Areopoli (; before 1912 , )EETAA local government changes
/ref> is a town on the

Mani Peninsula The Mani Peninsula (), also long known by its medieval name Maina or Maïna (), is a geographical and cultural region in the Peloponnese of Southern Greece and home to the Maniots (), who claim descent from the ancient Spartans. The capital ci ...

Laconia Laconia or Lakonia (, , ) is a historical and Administrative regions of Greece, administrative region of Greece located on the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti (municipality), Sparta. The word ...

, Greece. The word ''Areopoli'', which means "city of

Ares Ares (; , ''Árēs'' ) is the List of Greek deities, Greek god of war god, war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for ...

", the

ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

god of war, became the official name in 1912. It was the seat of

Oitylo Oitylo (), known as "Βίτσουλο", pronounced Vitsoulo, in the native Maniot dialect, is a village and a former Communities and Municipalities of Greece, municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local ...

municipality. The

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

was started at Areopoli on March 17, 1821 by Petros Pierrakos, also known as

Petros Mavromichalis Petros Mavromichalis (; 1765–1848), also known as Petrobey ( ), was a Greeks, Greek general and politician who played a major role in the lead-up and during the Greek War of Independence. Before the war, he served as the Bey of Mani. Mavromi ...

, the last bey of Mani. Now Areopoli has grown into a flourishing town. Its tower houses, constructed with field stones, are distinct from the traditional blue and white buildings that characterize many Greek villages. Street of Aeropolis v2

Areopoli is situated near the west coast of the Mani Peninsula, 1.5 km from its port ''Limeni''. It is 20 km southwest of

Gytheio Gytheio ( ) or Gythio, also the ancient Gythium or Gytheion (), is a town on the eastern shore of the Mani Peninsula, and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is par ...

. There is lively open air market in the main square each Saturday, with a lot of local producers present.

History

On 17 March 1821, the first flag of the

was raised in Taxiarchon Square. In June 1826, Ibrahim Pasha landed near Areopoli but was repulsed after a battle at Dyros. By 1829, Areopoli was home to 290 families. Throughout the 19th century and into the mid-20th century, the population of Areopoli fluctuated between 1,100 and 2,000 inhabitants. The settlement expanded eastward, along the main road where a market was established. Following the war, both population and commercial activity declined, yet Areopoli remained the largest settlement in the Mani Peninsula.

Historical population

Notable people

* Koulis Alepis (1903-1986), poet * Dimitrios Kalapothakis, journalist * Maria Kolokouri (1977–2014),

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

vocalist and multi-instrumentalist * Stylianos Pierrakos ( Stylianos Mavromichalis) (1902–1981), former

Prime Minister of Greece The prime minister of the Hellenic Republic (), usually referred to as the prime minister of Greece (), is the head of government of the Greece, Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Cabinet of Greece, Greek Cabinet. The officeholder's of ...

Georgios Polymenakos Georgios Polymenakos (, 1859–1942) was a Greek military officer, notable for his role in the Balkan Wars and the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922). Biography Born in Areopolis on 1 July 1859, he enlisted in the Hellenic Army on 21 June 1880. ...

, military officer * Gregorios Skalkeas (1926-2018), Chancellor of the University of Central Greece

References

Populated places in Laconia East Mani Populated places in the Mani Peninsula {{Peloponnese-geo-stub

History

Historical population

Notable people

See also

References