Arna
Encyclopedia
Arna is a village on the eastern slopes of the Taygetus
mountain range, at an altitude of 700m to 850m (2,300 to 2,800 feet).
Located in Laconia
, in the Peloponnese
, it forms part of the municipal unit of Faris
. The nearest major towns are Gytheio
, 35 km (21.7 mi) to the southeast, and Sparta
, approximately 40 km to the north.
The area has a rich history. Near the village, at the Arkina site, a two Mycenaean-era domed burial chambers have been found, most likely built by Minyan
or Boeotia
n settlers. Artifacts from many periods have also been found at Arna and Arkina, mostly ceramic containers. These findings support the conclusion that the site has been since ancient times a stop on the road connecting Sparta
and Messinia.
Under Ottoman rule
, the area remained free of Turkish presence. For the final years of Ottoman rule, Arna and the rest of the Mani region enjoyed a hard-earned special status of autonomy as they had throughout the entire Age of the Ottoman Empire. From that era, two defensive towers (pirgi) remain.
The residents of Arna featured prominently in the Greek struggle for independence (1821-1829). A close-by reminder of that struggle is the "Kolokotronis Cave", on the north slope of Mt. Annina. Folk tradition has it that Constantine Kolokotronis (father of famed hero Theodoros Kolokotronis
) had sought refuge in this cave after being wounded defending the pirgos of the nearby village of Kastania, at the side of fellow revolutionary Panagiotaros Venetsanakos. He was discovered there the next day and killed; his body was thrown into the cave.
Today, Arna's population is on the decline, as is the population of the Greek countryside nationwide. The 1971 census counted 324 residents in the village; today, fewer than 150 remain. There are, however, positive signs of increased activity: The number of visits from emigrant Arniotes is on the rise, year round.
For visitors, there are five stores open year round, two of which serve food. A traditional guesthouse Geodi provides accommodation to visitors wishing to stay for any length of time in Arna.
Giorgos V. Polymenakos, The Arna Cultural Association "O PLATANOS" Website manager
Taygetus
Mount Taygetus, Taugetus, or Taigetus is a mountain range in the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece. The name is one of the oldest recorded in Europe, appearing in the Odyssey. In classical mythology, it was associated with the nymph Taygete...
mountain range, at an altitude of 700m to 850m (2,300 to 2,800 feet).
Located in Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
, in the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
, it forms part of the municipal unit of Faris
Faris
Faris is a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sparti, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,269 . The seat of the municipality was in Xirokampi....
. The nearest major towns are Gytheio
Gytheio
Gytheio , the ancient Gythium or Gytheion , is a town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the seaport of Sparta, some 40 km north...
, 35 km (21.7 mi) to the southeast, and Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
, approximately 40 km to the north.
The area has a rich history. Near the village, at the Arkina site, a two Mycenaean-era domed burial chambers have been found, most likely built by Minyan
Minyans
According to Greek mythology and legendary prehistory of the Aegean region, the Minyans were an autochthonous group inhabiting the Aegean region...
or Boeotia
Boeotia
Boeotia, also spelled Beotia and Bœotia , is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. It was also a region of ancient Greece. Its capital is Livadeia, the second largest city being Thebes.-Geography:...
n settlers. Artifacts from many periods have also been found at Arna and Arkina, mostly ceramic containers. These findings support the conclusion that the site has been since ancient times a stop on the road connecting Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
and Messinia.
Under Ottoman rule
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, the area remained free of Turkish presence. For the final years of Ottoman rule, Arna and the rest of the Mani region enjoyed a hard-earned special status of autonomy as they had throughout the entire Age of the Ottoman Empire. From that era, two defensive towers (pirgi) remain.
The residents of Arna featured prominently in the Greek struggle for independence (1821-1829). A close-by reminder of that struggle is the "Kolokotronis Cave", on the north slope of Mt. Annina. Folk tradition has it that Constantine Kolokotronis (father of famed hero Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis was a Greek Field Marshal and one of the leaders of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire....
) had sought refuge in this cave after being wounded defending the pirgos of the nearby village of Kastania, at the side of fellow revolutionary Panagiotaros Venetsanakos. He was discovered there the next day and killed; his body was thrown into the cave.
Today, Arna's population is on the decline, as is the population of the Greek countryside nationwide. The 1971 census counted 324 residents in the village; today, fewer than 150 remain. There are, however, positive signs of increased activity: The number of visits from emigrant Arniotes is on the rise, year round.
For visitors, there are five stores open year round, two of which serve food. A traditional guesthouse Geodi provides accommodation to visitors wishing to stay for any length of time in Arna.
Source
- Used with permission from The Arna Cultural Association.
- http://www.arna.gr does not currently belong to The Arna Cultural Association
- The Arna Cultural Association website is http://users.otenet.gr/~arna .
- The same website can be also found at http://www.arna.org.gr
Giorgos V. Polymenakos, The Arna Cultural Association "O PLATANOS" Website manager