Asea, Greece
Encyclopedia
Asea is a village in Arcadia
, Greece
, in the middle of the southern Peloponnese
peninsula. Asea is about 20 km from both Tripoli
and Megalopoli, and 190 km from Athens
. Asea was the seat of the municipality of Valtetsi
. Although Asea has only about 200 permanent inhabitants, its natural beauty and archeological sites attract weekend and summer visitors.
n king, Lykaon, however it may have been established as early as 6000 BC. Its treasures are kept in archaeological museums in Tripoli, Nafplio, and Athens. The ruins of the ancient city still stand, most notably doric temples dedicated to Poseidon
and Athena
, and they indicate that Asea was once a prosperous city. According to Pausanias
, the two temples were erected by Odysseus
after his return to Ithaca. Inhabitants of Asea fought in the historic battles of Plataies (479 BC) and Mantineia
(362 BC). City coins have been found dated 196 BC. Asea took part in the founding of the city of Megalopoli.
Under Turkish occupation
, the village was called Kandreva. The area battled and joined Greece
during the Greek War of Independence
but it village still kept its name for the next 100 years. However, Asea took back its ancient name in the 1920s. It is one of the municipal centers of the region. After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, many rebuildings were rebuilt but their original architecture remain while many of the houses are modernistic in architecture. The population lost between 1951 and 1991 which made many people to move to larger cities in Greece
and abroad. It was one of the few places in the nation that after the population lost in 1991, it definitively recovered to its census where it was in 1981.
, a well-known twentieth-century poet. Nikos Gatsos was born 1911 and died in 1992. He was buried in Asea.
). Its nearest hospital and university are in Tripoli.
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, in the middle of the southern 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...
peninsula. Asea is about 20 km from both Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
and Megalopoli, and 190 km from Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. Asea was the seat of the municipality of Valtetsi
Valtetsi
Valtetsi is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 1,842 . The seat of the municipality was in Asea. The municipality was recreated in the...
. Although Asea has only about 200 permanent inhabitants, its natural beauty and archeological sites attract weekend and summer visitors.
History
Ancient Asea occupied a hilltop site and is believed to have been settled by the late Early Helladic period. Evidence suggests that this was destroyed by fire and that the site was reoccupied during the Middle Helladic (MH). Remains consist of much Black Minyan pottery of various types and a number of graves. The lack of evidence later than the late MH period could result from abandonment of the site at that time or just from natural erosion.Nearest places
- Kato Asea, north
- PaparisPaparisPaparis is a Greek village in the westcentral part of Arcadia. Paparis is in the municipal unit of Valtetsi. Paparis is connected with the road linking the GR-7/E65 6 km north along with the superhighway and Skortsinos...
, south - Marmaria, southwest
- AthinaioAthinaioAthinaio is a Greek village in the westcentral part of Arcadia. Athinaio is in the municipal unit of Valtetsi. Athinaio had a 2001 population of 149 for the village and 183 for the municipal district...
, west-northwest
Geography
Asea is situated in a valley area separated from the rest of the villages. The mountains dominate much of the area and it contains plenty of valleys and streams and grasslands along with barren lands to the east, the forests dominate the western and the central portions. Farmlands are within the village area The mountains are also around the area.Population
| Year | Settlement population | Population municipal district |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 167 | - |
| 1991 | 145 | - |
| 2001 | 167 | 223 |
History
Asea is said to be named for Aseatas, son of the SpartaSparta
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...
n king, Lykaon, however it may have been established as early as 6000 BC. Its treasures are kept in archaeological museums in Tripoli, Nafplio, and Athens. The ruins of the ancient city still stand, most notably doric temples dedicated to Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
and Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, and they indicate that Asea was once a prosperous city. According to Pausanias
Pausanias (geographer)
Pausanias was a Greek traveler and geographer of the 2nd century AD, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He is famous for his Description of Greece , a lengthy work that describes ancient Greece from firsthand observations, and is a crucial link between classical...
, the two temples were erected by Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
after his return to Ithaca. Inhabitants of Asea fought in the historic battles of Plataies (479 BC) and Mantineia
Battle of Mantinea
Battle of Mantinea may refer to one of three battles fought at Mantinea:*Battle of Mantinea *Battle of Mantinea *Battle of Mantinea...
(362 BC). City coins have been found dated 196 BC. Asea took part in the founding of the city of Megalopoli.
Under Turkish occupation
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 village was called Kandreva. The area battled and joined Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
but it village still kept its name for the next 100 years. However, Asea took back its ancient name in the 1920s. It is one of the municipal centers of the region. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, many rebuildings were rebuilt but their original architecture remain while many of the houses are modernistic in architecture. The population lost between 1951 and 1991 which made many people to move to larger cities in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and abroad. It was one of the few places in the nation that after the population lost in 1991, it definitively recovered to its census where it was in 1981.
Panorama
The village offers panoramic views of the mountains around the area including the west, the north, the east, Tsiberou to the southeast and to the south.Famous residents
Asea is the birthplace of Nikos GatsosNikos Gatsos
-Biography:Nikos Gatsos was born in 1911 in Asea in Arcadia, a district of the Peloponnese, where he finished primary school . He attended high school in Tripoli, where he became acquainted with literature and foreign languages. Afterwards, he moved to Athens, where he studied literature,...
, a well-known twentieth-century poet. Nikos Gatsos was born 1911 and died in 1992. He was buried in Asea.
Other
Asea has a school, many churches, and a square (plateiaPlateia
Plateia or platia is the Greek word for town square. Most Greek and Cypriot cities have several town squares which are a point of reference in travelling and guiding...
). Its nearest hospital and university are in Tripoli.
External links
- A web page for Asea village
- Asea or Assea on the GTP Travel Pages
- face book "asea"