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Psophis

COUNTY: Achaea MUNICIPALITY: Kalavryta

Clear
20.71ºC

Population

100 - 500

Distance from nearest city

50-75km

TL;DR

A city built near the ancient city-state with the same name, near Patras and Kalavryta, with a long history reaching the prehistoric times.

Psophis was a city-state of ancient Arcadia, on an area settled since prehistoric times. Today, it belongs in Achaea region, in the Kalavrita municipality.

According to one particular myth, the city is named after a descendant of the city Erymanthus' founder, and according to another, after a princess living in the local area that married Hercules.

Psophis prospered, even reaching the point where it cut its own silver and gold coins. Zakynthos, the settler of the island that was named after him, hailed from the city-state, and the city was also mentioned by Homer. Psophis was drestroyed in 398 AD by the Goth Alaric.

Excavations brought ruins of ancient buildings to light; traces of the city-state's walls, majestic buildings and temples, a theatre and sculptures. The archaeological site sits next to the village Tripotama.

The village Psophis, as it is today, is on the meeting point of three regions; Achaea, Arcadia and Elis. It is 90 kilometres from Patras and 50 kilometres from Kalavryta, built on an altitude of 590 metres, and has about 280 residents.