Oinounta

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Oinounta - Statistics
Prefecture:	Laconia
Province:	Lacedaemonia
Location: Latitude: Longitude:	37.262/37°9'49' N lat. 22.418/22°25'10' E long
Area: -Total -Water -Rank	139.45 km² km²

Oinounta (Modern Greek: Οινούντα, 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 Oinounta, 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 valey 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.

Contents

1 Nearest places
2 Communities and settlements
3 Historical population
4 History
5 External links
6 See also

Nearest places

Sparta, S
Vresthena, N

Communities and settlements

Chtoriza
Kalyvia Theologou
Konditsa
Kopelia
Kouremenos
Megali Vrysi
Sellasia
Theologos
Vamvakou
Varvitsa
Vassaras
Verroia
Voutiani
Vresthena

Historical population

Year Population Change Municipal population
1981 523 - -
1991 487 -34/6.5% 2,649

Year	Population	Change	Municipal population
1981	523	-	-
1991	487	-34/6.5%	2,649

Sellasia has a school which is located in the south and the central part, a lyceum, a gymnasium, a church, a small post office and a square (plateia).

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.

A documentary of ERT was about this place.

North: Karyes

West: Pellana
Oinounta East: Kastanitsa
South: Sparta

External links

Coordinates: [37°9′49″N, 22°25′10″E]

	North: Karyes
West: Pellana	Oinounta	East: Kastanitsa
	South: Sparta