Skillountia

Skillounta, also Skilloundia, Skilountia and Skiloundia (Greek: Σκιλλουντία, Latin and Ancient: Skilluntia, Scilluntia), also with the i accented is a small village in the municipality of Volakas, Ilia Prefecture, Greece. Its 2001 population was 406 for the village. Situated in the south banks of the Alfeios River, it owes its name meaning the little Alfeios, which was used in the early 20th century.

Nearest places

*Olympia, northeast
*Makrissia, south

Population

Location and transportation

Skillountia is located south of Patras, west-southwest of the capital city of Athens, east-southeast of Pyrgos, southeast of Krestena, north of Zacharo, northwest of Kalamata and north of Kyparissia. The GR-9 (E55, Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia) is 6 km to the west, it is located in the middle where ther are no bridges over the river between the highway and the Krestena Dam and accessible ones up to near the Arcadia prefecture.

The village has about 4 to 5 km of paved road and about 6 km of gravel road. It has about 6 to 8 km of hydro lines, all of them have been repaired from the tremendous fire, phone lines ad to 4 to 5 km.

Geography

Its geography consists of forests that dominate the area with a few bushes and grasslands around the area, much of the area are mountainous, farmlands dominate the area.

History

Skillountia or Skilluntia was founded during the ancient period, the area was the Triphyllian city next to ancient Olympia and the Alfeios, in the boundary of Pisatia and continued as polemically compared with the Eleans along with the entire Triphyllia, the origin of the name Skillous (Σκιλλούς) came from one of the leaf which grew in the vicinity of the area. Near Skillountia featured the Typaion mouintains. The city featured the Temple of Athena of Skillountia. Strabo mentioned that it was founded next to the Alpheus in the area of "Fellona" (Φελλώνα) [Strabo, Book V] . Inside the city featured the Temple of the Ephesian Artemis which was constructed by Xenophon and used the Oracle of Delphi. That temple was a small transcription of the temple in Ephesus. Xenophon lived many years in the vity and resided later in his adventures in Asia which he was exiled by the Athenians for the help which brought in the Spartans, here, he wrote his book and which he mentioned the inhabitants in Pausanias, he later died. The city at the time when it was constructed by Xenophon was a part of the Lacedaemon and it was ceded honorably in a large part. Also Xenophon toled he went for hunting wild animals, only and together with his friends, the area were abundant in prey in which it made it to the forests of Pholoe [Xenophon] [Pausanias "Ileiaka" Book I] .

The location of the ancient city has been excavated and is founded 3.5 km from Olympia in the location of Profitis Ilias, Makrissia. It also features the ruins of the Temple of Athens and its buildings.

Skillountia was ruled by the Ottoman Turks, it became a part of Greece after the Greek War of Independence. History between the Byzantine period and the war of independence was almost unrecorded. It adopted its current name in the early 20th century. Many of its inhabitants live in nearby Nea Skillountia. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its buildings were rebuilt. Alfeioussa became connected with asphalt in the 1960s. More pavement was accessed in the late 20th century. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium. During the creation and recreation of the municipalities under the Capodistrian Plan in 1997, it owes the name to the municipality of Skillounta.

Skillountia was affected of the a tremendous fire on Sunday August 26, 2007, during the afternoon hours firefighters along with planes and choppers managed to spread out the blaze and affected the southeastern portions. Blaze spread into the mountains and burned pine, spruce and cypress trees as well as a couple of groves, it destroyed half of its economy and may takes years to repair.

Economy

Its main economy is agriculture, its main production includes olives, cattle, fruits, vegetables and other crops, the village has about 100 to 200 farms in the area.

Other

Skillountia has a school for the entire municipal district (the former community), a church, a post office, and a square ("plateia"). Its nearest gymnasium (middle school), lyceum (secondary school) are in Makrissi?.

ee also

*List of places in the Ilia prefecture

References

External links

* [http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=4721 Skillountia at the GTP Travel Pages]