Elis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the band, see Elis (band); for the surname, see Elis (surname); the term can also refer to the students of Yale University.
Elis, or Eleia (Greek, Modern: Ήλιδα Ilida, Ancient/Katharevousa: Ἤλις, also Ilis, Doric: Ἄλις) is an ancient district, that corresponds with the modern Elis Prefecture. It is in southern Greece on the Peloponnesos peninsula, bounded on the north by Achaea, east by Arcadia, south by Messenia, and west by the Ionian Sea.
The local form of the name was Valis, or Valeia, and its meaning, in all probability, “the lowland.” In its physical constitution Elis is practically one with Achaea and Arcadia; its mountains are mere offshoots of the Arcadian highlands, and its principal rivers are fed by Arcadian springs.
Elis was divided into three districts:
- Hollow (Coele) or Lowland Elis,
- Pisatis, or the territory of Pisa, and
- Triphylia, or the country of the three tribes.
Hollow Elis, the largest and most northern of the three, was watered by the Peneus and its tributary the Ladon. The district was famous in antiquity for its cattle and horses. Pisatis extended south from Hollow Elis to the right bank of the Alpheus, and was divided into eight departments called after as many towns. Triphylia stretches south from the Alpheus to the Neda.
Today Elis is a small village of 150 citizens, located 14km NE of Amaliada, build over the ruins of the ancient town. It has a museum that contains many treasures, discovered in the recent excavations. It also has one of the most well-preserved Ancient Theaters in Greece.
[edit] Persons
- Coroebus of Elis, Ancient Olympic gold-medalist
- Salmoneus, mythological king of Elis
[edit] External link
- Map from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
