Trikolonoi
Encyclopedia
Trikolonoi is a former municipality in 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...

, Peloponnese, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia
Gortynia
Gortynia is a municipality in the Arcadia peripheral unit, Peloponnese Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Dimitsana.-Municipality:...

, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit includes the villages of Stemnitsa (the former municipal seat), Syrna
Syrna
Syrna is a Greek village in the west of Arcadia. Syrna is in the municipal unit of Trikolonoi. Syrna is connected with the road linking the GR-76 and the Karytaina-Dimitsana Road...

, Pavlia
Pavlia
Pavlia , is a Greek village located around 15 km northwest of Megalopoli, about 30 km southeast of Andritsaina, about 8 km southeast of Karytaina, about 45 km west-southwest of Tripoli and about 25 km southeast of Dimitsana. Its ancient name was Oureo. Pavlia is in the...

, Palamari
Palamari
Palamari is a village and a community of the municipal unit Trikolonoi, in Arcadia, Greece. It is located around 15 km northwest of Megalopoli, about 28 km southeast of Andritsaina, about 8 km southeast of Karytaina, about 43 west-southwest of Tripoli and about 21 km southeast...

 and Elliniko. Stemnitsa is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Arcadia. The village's name comes from a Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...

 word meaning "a thick forest shaded with trees". The town is located south of Dimitsana
Dimitsana
Dimitsana is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is built on the ruins of the ancient town Teuthis...

, southwest of Levidi
Levidi
Levidi is a small town 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. The village sits on the eastern part of the slope of the Mainalo mountains. The pine forests are...

 and Vytina
Vytina
Vytina is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was the village Vytina. Its inhabitants are known as Vytiniots. Greek...

, west of Tripoli
Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...

, and north of Megalopoli
Megalopolis, Greece
Megalópoli is a town in the western part of the peripheral unit of Arcadia, southern Greece. It is located in the same site as ancient Megalopolis . "Megalopolis" is a Greek word for Great city. When it was founded, in 371 BC, it was the first urbanization in rustic and primitive Arcadia. In...

 and Dimitsana
Dimitsana
Dimitsana is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is built on the ruins of the ancient town Teuthis...

. In 2001 Trikolonoi had a population of 1,260. The nearest communities are Dimitsana, about 9 km to the north, and Zygovitsi to the southeast. Its main industries are agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

 and services.

Geography

The village is located on the eastern slope of a valley, which has a small creek to its east. The residential area covers the eastern part of a mountain. Another mountain is located to its west and southeast. Most of the area to the west is deforested. There are forests to the south. It overlooks the Lousios river and its gorge. One can see mountains to the west, the north and the east. Several houses are abandoned. Farmlands are to the north and around the hilltop of Stemnitsa. Its main products are olives and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

. Fruits and vegetables are not grown due to the steep hills. It has approximately 3 to 5 km of hydro lines. Its main shops and buildings lie along the main road.

Stemnitsa is nested in the mountain range of Mainalon (altitude 1050 m). It is located 45 kilometers southwest of the capital of Arcadia, Tripolis. The village is connected by a road connecting Karytaina
Karytaina
Karytaina is a village in Arcadia, Greece. It was the seat of the former municipality Gortyna. Karytaina had a 2001 population of 204 for the village and 257 for the municipal district...

, the Greek National Road 76
Greek National Road 76
Greek National Road 76 is a west to east highway linking 2 km W of Krestena with GR-9/E55, Andritsaina and SE of Megalopoli . The highway west to Andritsaina is unofficially designated as GR-76 The west to east highway runs in the western and the central part of the Peloponnese...

 and Dimitsana
Dimitsana
Dimitsana is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is built on the ruins of the ancient town Teuthis...

 (see the Karytaina-Dimitsana Road
Karytaina-Dimitsana Road
The Karytaina-Dimitsana Road is a 30-km long road that connects the two federal roads, the GR-76 near Karytaina and the GR-74 The Karytaina-Dimitsana Road is a 30-km long road that connects the two federal roads, the GR-76 near Karytaina and the GR-74 The Karytaina-Dimitsana Road is a 30-km long...

. The road is narrow and has only one lane within town limits, while it is two-laned outside the village. Greek National Road 74
Greek National Road 74
Greek National Road 74 is a highway linking Pyrgos, Olympia, Tripoli and GR-7/E65. The west to east highway runs in the western and the central part of the Peloponnese. The highway begins in Pyrgos and into the hills and Olympia and used to ran through narrow roads which now bypasses Pyrgos and...

 is about 20 km south. From Tripolis one could drive to Stemnitsa from two different ways, one via the tourist town of Vytina and the historic village of Dimitsana (8 km away from Stemnitsa), or through the mountain of Mainalon. Either route offers views of the Arcadian country side.

History and myths

On the 2nd century A.D., 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...

, an ancient Greek traveller and geographer, describes in his "Arcadian" stories that Hypsous (Stemnitsa's other name) was located at the foot of Mount Hypsous. According to Pausanias, the area between Hypsous and Thyraiou (Syrna) was very mountainous and dangerous due to wild animals.

According to one of the many stories, the Pelasgian king of Arcadia, Lykaonas built the village in honor of his son Ypsountas. The village was known by the name of Hypsous until about the time of the Black Plague. During 746 A.D. the Black Plague killed many of the inhabitants of Peloponnesos. In an effort to increase its population the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...

, permitted Slavs to migrate there. That is how the subsequent name of the village "Stemnitsa" came into being.

After the overthrow of the Franks in 1430 Stemnitsa was inhabited by a number of renowned individuals, as indicated by inscriptions found on the walls of Zoodohos Pigi, a Byzantine chapel built 1433. After the fall of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...

 in 1453 the village, due to its location surrounded by mountains and having abundant spring waters and being away from larger villages, served as a relatively safe heaven from the invading armies of the Ottoman Turks. The first mention, some say, of the word Stemnitsa, was found in Ottoman taxation documents dated 1512-1515 where the number of families appeared to be about 120. This information was published by professor John Alexandropoulos. In the Grimani Venetian Census report Stemnitsa was shown as the most populous village in Gortynia with 925 people.

By the large number of churches built there and from other descriptions one can deduce that Stemnitsa was a significant village. According to some stories there were once seven parishes, each with its own priest and church. Today one can see many small Byzantine churches some still in a relatively good condition. The church of Bafero was built in 1185 and the Zoodohos in 1433. The two larger churches are Ai-Giorgis and Agia Paraskevi. Currently one priest holds services on alternate Sundays in these two churches.

According to some, during the first years of the 2nd Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...

 occupation of Peloponnesos 1685-1715, a small neighborhood was built in the location today called Kastro (i.e. fort). This is the time where, it is speculated, that a sizeable library was created. These manuscripts and books were subsequently destroyed when they were used to make gun-powder supplies during the 1821 war of independence. Others maintain that the manuscripts and books were hidden in the cistern outside the church of Bafero to save them from the invaders and were damaged due to humidity.

During the years of the Ottoman rule in Greece
Ottoman Greece
Most of Greece gradually became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until its declaration of independence in 1821, a historical period also known as Tourkokratia ....

, Stemnitsa was a shelter for the Kolokotronis clan and other fighters of 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...

. It was also the birthplace of Antonis Pelopidas, a member of the Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria
thumb|right|200px|The flag of the Filiki Eteria.Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends was a secret 19th century organization, whose purpose was to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece and to establish an independent Greek state. Society members were mainly young Phanariot Greeks from Russia and local...

. After the revolution of March 25, 1821, from the end of May to mid of June 1821, it served as the first seat of the "Peloponissiaki Gerousia" (temporary Peloponnese government) of the liberated Peloponnese. The Gerousia met at the "keli" (monastery cell) of the small monastery of Zoodohos Pigi. This cell still stands there next to the church of Panagia Chrysopigi.

In 1836 the township of Hypsous was created. In 1841 it was renamed Trikolonon. As the area was not fertile, many inhabitants developed into skilled artisans of iron, copper, bronze, brass, gold, silver, producing church bells, church utensils, shotguns, etc. They excelled in the art of crafting jewelry using silver and gold.

Other information

Stemnitsa was the birthplace of the Greek Prime Minister Gennaios Kolokotronis
Gennaios Kolokotronis
Gennaios Kolokotronis , baptized Ioannis Kolokotronis in Stemnitsa, Arcadia, was the son of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero of the Greek War of Independence. He acquired the name "Gennaios" during the Greek War of Independence in which he fought valiantly despite his youth...

 in 1803. Another prominent figure from Stemnitsa was Dimitrios Thanopoulos, who won a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The Greek government has established a public funded smithy school where students can learn to craft jewelry from silver and gold (see Stemnitsa Silvery School
Stemnitsa Silvery School
The Stemnitsa Silvergold-Smithery School is a public funded school where students can learn to craft jewelry from silver and gold. It is located in Stemnitsa,in the Arcadia prefecture of Greece. The School was established in the 1970s and the first director of the school was Lambis Katsoulis...

). Students are trained there tuition free. In April 1996 the Pan-European Council of Silver and Gold was held in Stemnitsa.

Stemnitsa has a folklore museum, established by John Savopoulos and his wife Irine. It includes various exhibitions regarding the traditional way of Stemnitsa life in the past including how candles were made, a jeweler's workshop, a shoe repair shop and a copper tinning representation. If also houses an extensive selection of Byzantine icons, old costumes, copper- ware, guns and jewelry.

An organization which is responsible for the beautification of Stemnitsa is the Cultural and Beautification Organization "Politistikos kai Exoraistikos Syllogos Stemnitsioton Ypsountas". This organization is also in charge of the local cultural center "The Nikoletopouleion" and of organizing a number of other events which take place during the year, mainly during the months of July and August.

Seven kilometers from Stemnitsa, down by the ravine of the river Lousios one can find the monastery of St. John the Forerunner (Prodromos) built, according to some sources, around 1167, on the side of the mountain rock. It served as a center of faith and education for the enslaved Greeks during the Ottoman rule. Since 1960 the monastery is accessible to cars and there is a road linking it to the neighboring villages of Dimitsana, and Ellinikon. About 200 yards below the monastery, is the river Lousios. Near the monastery are the excavations of an ancient hospital built in honor of the ancient Greek god of medicine, Asclepius
Asclepius
Asclepius is the God of Medicine and Healing in ancient Greek religion. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters are Hygieia , Iaso , Aceso , Aglæa/Ægle , and Panacea...

.

The village has a school, several churches (most from the Byzantine era),a few taverns and a square (plateia
Plateia
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...

).

The library of Stemnitsa used to have around 5,000 volumes until 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...

 of 1821. It is now a monument and is located next to the square.

Stemnitsa was ravaged during 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...

; buildings were rebuilt later and the population began to decline slowly, emigrating to other towns and cities across Greece and abroad.

Until the 1960s, much of the village did not have electricity and until the 1980s, most of the houses were stone-built. In the 1970s, the town was illuminated for the first time. Television also arrived later on as well as computers in the late-1990s but still in small numbers.

The village and Trikolonoi was the filming location for the 1981 film Mathe paidi mou Grammata directed by Thodoros Maragos and starring Vasilis Diamantopoulos
Vasilis Diamantopoulos
Vasilis Diamamtopoulos was a Greek actor. He was one of the founders of the Modern Theatre and was the first actor to appear live on Greek television in a single act that with his pants of Iakovos Kambanellis in 1966...

, Anna Mantzourani and Kostas Tsakonas
Kostas Tsakonas
Kostas Tsakonas is a Greek actor.His first appearance was in film and he became famous after appearing in a short length movie Kostas Zirinis. Later, he played many protagonistic roles in film, theater and in television...



Subdivisions

The municipal unit Trikolonoi is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):
  • Elliniko
  • Palamari
    Palamari
    Palamari is a village and a community of the municipal unit Trikolonoi, in Arcadia, Greece. It is located around 15 km northwest of Megalopoli, about 28 km southeast of Andritsaina, about 8 km southeast of Karytaina, about 43 west-southwest of Tripoli and about 21 km southeast...

     (Palamari, Psari)
  • Pavlia
    Pavlia
    Pavlia , is a Greek village located around 15 km northwest of Megalopoli, about 30 km southeast of Andritsaina, about 8 km southeast of Karytaina, about 45 km west-southwest of Tripoli and about 25 km southeast of Dimitsana. Its ancient name was Oureo. Pavlia is in the...

  • Stemnitsa (Stemnitsa, Moni Agiou Ioannou Prodromou)
  • Syrna
    Syrna
    Syrna is a Greek village in the west of Arcadia. Syrna is in the municipal unit of Trikolonoi. Syrna is connected with the road linking the GR-76 and the Karytaina-Dimitsana Road...

     (Syrna, Ano Kalyvia)

Population history

Year Village population Municipality population
16th century 925 -
1981 404 -
1991 495 1,255
2001 412 1,260

External links



North: Dimitsana
Dimitsana
Dimitsana is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is built on the ruins of the ancient town Teuthis...

 and Vytina
Vytina
Vytina is a village and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality was the village Vytina. Its inhabitants are known as Vytiniots. Greek...

West: Iraia
Iraia
Iraia is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. It consists of 27 villages. Population 3,063 . The seat of the municipality was in Paloumpa. The municipality is named...

Trikolonoi East: Falanthos
Falanthos
Falanthos is 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...

 and Megalopoli
South: Iraia
Iraia
Iraia is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. It consists of 27 villages. Population 3,063 . The seat of the municipality was in Paloumpa. The municipality is named...

Southeast: Gortyna
Gortyna, Arcadia
Gortyna , is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Megalopoli, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat was in the village Karytaina...

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