| The temple of Athena |
The temple of Athena and Zeus of Savior constitute the most appreciable monument of ancient Figaleia that is extended in the place of the current community. Figaleia was one of the important Arcadian cities and dedicated the temple of Apollo Epicurius in Basses. The temple of Athena and Zeus is located in the low hill of "Kourdoumpouli", south-western of the ''Agora'' of the ancient city. It is a rectangle temple with ''pronao'' and ''cella'', and orientation from the East to the West. Its period of life extends from the 4th century B.C. until the early Roman period, while probably existed an archaic phase as well. The temple is not reported by Paysania and the identification of worshipped deities was inscribed on the statues bases.The excavation showed that the life in this particular hill had already begun from the prehistoric period. The Sanctuary existed from the archaic period, as it emerges from the architectural ruins, as well as from the offerings. In the Byzantine period or in the period of the Frankish Occupation the temple seems to be transformed into a house.
The temple of the 4th century. BC, is a rectangle building with pronao and enclosure. It is made of large rectangular stones in irregular system. The entrance is on the east and has a threshold. The ''pronaos'' communicates with the enclosure via a monolith threshold. At the bottom of the cella was found the cubic stone of the statue of worship. In the ''plateau',' that is formed in front of the facade of the temple, was probably the altar.
The temple is located in the southern part of ancient Figaleia. The city is surrounded by strong fortification of 4,5 km length and has citadel in the north-east. The ancient sources refer ''Agora'', Gymnasium, Theatre, as well as temples of Artemis, Dionysus Akratoforou and Eyrynomis. On coins of the city it appears that they worshiped Health, Asklipius, Aphrodite and Neda or Chance. From the ancient city has been excavated, so far, the fountain of the early Hellenistic period and funerary monuments of the Hellenistic period which are similar with those of ancient Alifeiras and Messina.
The Temple of Athena and Zeus Savior was a religious and political centre of ancient Figaleias. From the inscriptions it emerges that the temple had political importance and that its scope extends beyond the limits of Arcadia. It has several similarities to the construction and arrangement of internal spaces with the temple of Asclepius in Alifeira.
| Theisoa |
In the Municipality of Andritsena, on the hill situated above the settlement of Theisoa, the visitor meets scattered parts of the ancient temple of the same style with the temple of Apollo Epicurius (430-429 B.C.). At the site of the ancient fortification, which is extant until today, was built the fortress of Saint Helen. (1209 - 1275 A.D.).
Behind this hill is located the valley of Soultina and the river Myleon , which starts from the Mount Lykaion, that, according to the tradition, was the birthplace of Zeus. The nymph Theisoa was Zeus nurse and the modern settlement is named after her. In 1996, during the construction of the Theisoa-Matesi road, a cemetery was revealed, probably of the Hellenistic era.
Behind this hill is located the valley of Soultina and the river Myleon , which starts from the Mount Lykaion, that, according to the tradition, was the birthplace of Zeus. The nymph Theisoa was Zeus nurse and the modern settlement is named after her. In 1996, during the construction of the Theisoa-Matesi road, a cemetery was revealed, probably of the Hellenistic era.
| Vresto |
The extended (extensive) ruins, which are found in the location of Vrestos, are identified with the city of "Pteleos", which took part in the Trojan War, as Homer mentions as well.According to Strabo's Geography, "Pteleos" was built by colonists, who came from the homonymous city of Thessaly. He mentions that there was "an uninhabited village with dense forest, called Ptelasion".
The remains are of houses, theatre, public buildings and walls with towers.
| Ancient Lepreo |
The Acropolis of the Ancient Lepreo is one of the most impressive of Western Peloponnese and the excavations (1853-1940) revealed findings and evidence from the classical, Hellenistic and Roman times. The area of Ancient Lepreos was inhabited since the Neolithic Age (6,000 - 2,700 B.C.). The major flourishing is observed in the period after 1900 B.C. In the times of Pausanias (2nd century B.C.) the city had declined and Pausanias reports: "In my age neither any official tomb there was nor any sanctuary apart from that of Demeter's, and even this was made with raw adobes". However, the findings at the Temple of Demeter are impressive.
| Ancient Figaleia |
The Ancient Phigaleia was in antiquity one of the most powerful Arcadian cities. The modern Phigaleia is built on the remains of the ancient city, which had many sanctuaries and public buildings. Pausanias reports the existence of the sanctuaries of Artemis Savior, Dionysus Akratoforus and Eurynome, in addition to the Gymnasium and the Agora, where the statues of Hermes and of Arrachion, the Olympic champion, were.
| Ancient Platiana |
The ruins of the ancient city (Typaneai or Aipy) are on the hill Lapithas southernly of the village Platiana (Olympias' province), It is located in the hinterland, 17 km Eastern (in straight line) from the nearest coast of Kyparissia. It is a fortified, elliptic and elongated city, which is surrounded by a line of walls, probably of the 4th or 3rd century B.C. The city is saved in its entirety in very good condition (in certain points round the 5m. height).
It has three big gates to the north-west, south-west and east, which is the main gate, as well as several defensive towers. The walls are built by blocks of stone. The exterior side has a flat surface, while internal has stones of medium size.
The fortified city has biggest length 660m and maximum width, including the north-west extension of the wall, 200m, while the rest does not exist the 100 m width. It is divided in 8 ''andira'' (level surfaces), with bent from west to east.
In one of the ''andira'' there is a theatre. A part of its scene and its concave is saved, while in others there are a) the "Acropolis", b) the "Agora as well as g) the ''analimma'' of the Temple. In the side there exist foundations of several constructions. From them, it stands out a rectangular floor that is saved in enough height. It is probably houses, perhaps for the eminent persons.
Regarding the cemetery of the ancient city, various clues place it in a nape between the hills of the fortified city and in another smaller, located a few hundreds meters west.
| Agia Triada |
In the north east Ilia, near the borders of the prefectures of Ilia and Achaia and in short distance from the borders of Antroni and Agia Triada, in Paliompokobina, has been found an extensive Mycenaean cemetery. The graves are carved on the slope of a small hill, and arranged in rows (cubed in lines), oriented N-S and E-W.
There were searched fifty graves/tombs and the discoveries were important. There were found five hundred (500) vessels.
In the decoration of the vessels we mostly see semicircles, triangles, flowers, undulate lines etc. The figurative subjects are few. Most important is the representation of the dead person laid down that was maintained in the shells of a crater.
The findings from the cemetery are almost 1500.
The most important are: two bronze buckles, bronze and bone pins, razors, a gold and appended by a mountain crystal, a gold necklace, eight hundred (800) of beads of various types, two quills, thirteen seal stones, eight bronze knives, several teeth of boars, helmets, a sword, two bronze vases.
| Kato Ancient Samias |
City of Trifylias, which was founded southerly of Olympia and the valley of Alfios. Its location was exceptionally important since it connected the north-west Peloponnese with the South-west, that's why later on it was named Kledi (Key) by the local people. More specifically we would say that it is placed at the western foot of the mountain Lapitha. The findings show that the 4rth century the citadel is fortified by strong wall with towers. Today the walls are visible and at a height of 180 meters north of the lake of Kaiafa. Its residents worshipped Poseidon (a cult that brings in mind the description, in the Homeric Odyssey, of the ceremonies that the residents of Pylos held to honour Poseidon). In the Southern side of Samiko there was the so called ''cave of Anigridon Nymphs'' that spurted therapeutical water for the treatment of skin diseases.
In the location Kledi, north of Samiko, Doerpfeld found Mycenaean shells and ruins of cyclopean walls. Also, in 1954, N.Gialoyris found a tomb with graves, in which there were found vessels of the Mycenaean years. Due to the excavator the tomb was built to honour Iardano. The excavations were repeated by El. Papakonstantinoy in the early '80s and they brought into light four more tumuli and a domed tomb that was built inside a tomb.
The last case is exceptionally interesting since it shows that the Mycenaean constructors selected the tomb, continuing the uninterrupted use of the area as burial space and testifying that they belonged in the same race with the Mesoelladites (previous inhabitants of the area).
In the region there still exist ruins of the ancient city Samias, which Paysanias identifies with the Homeric Citadel Arini. Is it also saved a fortified wall that is dated in the Macedonian Period. In the place Kledi, there were revealed relics of a cyclopean wall, a cemetery and a vaulted grave.
| Ancient Skillountia |
City of Trifylias, which abstains 3.5 km from Olympia. The excavations that have been held in the region of Prophet Ilias Makrision, showed that there had been established a settlement already from the middle (mesoelladiki) period.
Skillous, during the 7th-6th century B.C, had friendly relationship with the city of Pisates, fact that was enough for the Ilians to destroy the city in 572 B.C. Aound 400 B.C. it was dominated by the Spartans, that afterwards granted in Xenofon a big part of the area. Xenophon settled there and founded the Temple of Artemis. The goddess, as it is known, was the protector of hunting. The Athenian historian described hunting scenes. He, his sons and their guests were hunting wild boars and deer in Foloi.
| Mycenaean Cemetery in Paliompokobina |
In the north east Ilia, near the borders of the prefectures of Ilia and Achaia and in short distance from the borders of Antroni and Agia Triada, in Paliompokobina, has been found an extensive Mycenaean cemetery. The graves are carved on the slope of a small hill, and arranged in rows (cubed in lines), oriented N-S and E-W.
There were searched fifty graves/tombs and the discoveries were important. There were found five hundred (500) vessels.
In the decoration of the vessels we mostly see semicircles, triangles, flowers, undulate lines etc. The figurative subjects are few. Most important is the representation of the dead person laid down that was maintained in the shells of a crater.
The findings from the cemetery are almost 1500.
The most important are: two bronze buckles, bronze and bone pins, razors, a gold and appended by a mountain crystal, a gold necklace, eight hundred (800) of beads of various types, two quills, thirteen seal stones, eight bronze knives, several teeth of boars, helmets, a sword, two bronze vases.
