Misplaced Pages

#453546

38-564: The Eleutherolakōnes ( Ἐλευθερολάκωνες , 'free Laconians ') are first mentioned in 195 BC, after Sparta 's defeat in the Roman-Spartan War . The Roman general Titus Quinctius Flamininus placed several coastal cities, inhabited by perioikoi , under the protection of the Achaean League , separating them from the rump Spartan state. The most important of its cities was Gythium . A few years later, in 192 BC, Gythium

76-611: A blunt, concise way—is derived from the name of this region, a reference to the ancient Spartans who were renowned for their verbal austerity and blunt, often pithy remarks. Laconia is bordered by Messenia to the west and Arcadia to the north and is surrounded by the Myrtoan Sea to the east and by the Laconian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It encompasses Cape Malea and Cape Tainaron and

114-674: A continuation of the Taygetos mountain range, the western spine of the Peloponnese. There are many theories regarding the etymology of the word Mani. The most accepted one is that it represents the natural evolution of the medieval name of the region, which was Maini, of uncertain origin. The name "Mani" may come from the name of the Frankish castle le Grand Magne . The terrain is mountainous and inaccessible. Until recent years many Mani villages could be reached only by sea. Today

152-469: A devastating fire ruined the finest olive crops in the northern part of the prefecture, and affected the area of Sellasia along with Oinountas and its surrounding areas. Firefighters, helicopters and planes battled for days to put out the horrific fire. In early 2006, flooding ruined olive and citrus crops as well as properties and villages along the Eurotas river. In the summer 2006, a fire devastated

190-574: A large part of the Mani Peninsula . The Mani Peninsula is in the west region of Laconia. The islands of Kythira and Antikythera lie to the south, but they administratively belong to the Attica regional unit of islands . The island, Elafonisos , situated between the Laconian mainland and Kythira, is part of Laconia. The Evrotas is the longest river in the prefecture. The Evrotas Valley

228-624: A large segment of the local population until the Greek War of Independence when they fled to the Turkish stronghold at Tripoli . Following the war Vardounia's Greek population was reinforced by settlers from Lower Mani and central Laconia. Administratively, Mani is now divided between the prefectures of Laconia (Kato Mani, Mesa Mani) and Messenia (Exo Mani), in the periphery of Peloponnesos, but in ancient times it lay entirely within Laconia,

266-617: A major tourist attraction, is located south of Areopolis in the southwest of Laconia. The city of Sparta enjoys a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csa ). January highs are around 14 °C (57 °F) while July and August highs are around 36 °C (97 °F) in the city proper. Sparta records the highest summer average maximum temperatures in Greece. In July 2012 the city registered an average maximum temperature of 38.3 °C (100.9 °F), making it Greece's second highest monthly average maximum temperature to date after

304-466: A narrow and winding road extends along the west coast from Kalamata to Areopoli , then south to Akrotainaro (the pointed cape, which is the southernmost point of continental Greece) before it turns north toward Gytheio . Another road, that is used by the public buses of the Piraeus –Mani line, which has existed for several decades, comes from Tripoli through Sparta , Gytheio , Areopoli and ends in

342-488: A part of the Mani Peninsula, ruining forests, crops, and numerous villages. The regional unit, Laconia, is subdivided into five municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, regional unit Laconia was created out of the former prefecture Laconia ( Greek : Νομός Λακωνίας ). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At

380-514: A popular tourist destination. As they are partly underwater, visitors tour them in gondola -like boats. Gytheio , Areopoli , Kardamyli, and Stoupa are filled with tourists during the summer months, but the region is generally quiet during the winter. Many inhabitants work as olive farmers, and devote the winter months to the olive harvest and processing. Some of the villages in the mountains are less tourist oriented and often have very few inhabitants. The introduction of Christianity came late in

418-609: Is a geographical and cultural region in the Peloponnese of Southern Greece and home to the Maniots ( Greek : Mανιάτες , romanized :  Maniátes ), who claim descent from the ancient Spartans . The capital city of Mani is Areopoli . Mani is the central of three peninsulas which extend southwards from the Peloponnese. To the east is the Laconian Gulf , to the west the Messenian Gulf . The Mani peninsula forms

SECTION 10

#1732791614454

456-805: Is also known for honey and extra-virgin olive oil , soft-pressed from partially ripened olives of the Koroneiki variety, which are grown on mountain terraces. Today the Mani's coastal villages are full of cafés and souvenir shops. The peninsula attracts visitors for its Byzantine churches, Frankish castles, sandy beaches and scenery. Some popular beaches during the summer are Kalogria and the beaches by Stoupa harbor, while Kardamyli and Agios Nikolaos have good pebble and sand beaches, too. The ancient tower houses of Mani ( pyrgospita ) are significant tourist attractions, and some offer accommodations for visitors. The Vlychada Caves at Pirgos Dirou, near Oitylo , are also

494-564: Is predominantly an agricultural region that contains many citrus groves, olive groves, and pasture lands. It is the location of the largest orange production in the Peloponnese and probably in all of Greece. Lakonia , a brand of orange juice, is based in Amykles . The main mountain ranges are the Taygetus 2,407 m (7,897 ft) in the west and the Parnon 1,961 m (6,434 ft) in

532-597: Is the -óggonas ending, a corruption of éggonos , "grandson". A skull of Homo sapiens dating to more than 210,000 years ago was found in the Apidima Cave on the western side of the peninsula. As of 2019 this was the oldest evidence of Homo sapiens in Europe. Neolithic remains have been found in many caves along the Mani coasts, including the Alepotrypa Cave. Homer refers to a number of towns in

570-682: The Despotate of the Morea . In 1460, after the fall of Constantinople , the Despotate fell to the Ottomans . Mani was not subdued and retained its internal self-government in exchange for an annual tribute, although this was only paid once. Local chieftains or beys governed Mani on behalf of the Ottomans. The first of these was Limberakis Gerakaris in the 17th century. A former oarsman in

608-554: The Gerolimenas port near Cape Matapan . Mani has been traditionally divided into three regions: A fourth region named Vardounia (Βαρδούνια) to the north is also sometimes included but was never historically part of Mani. Vardounia served as a buffer between the Ottoman-Turkish controlled Evrotas plains and Mani. A contingent of Muslim Albanian settlers were relocated to the region by the Ottomans. These settlers formed

646-574: The Palaiologoi . The capital of the Despotate, Mystras , was a major site of the Palaiologan Renaissance , the last flowering of Byzantine culture . With the fall of the Despotate to the Ottomans in 1460, Laconia was conquered as well. With the exception of a 30-year interval of Venetian rule, Laconia remained under Ottoman control until the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence of 1821. Following independence, Sparta

684-520: The Vaphio-tomb site in Laconia. Found there is advanced Bronze Age art as well as evidence of cultural associations with the contemporaneous Minoan culture on Crete . At the end of the Mycenean period, the population of Laconia sharply declined. In classical Greece , Laconia was Spartan territory but from the 4th century BC onward Sparta lost control of various ports, towns and areas. From

722-566: The Venetian fleet turned pirate, he was captured by the Ottomans and condemned to death. The Grand Vizier pardoned him, on condition that he took over control of Mani as an Ottoman agent. Gerakaris accepted, using the opportunity to carry out his feud with the strong Maniot family of the Stephanopouloi: he besieged their seat at Oitylo , captured 35 of them, and had them executed. During his twenty-year reign, he shifted allegiance between

760-540: The 10th century to preach Christianity to the Maniots . Although the Maniots began to convert to Christianity century due to Nikon's preaching, it took more than 200 years, i.e. until the 11th and 12th centuries to eliminate most of the pagan Greek religion and traditions and for the Maniots to fully accept Christianity. After his sanctification by the Greek Orthodox Church, St. Nikon became patron saint of

798-710: The 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) recorded in Stylida in July 2023. The highest temperature ever recorded in Sparta is 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) in August 2021. On average, Sparta records 5 days per year with temperatures of over 40.0 °C (104.0 °F). Evidence of Neolithic settlement in southern Laconia has been found during excavations of the Alepotrypa cave site. Significant archaeological recovery exists at

SECTION 20

#1732791614454

836-495: The Emperor Diocletian reformed the provincial administration . According to Pausanias, the members of the koinon were: Laconia Laconia or Lakonia ( Greek : Λακωνία , Lakonía , [lakoˈni.a] ) is a historical and administrative region of Greece located on the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparta . The word laconic —to speak in

874-476: The League of Free Laconians in 21 BC. The highest officer in the league ( koinon ) was the strategos , who was assisted by the treasurer. At its height the koinon consisted of 24 cities; however, the number decreased to 18. The koinon continued to exist into the second half of the 3rd century AD, as is demonstrated by the coins and inscriptions of its member states. It continued until 297 AD when

912-579: The Mani as well as Sparta. Patrick Leigh Fermor wrote of them: Sealed off from outside influences by their mountains, the semi- troglodytic Maniots themselves were the last of the Greeks to be converted. They only abandoned the old religion of Greece towards the end of the ninth century. It is surprising to remember that this peninsula of rock, so near the heart of the Levant from which Christianity springs, should have been baptised three whole centuries after

950-632: The Mani region, and some artifacts from the Mycenaean period (1900–1100 BC) have been found. The area was occupied by the Dorians in about 1200 BC, and became a dependency of Sparta . After Spartan power was destroyed in the 3rd century BC, Mani remained self-governing. As the power of the Byzantine Empire declined, the peninsula drifted out of the Empire's control. The fortress of Maini in

988-564: The Mani: the first Greek temples began to be converted into Christian churches during the 11th century A.D. A Byzantine Greek monk called Nikon "the Metanoite" ( Greek : Νίκων ὁ Μετανοείτε ) was commissioned by the Church in the 10th century (900's AD) to spread Christianity to areas such as Mani and Tsakonia , which had remained pagan . St. Nikon was sent to the Mani in the latter half of

1026-469: The Ottomans. There is also evidence of a sizeable Maniot emigration to Corsica sometime during the Ottoman years. Petros Mavromichalis, the last bey of Mani, was among the leaders of the Greek War of Independence . He proclaimed the revolution at Areopoli on March 17, 1821. The Maniots contributed greatly to the struggle, but once Greek independence was won, they wanted to retain local autonomy. During

1064-775: The Venetians and the Turks. Following the failure of the Orlov Revolt , in 1776 Mani's autonomous status was recognized by the Porte, and for the next 45 years until the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, eight rulers (" beys ") reigned over the peninsula on behalf of the Porte: As Ottoman power declined, the mountains of the Mani became a stronghold of the klephts , bandits who also fought against

1102-464: The district dominated by Sparta . The Messenian Mani (also called aposkiaderi , a local expression meaning "shady") receives somewhat more rainfall than the Laconian (called prosiliaki , a local expression meaning "sunny"), and is consequently more productive in agriculture. Maniots from what is now Messenian Mani have surnames that uniformly end in -éas , whereas Maniots from what is now Laconian Mani have surnames that end in -ákos ; additionally there

1140-676: The late Middle Ages. Following the Fourth Crusade , Laconia was gradually conquered by the Frankish Principality of Achaea . In the 1260s, the Byzantines recovered Mystras and other fortresses in the region and managed to evict the Franks from Laconia, which became the nucleus of a new Byzantine province. By the mid-14th century, this evolved into the Despotate of the Morea , held by the last Greek ruling dynasty,

1178-575: The mid-2nd century BC until 395 AD, Laconia was a part of the Roman Empire . In the medieval period, Laconia formed part of the Byzantine Empire . In the 7th century, Slavic tribes settled in the Peloponnese. Two of them, the Melingoi and the Ezeritai , who settled in parts of Laconia, survived the subsequent Byzantine reconquest and re-Hellenization of the Peloponnese, and are attested until

League of Free Laconians - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-670: The northeast. Taygetus, known as Pentadaktylos ( five-fingers ) throughout the Middle Ages, is west of Sparta and the Evrotas Valley . It is the highest mountain in Laconia and the Peloponnese and is mostly covered with pine trees. Two roads join the Messenia and Laconia prefectures: one is a tortuous mountain pass through Taygetus and the other bypasses the mountain via the Mani district to the south. The stalactite cave, Dirou,

1254-469: The reign of Ioannis Kapodistrias , they violently resisted outside interference, to the extent of Mavromichalis' sons killing Kapodistrias . In 1878 the national government reduced the local autonomy of the Mani, and the area gradually became a backwater; inhabitants abandoned the land through emigration, with many going to major Greek cities, as well as to western Europe and the United States. It

1292-469: The same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below. Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece . The main cities and towns of Laconia are (ranked by 2021 census population): Mani Peninsula The Mani Peninsula ( ‹See Tfd› Greek : Μάνη , translit.   Mánē ), also long known by its medieval name Maina or Maïna ( Greek : Μαΐνη ),

1330-716: The south became the area's centre. Over the subsequent centuries, the peninsula was fought over by the Byzantines , the Franks , and the Saracens . After the Fourth Crusade in 1204 AD, Italian and French knights (known collectively by the Greeks as Franks) occupied the Peloponnese and created the Principality of Achaea . They built the fortresses of Mystras , Passavas , Leuktron (Beaufort) , and Great Maina . The area fell under Byzantine rule after 1262, forming part of

1368-417: Was not until the 1970s, when the construction of new roads supported the growth of the tourist industry, that the Mani began to regain population and become prosperous. Despite the region's aridity, Mani is known for its unique culinary products such as glina or syglino (pork or pork sausage smoked with aromatic herbs such as thyme , oregano , mint , etc. and stored in lard along with orange peel). Mani

1406-768: Was recaptured by Nabis of Sparta , but the Achean League immediately attacked the city. The city of Las was attacked and captured by the Spartans. The Achaean League retaliated and attacked Las and Sparta. Following the dissolution of the Achaean League in 146 BC, the Eleutherolakōnes joined the Lacedaemonian League ( κοινὸν τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων ), a koinon of Spartan colonies under Roman rule, until Emperor Augustus re-established

1444-551: Was selected as the capital of the modern prefecture, and its economy and agriculture expanded. With the incorporation of the British-ruled Ionian Islands into Greece in 1864, Elafonissos became part of the prefecture. After World War II and the Greek Civil War , its population began to somewhat decline, as people moved from the villages toward the larger cities of Greece and abroad. In 1992,

#453546