Belemina (), or Belmina (Βέλμινα), or Belbina (Βελβίνα), or Blenina (Βλένινα), was a town of

ancient 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 ...

and

ancient Arcadia Arcadia (; ) is a region in the central Peloponnese, Greece. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas, and in Greek mythology it was the home of the gods Hermes and Pan (god), Pan. In European Renaissance arts, Arcadia (utopia), Ar ...

, at the northwest frontier of the former, the territory of which was called Belminatis (Βελμινᾶτις). It was originally an Arcadian town, but was conquered by the

Lacedaemonians Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the valley of Evrotas river in Laconia, in southeastern Pe ...

at an early period, and annexed to their territory; although Pausanias does not believe this statement. After the

Battle of Leuctra The Battle of Leuctra (, ) was fought on 6 July 371 BC between the Boeotians led by the Thebes (Greece), Thebans, and the History of Sparta, Spartans along with their allies amidst the post–Corinthian War conflict. The battle took place in the ...

, Belemina was restored to Arcadia, reckoned to be part of

Aegytis Aegys or Aigys () was a town of ancient Arcadia then of ancient Laconia, on the frontiers of the two regions. It originally belonged to the Arcadians, but was conquered at an early period by Charilaus, the reputed nephew of Lycurgus, and annexed t ...

; most of its inhabitants were removed to the newly founded city of

Megalopolis A megalopolis () or a supercity, also called a megaregion, is a group of metropolitan areas which are perceived as a continuous urban area through common systems of transport, economy, resources, ecology, and so on. They are integrated enough ...

; and the place continued to be a dependency of the latter city. In the wars of the

Achaean League The Achaean League () was a Hellenistic period, Hellenistic-era confederation of polis, Greek city-states on the northern and central Peloponnese. The league was named after the region of Achaea (ancient region), Achaea in the northwestern Pelopon ...

, the Belminatis was a constant source of contention between the

Spartans Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the valley of Evrotas river in Laconia, in southeastern P ...

and Achaeans. Under

Machanidas Machanidas () was a tyrant of Lacedaemon near the end of the 3rd century BC. He was defeated and slain by Philopoemen. Accession Machanidas was in a band of Tarentine mercenaries, perhaps a leader, in the pay of the Spartan government. The his ...

Nabis Nabis may refer to: * Nabis of Sparta, reigned 207–192 BCE * Nabis (art), a Parisian post-Impressionist artistic group * ''Nabis'' (bug), a genus of insects * NABIS, National Ballistics Intelligence Service, a British government agency See a ...

, the tyrants of Sparta, the Belminatis was again annexed to Laconia; but upon the subjugation of Sparta by

Philopoemen Philopoemen ( ''Philopoímēn''; 253 BC, Megalopolis – 183 BC, Messene) was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean strategos on eight occasions. From the time he was appointed as strategos in 209 BC, Philopoemen helped turn ...

in 188 BCE, the Belminatis was once more annexed to the territory of Megalopolis. The Belminatis is a mountainous district, in which the

Eurotas In Greek mythology, Eurotas (; Ancient Greek: Εὐρώτας) was a king of Laconia. Family Eurotas was the son of King Myles of Laconia and grandson of Lelex, eponymous ancestor of the Leleges. The ''Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus), Bibliothe ...

takes its rise from many springs. Belemina is said by Pausanias to have been 100 stadia from

Pellana Pellana (; Greek: ἡ Πέλλανα; τὰ Πέλλανα; Πελλήνη; ''Agis''), was a city of ancient Lacedaemonia, on the Eurotas river, and on the road from Sparta to Arcadia. Pellana is now a village and a municipal unit of the munic ...

. Its site is located near the modern

Chelmos Aroania (), also known as Helmos or Chelmos (Χελμός, from South Slavic , "summit"), is a mountain in Achaea, Peloponnese, Greece. At 2,355 m elevation, Aroania is the third highest mountain of the Peloponnese, after Taygetus and Kyllini, ...

References

Populated places in ancient Arcadia Populated places in ancient Laconia Former populated places in Greece {{AncientLaconia-geo-stub