Gortyna, Arcadia

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] The municipal unit has an area of 116.205 km2.[3] Its seat was in the village Karytaina. The name of the municipality was taken from the ancient city of Gortys.

For Gortyna in Crete, see Gortyn.
Gortyna

Γόρτυνα
Gortyna
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 37°32′22.29″N 22°2′43.5″E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitArcadia
MunicipalityMegalopolis
 • Municipal unit116.2 km2 (44.9 sq mi)
Elevation
482 m (1,581 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipal unit
720
 • Municipal unit density6.2/km2 (16/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
220 22
Area code(s)27910
Vehicle registrationTP
Websitewww.gortynos.gr

Subdivisions

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

Population
YearPopulation
19911,500?
2001777
2011720

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.[4] 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.[5]

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. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
  3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
  4. Pausanias Description of Greece 8.4.8, 8.27, 8.28
  5. Gortys

See also
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