Triphylia
Encyclopedia
Triphylia was an area of the ancient Peloponnese
. Strabo
and Pausanias both describe Triphylia as part of Elis
, and it fell at times under the domination of the city of Elis, but Pausanias claims they reckoned themselves Arcadia
n, not Elean. They fell under the rule of Elis in the 8th century BC, and remained under Elean rule until the Sparta
ns asserted their control in 402 BC. When the Spartans were defeated by the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra
in 371 BC, the Eleans attempted to reassert their control, but the Triphylians, in order to maintain their independence from Elis, joined the Arcadian League
in 368 BC. In this period, their political fortunes were often shared by the areas on the border between Elis and Arcadia but in to the north of the River Alpheus; Xenophon mentions the Amphidolians and Acrorians and the city-states of Lasion, Margana, and Letrini in this context. The Amphidolians, Marganians, and Letrinians are remarkable in Xenophon for fielding slingers
for the Peloponnesian
army.
The most important city in Triphylia was Lepreum
, which maintained its self-government in the 5th century BC. Xenophon, in his accounts of wars involving between the Eleans and their enemies in Sparta and Arcadia in this peiod, also mentions Scillus, Macistus, Epium, Phrixa, and Epitalium as cities in Triphylia.
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...
. Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
and Pausanias both describe Triphylia as part of Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
, and it fell at times under the domination of the city of Elis, but Pausanias claims they reckoned themselves Arcadia
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...
n, not Elean. They fell under the rule of Elis in the 8th century BC, and remained under Elean rule until the 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...
ns asserted their control in 402 BC. When the Spartans were defeated by the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra
Battle of Leuctra
The Battle of Leuctra was a battle fought on July 6, 371 BC, between the Boeotians led by Thebans and the Spartans along with their allies amidst the post-Corinthian War conflict. The battle took place in the neighbourhood of Leuctra, a village in Boeotia in the territory of Thespiae...
in 371 BC, the Eleans attempted to reassert their control, but the Triphylians, in order to maintain their independence from Elis, joined the Arcadian League
Arcadian League
The Arcadian League was a federal league of city-states in ancient Greece. It combined the various cities of Arcadia, in the Peloponnese, into a single state. The league was founded in 370 BC, taking advantage of the decreased power of Sparta, which had previously dominated and controlled Arcadia...
in 368 BC. In this period, their political fortunes were often shared by the areas on the border between Elis and Arcadia but in to the north of the River Alpheus; Xenophon mentions the Amphidolians and Acrorians and the city-states of Lasion, Margana, and Letrini in this context. The Amphidolians, Marganians, and Letrinians are remarkable in Xenophon for fielding slingers
Sling (weapon)
A sling is a projectile weapon typically used to throw a blunt projectile such as a stone or lead "sling-bullet". It is also known as the shepherd's sling....
for the Peloponnesian
Peloponnesian League
The Peloponnesian League was an alliance in the Peloponnesus from the 6th to the 4th centuries BC.- Early history:By the end of the 6th century, Sparta had become the most powerful state in the Peloponnese, and was the political and military hegemon over Argos, the next most powerful state...
army.
The most important city in Triphylia was Lepreum
Lepreum
Lepreum was an Ancient Greek city-state in Triphylia, a district of Elis...
, which maintained its self-government in the 5th century BC. Xenophon, in his accounts of wars involving between the Eleans and their enemies in Sparta and Arcadia in this peiod, also mentions Scillus, Macistus, Epium, Phrixa, and Epitalium as cities in Triphylia.