Andania (Greek: Ανδανία) is a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been a municipal unit of the municipality of Oichalia.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 88.694 km2.[3] Population 1,820 (2021). The seat of the municipality was in Diavolitsi.

Andania
Ανδανία
Andania is located in Greece
Andania
Andania
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 37°17′N 21°57′E / 37.283°N 21.950°E / 37.283; 21.950
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitMessenia
MunicipalityOichalia
Area
 • Municipal unit88.7 km2 (34.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
1,820
 • Municipal unit density21/km2 (53/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registrationΚΜ

History

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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

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  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  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]. Vol. 36.31.
  5. ^ See Nadine Deshours, Les Mystères d’Andania.
  6. ^ Pausanias (1918). "33.6". Description of Greece. Vol. 4. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
  7. ^ Pausanias (1918). "1.2". Description of Greece. Vol. 4. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library., 4.3.7, 4.14.7, 4.26.6, 4.33.6.
  8. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. pp. 339, 350. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  9. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v.

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