Ancead Irea

Ancead Irea, or Ancient Irea (Greek Αρχαία Ηραία), is an ancient Greek city located on the Alfios River, a few miles South-West of Lutra village in the province of Gortynia, prefecture of Arcadia. The founder of the city is purported to be Ireefs (Greek Ηραιεύς), who was son of Lykeon. By the 6th century B.C.E., Irea was a major Arcadian city. The famous Tabula Peutigeriana shows a road system connecting Irea with ancient Olympia, Melenees and Megalopolis.

Famous Olympic Champions from Irea include Dimaretus (Greek Δημάρετος) (B.C.520), his son Theopompos (Greek Θεόπομπος, 516 B.C.), his grandson Theopompos (Greek Θεόπομπος) and others.

Religion

The cult of Pan in Irea differed from similar cults in central Arcadia. A famous statue of Pan with the face of Apollo, created by Polyclitos (Greek Πολύκλειτος), was located in Irea and can be seen stamped on gold coins from the region dating to the 4th century B.C.E. Silver coins of that era represented Ira (Greek Θεά Ήρα), a city protection goddess.

Excavation

The Irea city-site was excavated by archeologist Alexander Filadelfeus in (1931). Today, the site remains generally off-limits.