Elis
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[[Image:Elis.jpg|thumb|220px|Map of ancient Elis]]
'''Elis''', or '''Eleia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]], Modern: Ήλιδα ''Ilida'', Ancient: {{Polytonic|Ἦλις}} ''Ēlis'', [[Doric Greek|Doric]]: {{Polytonic|Ἆλις}} ''Alis'' , Elean : {{Polytonic|Ϝάλις}} ''Walis'') is an ancient district, that corresponds with the modern [[Elis Prefecture]]. It is in southern [[Greece]] on the [[Peloponnesos]] [[peninsula]], bounded on the north by [[Achaea]], east by [[Arcadia]], south by [[Messenia]], and west by the [[Ionian Sea]].
The first [[Ancient Olympic Games|Olympic]] festival was organized in Elean land, [[Olympia, Greece]] by the authorities of Elis in the 8th century BCE - with tradition dating the first games at 776 BCE. The [[Hellanodikai]], the judges of the Games, were of Elean origin.
The local form of the name was Valis, or Valeia, and its meaning, in all probability, “the lowland.” In its physical constitution Elis is practically one with Achaea and Arcadia; its mountains are mere offshoots of the Arcadian highlands, and its principal rivers are fed by Arcadian springs.
Elis was divided into three districts:
*Hollow (''Coele'') or Lowland Elis,
*Pisatis, or the territory of [[Pisa (Greece)|Pisa]], and
*Triphylia, or the country of the three tribes.
Hollow Elis, the largest and most northern of the three, was watered by the Peneus and its tributary the Ladon. The district was famous in antiquity for its cattle and horses. Pisatis extended south from Hollow Elis to the right bank of the [[Alfeios River|Alpheus]], and was divided into eight departments called after as many towns. Triphylia stretches south from the Alpheus to the Neda.
Today Elis is a small village of 150 citizens, located 14km NE of [[Amaliada]], build over the ruins of the ancient town. It has a museum that contains many treasures, discovered in the recent excavations. It also has one of the most well-preserved Ancient Theaters in Greece.
Elis is well known for breeding horses and its "creation" of the Olympic games.
==List of Eleans==
Athletes
*[[Coroebus]] of Elis, the first [[Ancient Olympic Games|Ancient Olympic gold-medalist]]
Kings and Leaders
*[[Salmoneus]], mythological king of Elis
*[[Aethlius]], mythological king of Elis
*[[Endymion (mythology)]]
*[[Epeius]]
*[[Aetolus, son of Endymion|Aetolus]]
*[[Augeas]], king of Elis related to the Fifth Labour of Heracles
*[[Amphimachus]], king of Elis and leader of Eleans in Trojan War
*[[Thalpius]], leader of Eleans in Trojan War
*[[Oxylus]], king of Elis
Intellectuals
*[[Hippias]] of Elis, Greek [[sophist]]
*[[Phaedo of Elis]], founder of the [[Elean School]][http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2563.html]
*[[Pyrrho]]
*[[Troilus of Elis|Troilus]] ([[4th century BC]]) athlete
==Eleans as barbarians==
Eleans were labelled as the greatest [[barbarians]] ''barbarotatoi'' by musician [[Stratonicus of Athens]]<ref>
[[Athenaeus]],[[Deipnosophistae]]
[http://books.google.com/books?id=T98IAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA551&dq=greatest+barbarians+Boeotians+Thessalians+Eleans VIII 350a]</ref>
{{cquote|And when he was once asked by some one who were the wickedest people, he said, “That in [[Pamphylia]], the people of [[Phaselis]] were the worst; but that the [[Side]]tae were the worst in the whole world.” And when he was asked again, according to the account given by Hegesander, which were the greatest [[barbarians]], the [[Boeotians]] or the [[Thessalians]] he said, ” The Eleans.”}}
In [[Hesychius of Alexandria|Hesychius]](s.v. {{polytonic|βαρβαρόφωνοι}}) and other ancient lexica<ref>James A. Towle, Commentary on Plato: Protagoras 341c.[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.04.0092&query=section%3d%23159]</ref> Eleans are also listed as ''barbarophones''. Indeed the [[Doric Greek|North-West Doric]] dialect of Elis is, after the [[Aeolic]] dialects, one of the most difficult for the modern reader of epigraphic texts<ref>Sophie Minon, Les Inscriptions Éléennes Dialectale - Reviewed by Stephen Colvin[http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/2007/2007-11-07.html]</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/maps/pelop/ilia/ilia.html Map] from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture
{{1911}}
[[Category:Elis]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek geography]]
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