Elos

For other uses, see Elos (disambiguation).

Elos Έλος
Location
Elos
Coordinates	36°50′N 22°42′E / 36.833°N 22.7°E / 36.833; 22.7Coordinates: 36°50′N 22°42′E / 36.833°N 22.7°E / 36.833; 22.7
Location within the peripheral unit
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	Peloponnese
Regional unit:	Laconia
Municipality:	Evrotas
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipal unit
- Population:	6,452
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	15 m (49 ft)
Postal:	230 55
Telephone:	27350
Auto:	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.^[1] It was called Durali until 1912. The population of the village is 920 people as of 2001^[update]. 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 (geographer) mentions a seaside city near Sparta called Helos, whose inhabitants were enslaved and became the helots^[2]. Helos was founded by Helios, the younger son of Perseus^[2]. The city was reduced by siege by the dorians, and their inhabitants became the first slaves of the of the Lacedemonian state^[2].

Other

Elos has a school, a lyceum, a post office, and a square (plateia).

Historical population

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

References

1. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
2. ^ ^{a b c} Description of Greece, 3.20.6, by Pausanias (geographer)

See also

• Communities of Laconia