Andania

Andania (Greek: Ανδανία) is a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oichalia, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 88.694 km².[3] Population 2,327 (2011). The seat of the municipality was in Diavolitsi.

Andania Ανδανία
Andania Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 37°17′N 21°57′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Messenia
Municipality	Oichalia
• Municipal unit	88.7 km^2 (34.2 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Municipal unit	2,327
• Municipal unit density	26/km^2 (68/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registration	ΚΜ

History

Anciently, Andania (Ancient Greek: Ἀνδανία) was a town of ancient Messenia, and was the capital of the kings of the race of the Leleges. It was celebrated as the birthplace of Aristomenes, but towards the end of the Second Messenian War it was deserted by its inhabitants, who took refuge in the strong fortress of Ira. From this time it was only a village. Livy describes it as a parvum oppidum,[4] and Pausanias, who extols the mysteries celebrated there,[5] saw only its ruins when he visited in the second century.[6] It was situated on the road leading from Messene to Megalopolis. The Homeric Oechalia is identified by Strabo with Andania, but by Pausanias with Carnasium, which was only 8 stadia from Andania.[7][8][9]

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
4. Livy. Ab Urbe Condita Libri (History of Rome). 36.31.
5. See Nadine Deshours, Les Mystères d’Andania.
6. Pausanias. Description of Greece. 4.33.6.
7. Pausanias. Description of Greece. 4.1.2. , 4.3.7, 4.14.7, 4.26.6, 4.33.6.
8. Strabo. Geographica. pp. 339, 350. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
9. Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. s.v.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Andania". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.