ERYMANTHOS RIVER

Text by Nikos Aivalis, research by Elpida Zografidou, translation by Eva Trombetas

Achaea, an ancient and historical place. There, on Mount Erymanthos, in the northern Peloponnese, we find the river Erymanthos, which we will get to know more about in this feature. The Erymanthos river originates from the southeastern side of the mountain by the same name and after covering a distance of 50 kilometers, ends at Alpheios. You can take a look at our feature about the Alpheios river here: Alpheios the mythical river.

Erymanthos on its way passes through Tripotama of Achaea, near Kalavrita, from there it descends southwest, exits the borders of Achaea, until it separates Arcadia from Elis, between the villages of Vidiaki in Arcadia and Koumani in Elis, thus constituting a natural border for the two places since antiquity. The river´s flow is quite strong, thus being a destination for those involved in rafting and canoeing.

Erymanthos river

The river is known from the depths of antiquity. It is even mentioned in the Orphic hymns, since the river had been deified. It is characteristic that near its shores, in the area of Tripotama, there was the city of Psofis, a powerful and ancient city of the Pelasgians. The city was so strong that it minted its own coins, bronze and silver, making it one of the most important Arcadian cities. It is reported that the hero Hercules killed the Erymanthios boar around there, while from city Psofis came Zakynthos, settler of Zakynthos island, and Dardanos, settler of Dardanus in Asia Minor, who according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, was the ancestor of the Trojans.

Erymanthos river

Many centuries later, specifically in the 18th and 19th century AD, beautiful stone bridges were built on the river, namely the bridge in Tripotama, Paraloggitiko, Pournoyiofyro and others, while around the river there are old watermills. The river's natural environment is rich, since regarding the flora we find plane trees, willows, oleanders, arbutus, osier and oaks. Regarding the lowest vegetation we find irises, narcissus, fritillaria, wild garlic, bells and more. When it comes to the bird fauna we find crows, magpies, eurasian blue tits, thrushes and more. Among the predators we find short-toed eagles, buzzards, common kestrels and owls. When it comes to reptiles and amphibians we find toads, frogs, algyroides moreoticus lizards, greek rock lizards, limbless skinks, lacerta viridis lizards, river turtles, testudo marginata Schoepff turtles, balkan whip snakes, elaphe quatuorlineata snakes, malpolon insignitus snakes, water snakes and vipers. Among the mammals we find jackals, otters, hedgehogs, ferrets, foxes, wild boars and more. In the fish fauna we find eels, river urchins, barbus peloponnesius, trouts and mullets.

stone bridge in Tripotama, Achaea

The river's natural beauty can not leave anyone unmoved. It is really worth visiting the river and follow its route as long as possible, through the mountainous landscapes it crosses.