Temple of Alea Athena

The ancient temple of Alea is located close to the arcadian village Alea, 10 km from Tripolis. It was the bigger one in Peloponnese after the temple of Zeus at Olympia and one of the most important sacred buildings in the ancient greek world. The temple was destroyed by fire around 395, but it was rebuilt in 340 BC and housed the ivory statue of Athena, of which only a few fragments remain. This temple was designed by Skopas from Paros, a comtemporary of Praxiteles, whose style was known for it's contorted poses and strong emotions.
The temple's arhitecture style was important because it was an attempt to vary the Doric Order. The Temple has a tall, thin appearance. It measured 47.55 by 19.19 meters on the stylobate, with 6 columns across each end and 14 on each flank. The columns were very thin, and their height was more than 6 times the lower diameter. The cella on the Temple has a second entrance cut in the north wall in the center of the colonnade. The inside of the cella contains engaged Corinthian half-columns. The design of the Temple of Athena Alea is in some respects similar to the design of the Temple of Apollo at Bassai, near the village Andritsaina.
Numerous local archaeological finds are displayed at the Tegea Archaelogical Museum, located in village Alea. An excellent finding from the area is the marble head of the goddess Hygeia (Arch. Museum of Athens). It probably belonged to a statue which stood in the temple of Athena Alea at Tegea.

Archaeological Site of Episkopi at Tegea

The archaelogical site of Episkopi is located between the villages of Alea and Stadio, 1 km from the temple of Alea Athena and 11 km from Tripolis. It contains monuments and findings from several periods. The most important monuments of the site are the ancient theater of Hellenistic date, built by Antiohos C (about 175 BC), parts of ancient Agora, dated to Hellenistic and Roman period and a part of the so called Basilica of Thyrsos, an Early Christian Basilica (5th-6th century A.D.). This basilica preserves mosaic floor with representation of the rivers of Edem and the months of the year and has been published in 1953 by A. Orlandos in the "Bulletin of Byzantine and Christian Monuments of Greece". Some remains of Byzantine settlement (10th-13th century A.D.) are also preserved.
Two early Christian Basilicas were revealed at excavations conducted by French Archaeologists (namely Prof. Berard) during the last century, but later destroyed, except for the foresaid part. The rest of the monuments were uncovered during recent excavations by Dr. Th. Spyropoulos. During the years 1982-1995, new excavations, sponsored by the foundation "Viohalko-N. Stasinopoulos", were conducted.

Megalopolis

The ancient city was founded in 371 BC by the Theban general, Epaminondas, after his victory at Leuctra and established itself as the largest city in Arcadia. The city flourished and typical examples of its prosperity were the many monuments that adorning it, such as sanctuaries, altars, statues, the agora and the theatre.
In 222 BC Megalopoli was destroyed by Cleomenes from Sparta and the surviving inhabitants took refuge in neighbouring Messenia. In Roman times, according to Strabo, it was a wasteland. Nevertheless, fragments of Diocletian's Market Prices Edict (301 AD) have survived. There must also have been a Christian community, shown by the scattered architectural parts of a Basilica and the 6th c. AD mosaics, which were found on the site of the modern National Electricity Board estate.
The Theatre at Megalopoli, "the grandest in Greece", according to Pausanias, was a testimony to the powerful Arkadian Cofederacy of Epaminondas. It held 20,000 spectators and had excellent acoustics. Many of its marble blocks have survived the passage of time and today we can still watch performances of ancient Greek drama. By a decision of the State the theatre is being restored and will shortIy regain its original form. Beside the Theatre was the Bouleuterion (Council Chamber) of the Arkadian Confederacy. It rested on marble columns and seated 6, 000 people with room for 4, 000 standing. In recent years excavations have been carried out by a team of German archaeologists under Professor Lauter of Marburg University. The latest ones have uncovered important ancient structures, like the stoa of Philip and the Temple of Zeus, which is in the area of the Ancient Agora.
Megalopolis was also the birthplace of various historical personages, including Philopoemen, Polybius General Dicaeus and Lycoortas.

Ancient Gortis

According to the Greek Mythology Ancient Gortis were created by Gortis, who was a great-grandson of Arcas. It was built near the Loussios river (or Gortynios) and known by its famous baths. Excavations in 1952 showed that the the ancient town was destroyed at 2th c. A.C and uncovered the baths, which were based on technicaly advanced settlements for that period, some ruins of the town and its acropolis (renains of two acropolis were found), as well ruins of a temple of Aesculapius. In the ancinet times Aesculapius' cult was straightly related to spa therapy.

Ancient Mantineia (Mantinea)

The town of ancient Mantineia with its walls, towers, agora, theatre and the rest public buildings, was founded at the plain of Mantineia in Geometric and Archaic period, while in pehistoric times it was situated on the acropolis "Gortsouli". There, prehistoric structures and quite important sanctuaries of historic times, have been revealed. In Roman period the site was called "Antigoneia". Today the site in its full extent has been officially recognised state property and archaeological area.
Systematic excavations at Mantineia were conducted by the French Archaeological School At Athens, at the beginning of the century. They revealed the ancient theatre, dated to the end of the 4th century B.C., the Bouleuterion and the Agora of Hellenistic and Roman date. Quite recently, excavations conducted by the Greek Archaeological Service under the direction of Dr. Th. Karagiorga and Dr. Th. Spyropoulos on the sites of "Gortsouli" and " Tripehi", brought into light sanctuaries of historic period.
The most important monuments of the site are: (a) The ancient theatre of Early Hellenistic date (4th/3d century B.C.). (b) The Bouleuterion (c) Remains of the ancient Agora with sanctuaries of Podaris, and (d) Baths of Roman date.

Ancient Lykossoura

Ancient Lykossoura is located at the SW part of Arcadia (49 km. from Tripolis and 12 km. from Megalopolis), on the slopes of the sacred mount Lykaion. In the ancient times it was the sacred city of Arcadians and considered as "the most ancient one in the mainland and the islands". Pausanias wrote that "it was the first city the sun saw". The main monuments of the site are the sanctuary of Despoina (dauter of gods Poseidon and Demetra), a grove of Despoina, a sanctuary of Pan and a sanctuary of Athena. According the myths, Lykossoura was created by the king Lykaon, son of Pelasgos.

Mount Lykaion, Temple of Zeus

In the anciet times Mount Lykaion was the sacred mount of Arcadians. Accordig to local myths on this mount Rea gaves birth to Zeus and commended him to Nymphs Neda, Theisoa and Agno. By the myth, all creators of arcadian cities are originated from this mount. Center of cult and various sacred ceremonies was the sanctuary of Lykaios Zeus, located near the top of the mount. In ancient times the area was an important religious and athletic center. During the 19th century excavations carried out by the Hellenic Archaelogical Association revealed parts of the altar of Lykaios Zeus, the Stadium, the Hippodrome, the cisterns, the fountains and the hostels.

Orhomenos

Near the village Levidi, lies the ancient Acropolis of Orhomenos. In Homer's times Orhomenos was known as an area with many sheeps. Up to 5th century BC it was the capital of Arcadia and the base of its Kigs. Acropolis is located at the top of a hill, standing next to the valley of Levidi. The most important monument is the ancient theater that is preserved well. They have been revealed also ruins of a temple of Artemis, of the Agora and of the walls.

The Temple of Epicurean Apollo

The Temple of Epicurean Apollo is located SW to Andritsaina (belongig to the perfecture of Ileia), in an imposing mountaneous landscape. It was one of the most greate temples in the antient times. It is the first nearly complete temple still surving, with for the first time, all three architectural styles: Doric, Ionian and Corinthian. The temple was erected on a raised area, 1,131m altitude, called the "Bassai", meaning little vale in the rocks. The temple is dated at ca. 420 B.C. and was a work of Ictinos architect of the Parthenon. It was built over an older temple, by the inhabitants of Figalos in honour of Epicurean Apollo, gratitude for saving them from a plague. The name Epicuros was given to Apollo ca. 650 B.C., during the wars against the Spartans.
It is a Doric peripteral temple made from local limestone, and consists of a prodome and a cella. It is orientated north to south. In the cella there was a column with a corinthian capital, which is the oldest known example of its kind. The temple was decorated with a marble sculpted frieze depicting the battles between the Amazons and the Centaurs. The frieze's marbles have been looted by the British and can now be found in the British Museum.
In 1902, the 1st Archaeological society of Athens began systematic archaeological research of the area, under the direction of K.Kourouniotis, with the assistance of K.Romaios and P.Kavvadias. It was continued in 1959, 1970 and from 1975-1979, under the direction of N.Gialouris. Small scale restorations have been carried out by the civil engineer N. Balanos and professor H. Bouras. More recently, research has been completed, by the Committee of the Temple of Epicurean Apollo, for the restoration of the temple.
At the present time conservation work on the temple is being done under the supervision of the Committee of the Epicurean Apollo, which is based in Athens.

Villa of Herodes Atticus in Eva Kynourias

One of the most important monuments of Arcadia is the Villa of Herodes Atticus in Eva (Dolianon) Kynourias, near the village Doliana. In its neighbohood there is the Loukous monastery which was built on the ruins of the sanctuary of Polemocrates. Philosopher and politician Herodes Atticus was in his days an adorer and collector of works of art. It seems that both region history and vicinity to the ancient sanctuary led him choose this location to build his villa, wherein he housed a great part of his art collection.
Though Villa's location was known since 19th century, its idendification was done in 1906 by Konstantinos Romaios, who read two inscriptions from its remains. In 1977 a small rescue excavation was carried out by Dr. G. Steinchauer. In 1979-1996 Dr. Th. Spyropoulos undertook systematic excavation and conservation. Excavations revealed the atrium, the artificial ditch-river, three porticos with mosaic floors, the exedra (platform), the Megaron and the baths of the south side of the villa. Bridge and aqueduct of the Imperial Roman times. Τhe finds includes numerous statues and mosaic floors which are exhibited in the Museums of Astros and Tripolis. Close to the site there is a Bridge and aqueduct of the Imperial Roman times.

Pallandio

On a hill near the village Pallandio (7 km.from Tripolis), there are a few remains of the ancient town Pallandio and its acropolis. It was the homeland of Evandros who, in the ancient times, led colonists to found Rome.

Ancient Asea

Close to the village Asea there are the ruins of the Acropolis of ancient Asea and remains of the city's walls. Excavations revealed remains of some buildings of hellenistic date and of an ancient temple.

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