Gortyna, Arcadia

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For Gortyna in Crete, see Gortyn.
Gortyna
Γόρτυνα
Settlement
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitArcadia
MunicipalityMegalopolis
Elevation
482 m (1,581 ft)
Population
 (2001)[1]
 • Municipal unit
777
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
220 22
Area code(s)27910
Vehicle registrationTP
Websitewww.gortynos.gr

Gortyna (Greek: Γόρτυνα), is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Megalopoli, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] Its seat was in the village Karytaina. The name of the municipality was taken from the ancient city of Gortys.

Subdivisions

The municipal unit Gortyna is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):

Population

Year Population
1991 1,500?
2001 777

Ancient Gortys

The ancient city Gortys was located in the valley of the river Lousios. It reputedly was founded by Gortys, son of Stymphalus, a legendary king of Arcadia. When Megalopolis was founded in the 4th century BC, many inhabitants moved to the new city, but Gortys was still inhabited in the 2nd century AD, a village belonging to Megalopolis then. Ancient Gortys was known for its Temple of Asclepius.[3] The ruins of Gortys have been excavated between 1940 and 1956. They are located near the road from Atsicholos to Elliniko. The remains of several fortifications, temples and baths have been found.[4]

Geography

The territory of the municipal unit Gortyna is very mountainous: the Mainalo lies to the northeast, and the Lykaion to the southwest. The rivers Lousios and Alfeios flow through it and have created deep gorges. The plain of Megalopoli lies to the southeast. Gortyna borders on Elis to the west, and Messenia to the southwest. Gortyna is about 12 km northwest of Megalopoli, 12 km south of Dimitsana, 30 km west of Tripoli, 50 km north of Kalamata and 60 km southeast of Pyrgos.

References

  1. ^ De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
  2. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior Template:El icon
  3. ^ Pausanias Description of Greece 8.4.8, 8.27, 8.28
  4. ^ Gortys

External links

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gortyna.
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