Elis (redirected from Elean)

Elis (ē`lĭs), region of ancient Greece, in W Peloponnesus, W of Arcadia. It was divided into three parts—Elis proper, Pisatis, and Triphylia. A plain watered by the Alpheus and the Peneus rivers, Elis was notable as a place for breeding horses and growing flax. The Olympic games were held at Olympia. Other important cities were Pisa and Elis. The Elians were early allied with the Spartans but fell out with them in 420 B.C. As a result, Elis lost (399 B.C.) Triphylia. Elis declined after the Olympic games were suppressed in the 4th cent. A.D.

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Elis

 modern Iliá

Ancient Greek region and city-state, northwestern Peloponnese, Greece. Bounded by Achaea, Arcadia, Messenia, and the Ionian Sea, the region was known for its horse breeding and was the site of the Olympic Games. As an ally of Athens in the Peloponnesian War, Elis lost much of its territory. Later, by emphasizing the sanctity of the Olympic Games, it regained some land and even some independence after the Roman occupation of Greece (146 BC), only to disintegrate with the collapse of the Roman Empire. The modern locality contains the archaeological site of Olympia, scene of the games.

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Elis

an ancient city-state of SW Greece, in the NW Peloponnese: site of the ancient Olympic games

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Elis 

an ancient region in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesus, in Greece. Elis abounded in pastures and fertile valleys. The main city of the region, also called Elis, arose in the early fifth century B.C. A Greek sanctuary was located in the region at the city of Olympia, where the Olympic Games were held. In contemporary Greece, Elis is a nome whose capital is the city of Pirgos.