Sellasia
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Oinountas Οινούντας
Location
Coordinates	37°10′N 22°25′E / 37.167, 22.417Coordinates: 37°10′N 22°25′E / 37.167, 22.417
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	580 m (1,903 ft)
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	Peloponnese
Prefecture:	Laconia
Population statistics (as of 20011)
City Proper
- Population:	2,625
- Area:2	301.8 km² (117 sq mi)
- Density:	9 /km² (23 /sq mi)
Codes
Postal:	230 64
Telephone:	27310
Auto:	ΑΚ

Oinountas (Modern Greek: Οινούντας, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ous, ancient form: Oinous or Inous, Latin: Oenus) is a municipality in the northeastern part of the prefecture of Laconia, Greece. It was first established in 1840, the seat of administration being Vresthena. It was then re-founded by law 2539/1997 (Kapodistria Plan) in 1998, including a slightly different set of settlements and villages and a different seat of administration, Sellasia. The name originates from the Oinountas, a small river that traverses the municipality, oinos being the ancient Greek word for wine. It covers the area between the northeastern part of the Evrotas valley up to the ridge of Parnon Mountain.

Its seat of administration is the village Sellasia (Greek: Σελλασία). It is connected with GR-37 at around the 10th km linking Sparta and Tripoli. It is located 10 km N of Sparta, about 60 to 70 km E of Kalamata, about 100 km S of Tripoli, 38 km N of Gytheio and about 50 km N of Areopoli. It is situated along the Oinounta river. The name Sellasia dates back to ancient times. The ancient site is northeast of the town hall of Oinounta and is not yet determined. Until the late-2nd millennium, the village was known as Vourlias or Vroulias.

Nearest places

• Sparta, S
• Vresthena, N

Communities and settlements

• Chtoriza
• Konditsa
  • Kopelia
  • Kouremenos
• Sellasia
• Theologos
  • Kalyvia Theologou
• Vamvakou
  • Megali Vrysi
• Varvitsa
• Vassaras
  • Verroia
• Voutiani
• Vresthena301.8

Historical population

Geography

The hills with farmlands dominate the areas while the Evrotas River is to the east. Olive groves and pastures along with some fruits and vegetables are common in the area. The Oenus river is situated near Sellasia It is also has a tributary with the Gorgylus. The Taygetus mountains where most of its forests are located lie to the west. Agios Konstantinos and Palaiologos and ancient walls remained preserved.

History

In ancient times, Sellasia controlled the entrance to Laconia from the north.

During the first campaign of the Epameinondas around 370 BC, before Sellasia was destroyed by the Peloponnesians.

Underneath the city on a surface between the Macedonian king, Antigonus III Doson and the Achaean League on the other and Sparta under Cleomenes in which he choose to fight between the narrow hills near Sellasia. In 222 BC, Antigonus crushed Cleomenes at Sellasia and took Corinth as a reward. The Battle of Sellasia took place in 221 BC. Afterwards, Sellasia was destroyed and the population was sold as slaves. In the 2nd century, Pausanias mentioned the city.

In 146 B.C. Sellasia became part of the Roman Empire. When the empire divided into east and west, it became part of the Eastern Roman Empire now referred to as the Byzantine Empire. Sellasia exchanged hands with the Frankish Empire after the 4th crusade in 1204. It passed back into the Byzantine empire after 1260. It was part of the Ottomans after 1460 until it joined an independent Greece after the Greek War of Independence (1821 to 1827). The next conflict that Sellasia encountered was World War II quickly followed by the Greek Civil War. Sellasia's population declined and saw its residents moving to larger towns and cities as well as the developed countries outside of Greece.

The area around Sellasia saw an enormous forest fire that ravaged on August 15, 1988 destroying all of its olive, citrus and other crops around the area. Around tens of square kilometres of land were burnt, about 25 homes were destroyed and 2 people died. Houses were later repaired, and in 1998, olive trees were replanted but remain at half its previous level. The village decided to add a festival dedicated to olives which attracts up to 15,000 people. It features delicacies that includes olives including olive oil, olives and Greek traditional music. ERT broadcasted several documentaries about Sellasia including its history, its geography, the forest fire, and its festival.

Other

Sellasia has a school which is located in the south and the central part, a church, a small post office and a square (plateia). It is also the birthplace of Panathinaikos' BC owners Pavlos and Thanasis Giannakopoulos and the place of origin of the great tennis player Pete Sampras.

External links

• Coordinates: 37°9′49″N 22°25′10″E / 37.16361, 22.41944

See also

• Communities of Laconia
• Satsuma selasia
• Selasia, it is also a species which is founded in Africa
• Selasia, an epithet of Artemis