Text and research by Nikos Aivalis, translation by Eva Trombetas
Tegea an ancient region, where myth and history are lost in the depths of the past. One of the most important cities of ancient Arcadia, seat of the mythical Arcadian kings, took its name from the mythical king Tegea, son of Lycaon and grandson of Pelasgus. We find it about 10 km southeast of Tripoli towards Sparta.
Historically Tegea is an almost legendary city, but it also experienced many disasters, such as the huge destruction by the Goths of Alaric, in 395 AD, who almost desolated the area, with the savior of Tegea lord Rufus, who finally resisted the fury of the Goths. But also looting by the Romans, who brought to Rome important monuments of the region such as a statue of Athena made of ivory, a statue of Asclepius and a statue of Health. The ancient Tegeans, fierce warriors, had taken part in the Trojan war, the battle of Plataea, the Greco-Persian wars and the Peloponnesian war on the side of the Spartans, with whom for several years they fought as enemies, but the Spartans could not subdue the Tegeans. In the end, they became loyal allies of the Spartans, while they also enjoyed great respect from them.
Tegea became so powerful that it came to minting its own coin. Tegeans were also distinguished as the founders of colonies, the most famous being that of Paphos in Cyprus, founded by Agapinor, king of Tegea. Pausanias in Arcadia writes: "Paphos, Agapinor became a settler and built a sanctuary in Palaipapho for Aphrodite". Tegea is also mentioned as the founder of the cities of Kydonia and Gortyna in Crete. Tegea was one of the oldest cities that were built according to architectural rules, and had many wonderful buildings in its history, such as Gymnasium, Stadium, ancient theater, ancient Agora, altars, sanctuary of Aphrodite and sanctuary of Artemis of Knakeatidos. One of the most important monuments of Tegea is the temple of Athena Alea. Tradition says that it was built by Aleas, grandson of Arcadas. In 395 BC this temple was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 390 BC by the famous sculptor, Scopas. However, Tegea in later years had important monuments, as in the area of Tegea there were Byzantine villages, with more famous the village Nycli. The Byzantine church of the Assumption (11th century AD), a beautiful and majestic temple in the Archaeological Park of old Episkopi, where one can admire many ancient monuments, such as the ancient theater and the ancient Agora, but also more new monuments, such as the early christian temple and the bronze statue of Tegeatis Mana (Tegean mother). The Byzantine castle of Mouchli (1296 AD), which was the seat of the Byzantine princes of Arcadia.
Today's Tegea includes many beautiful villages, which are located in the Tegea plain, sixteen villages in number and are the villages Alea, Vouno, Garea, Episkopi, Kamari, Kandalos, Kerasitsa, Lithovounia, Magoula, Manthyrea, Mavriki, Riza, Stadio, Strigou, Tziva and Psili Vrissi. At the location of the city of ancient Tegea, is the village of Alea, which belongs to the province of Mantinea. In the village Alea, there is the Archaeological Museum of Tegea, but in almost all the villages that make up the region of Tegea, one can find very interesting monuments, museums, destinations, as well as local events, with the most famous the exhibition of Tegea, which happens every August, and according to researchers, we find the roots of, already from the years of Frankish occupation, while references we find in later texts, the era of the Greek revolution of 1821.
Besides the rich historical events and monuments that we find in Tegea, we find and rich nature. The economy of Tegea comes mainly from agricultural productions. The plain of Tegea is very fertile and produces famous cherries, potatoes, garlic and sour cherries. So we understand that the area of Tegea is mainly made up of crops. But few know that there is an important wetland of the Peloponnese, that of lake Taka. Lake Taka with its fresh water, is located at an altitude of 650 meters on the plateau of Tegea, 10 kilometers from Tripoli and has been included in the Natura 2000 network. The lake is seasonal and drains through a system of sinkholes into underground rivers. So the summer is completely drained. In autumn it begins to fill again, with a maximum depth of half a meter, with rainwater and streams that end up in the lake, with the largest Sarantapotamos, until it reaches fullness during the winter. The village Vouno, located on the shores of the lake, at times when the waters of the lake are high, becomes riparian, while when the waters descend it becomes mediterranean.
The flora of the lake is composed of willows, poplars, maples, oaks, rosehips, cloudberries, while it hosts plants such as fritillaries, iris, centauri, campanulas, orchids and tulips, while there are also water-happy plants such as water lilies, which, however, are dramatically reduced by the thoughtless waste of water of the lake. The fauna of the lake is extremely important, especially the bird fauna, since lake Taka is one of the most important stations of birds during migration. In the area there are important species of predators, such as snake eagles, bonelli's eagles, buzzards, peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, common kestrels and owls. Other species of birds that we meet are montagu's harrier, western marsh harrier, little bittern, little egret, squacco heron, black crowned night heron, wild ducks, mute swans, glossy ibis, little tern, kingfishers, but also smaller species such as european robins, european greenfinch, european goldfinch, great tit and others, which unfortunately from uncontrolled hunting are greatly reduced. The mammals of the area are the fox, ferret, weasel, hare, hedgehog, as well as small rodents, while we also meet two rare mammals, the grey dwarf hamster, a small rare rodent, and the microbat pipistrellus kuhlii. In reptile fauna and amphibians, we find newts, frogs, turtles, lacerta trilineata, montpellier snakes, water snakes and vipers. Finally, ichthyofauna includes the endemic species of the Peloponnese, stymphalian pelasgus, but also carp, mosquitofish, economidichthys pygmaeus and pumpkinseed.
Finally, to mention for travelers who want to get to know the area of Tegea, they can find additional information in the article of Giota Christoforou (travel to Tegea, Kerasia and Agios Petros Arcadia), which you can find in our articles and there you can plan beautiful routes. Another route we recommend is: lake Taka - ancient Pallantio - Episkopi Tegeas - Archaeological Museum of Alea -temple of Alea Athena, as this way you will discover the historical part of the area, as well as its natural beauties.
Tegea an ancient region, where myth and history are lost in the depths of the past. One of the most important cities of ancient Arcadia, seat of the mythical Arcadian kings, took its name from the mythical king Tegea, son of Lycaon and grandson of Pelasgus. We find it about 10 km southeast of Tripoli towards Sparta.
Historically Tegea is an almost legendary city, but it also experienced many disasters, such as the huge destruction by the Goths of Alaric, in 395 AD, who almost desolated the area, with the savior of Tegea lord Rufus, who finally resisted the fury of the Goths. But also looting by the Romans, who brought to Rome important monuments of the region such as a statue of Athena made of ivory, a statue of Asclepius and a statue of Health. The ancient Tegeans, fierce warriors, had taken part in the Trojan war, the battle of Plataea, the Greco-Persian wars and the Peloponnesian war on the side of the Spartans, with whom for several years they fought as enemies, but the Spartans could not subdue the Tegeans. In the end, they became loyal allies of the Spartans, while they also enjoyed great respect from them.
 |
| Byzantine church of the Assumption |
Tegea became so powerful that it came to minting its own coin. Tegeans were also distinguished as the founders of colonies, the most famous being that of Paphos in Cyprus, founded by Agapinor, king of Tegea. Pausanias in Arcadia writes: "Paphos, Agapinor became a settler and built a sanctuary in Palaipapho for Aphrodite". Tegea is also mentioned as the founder of the cities of Kydonia and Gortyna in Crete. Tegea was one of the oldest cities that were built according to architectural rules, and had many wonderful buildings in its history, such as Gymnasium, Stadium, ancient theater, ancient Agora, altars, sanctuary of Aphrodite and sanctuary of Artemis of Knakeatidos. One of the most important monuments of Tegea is the temple of Athena Alea. Tradition says that it was built by Aleas, grandson of Arcadas. In 395 BC this temple was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 390 BC by the famous sculptor, Scopas. However, Tegea in later years had important monuments, as in the area of Tegea there were Byzantine villages, with more famous the village Nycli. The Byzantine church of the Assumption (11th century AD), a beautiful and majestic temple in the Archaeological Park of old Episkopi, where one can admire many ancient monuments, such as the ancient theater and the ancient Agora, but also more new monuments, such as the early christian temple and the bronze statue of Tegeatis Mana (Tegean mother). The Byzantine castle of Mouchli (1296 AD), which was the seat of the Byzantine princes of Arcadia.
 |
| temple of Athena Alea |
Today's Tegea includes many beautiful villages, which are located in the Tegea plain, sixteen villages in number and are the villages Alea, Vouno, Garea, Episkopi, Kamari, Kandalos, Kerasitsa, Lithovounia, Magoula, Manthyrea, Mavriki, Riza, Stadio, Strigou, Tziva and Psili Vrissi. At the location of the city of ancient Tegea, is the village of Alea, which belongs to the province of Mantinea. In the village Alea, there is the Archaeological Museum of Tegea, but in almost all the villages that make up the region of Tegea, one can find very interesting monuments, museums, destinations, as well as local events, with the most famous the exhibition of Tegea, which happens every August, and according to researchers, we find the roots of, already from the years of Frankish occupation, while references we find in later texts, the era of the Greek revolution of 1821.
 |
| Tegea's exhibition |
Besides the rich historical events and monuments that we find in Tegea, we find and rich nature. The economy of Tegea comes mainly from agricultural productions. The plain of Tegea is very fertile and produces famous cherries, potatoes, garlic and sour cherries. So we understand that the area of Tegea is mainly made up of crops. But few know that there is an important wetland of the Peloponnese, that of lake Taka. Lake Taka with its fresh water, is located at an altitude of 650 meters on the plateau of Tegea, 10 kilometers from Tripoli and has been included in the Natura 2000 network. The lake is seasonal and drains through a system of sinkholes into underground rivers. So the summer is completely drained. In autumn it begins to fill again, with a maximum depth of half a meter, with rainwater and streams that end up in the lake, with the largest Sarantapotamos, until it reaches fullness during the winter. The village Vouno, located on the shores of the lake, at times when the waters of the lake are high, becomes riparian, while when the waters descend it becomes mediterranean.
 |
| lake Taka |
The flora of the lake is composed of willows, poplars, maples, oaks, rosehips, cloudberries, while it hosts plants such as fritillaries, iris, centauri, campanulas, orchids and tulips, while there are also water-happy plants such as water lilies, which, however, are dramatically reduced by the thoughtless waste of water of the lake. The fauna of the lake is extremely important, especially the bird fauna, since lake Taka is one of the most important stations of birds during migration. In the area there are important species of predators, such as snake eagles, bonelli's eagles, buzzards, peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, common kestrels and owls. Other species of birds that we meet are montagu's harrier, western marsh harrier, little bittern, little egret, squacco heron, black crowned night heron, wild ducks, mute swans, glossy ibis, little tern, kingfishers, but also smaller species such as european robins, european greenfinch, european goldfinch, great tit and others, which unfortunately from uncontrolled hunting are greatly reduced. The mammals of the area are the fox, ferret, weasel, hare, hedgehog, as well as small rodents, while we also meet two rare mammals, the grey dwarf hamster, a small rare rodent, and the microbat pipistrellus kuhlii. In reptile fauna and amphibians, we find newts, frogs, turtles, lacerta trilineata, montpellier snakes, water snakes and vipers. Finally, ichthyofauna includes the endemic species of the Peloponnese, stymphalian pelasgus, but also carp, mosquitofish, economidichthys pygmaeus and pumpkinseed.
 |
| lake Taka |
Finally, to mention for travelers who want to get to know the area of Tegea, they can find additional information in the article of Giota Christoforou (travel to Tegea, Kerasia and Agios Petros Arcadia), which you can find in our articles and there you can plan beautiful routes. Another route we recommend is: lake Taka - ancient Pallantio - Episkopi Tegeas - Archaeological Museum of Alea -temple of Alea Athena, as this way you will discover the historical part of the area, as well as its natural beauties.
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