Lepreum

Lepreum (alternately named Lepreon or Lepreus) was an Ancient Greek city-state in Triphylia, a district of Elis (now part of the Elis regional unit). It was located 40 stadia away from the sea at the west end of Mount Minthi and built around two citadels (one at Agios Dimitrios, one at Phyrcus). Surrounded by an abundance of natural resources, Lepreum became an important city in the Classical and Hellenistic ages where it became the capital of the Triphylia region. The city has also been identified by some scholars as the mythical city of Aepy, a city described by Homer in the Iliad but never discovered. The ruins of ancient Lepreum have been excavated near the present village Lepreo.

Early history and golden age

The earliest traces of habitation in the area are from the Neolithic period, with the inhabitants exploiting the area's natural resources and evidence of ties with the Aegean civilization. It was the site of a grove sacred to "Dione", the Goddess. Herodotus mentions that the city was originally one of 6 founded by the Minyans as a Hexapolis, with the area previously being inhabited by the Caucons. Shortly after the establishment of the city and following the First Messenian War Lepreum and the rest of the Triphylia region were subdued by the Eleians. In 421 BC, however, Lepreus and the other cities of Triphylia revolted against the Eleians with the assistance of Sparta, with the Eleians accepting Triphylian independence in 400 BC. With the weakening of Spartan power by their loss at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC the Spartans attempted to gain supremacy over Tryphilia, who responded by joining the recently established Arcadian League for defence.