Elos (disambiguation).
Elos
Έλος
Elos

Coordinates: 36°50′N 22°42′E / 36.833°N 22.700°ECoordinates: 36°50′N 22°42′E / 36.833°N 22.700°E
Country Greece
Administrative region Peloponnese
Regional unit Laconia
Municipality Evrotas
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Population (2001)[1]
  Municipal unit 6,452
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 230 55
Area code(s) 27350
Vehicle registration ΑΚ

Elos (Greek: Έλος) is a village and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Evrotas, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] It was called Durali until 1912. The population of the village was 920 people in 2001. It had its own primary school until 2012. The municipal unit has 6,452 inhabitants. The seat of the municipality was in Vlachioti. The inhabitants work as farmers producing oranges and olive oil. The municipal unit has a coastline on the Laconian Gulf. The Evrotas River is west of Elos. The name dates back to ancient times. It is located W of Monemvasia, E of Gytheio and SE of Sparta.

Mythology

Pausanias mentions a seaside city near Sparta called Helos, whose inhabitants were enslaved and became the helots.[3] Helos was founded by Helios, the younger son of Perseus.[3] The city was reduced by siege by the Dorians, and their inhabitants became the first slaves of the Lacedemonian state.[3]

Historical population

Year Municipal district Municipality
1981 756 -
1991 824 5,992
2001 920 6,452

See also

References

  1. De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
  2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Description of Greece, 3.20.6, by Pausanias (geographer)