View source for Elos

{{other uses}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
  |name = Elos
  |name_local = Έλος
|type = municipal unit
|image_map = DE Elous.svg
|map_caption = Location within the regional unit
|periph = [[Peloponnese (region)|Peloponnese]]
|periphunit         = [[Laconia]]
|municipality = [[Evrotas (municipality)|Evrotas]]
  |pop_municunit = 5240
  |population_as_of = 2021
  |pop_community = 643
  |area_municunit  = 117.6 
  |elevation = 15
  |coordinates = {{coord|36|50|N|22|42|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
  |postal_code = 230 55
  |area_code = 27350
  |licence = ΑΚ
  |website = 
 |image_skyline      = 
 |caption_skyline    = 
 |city_flag          = 
 |city_seal          = 
 |districts          = 
}}
'''Elos''' ({{langx|el|Έλος}}, before 1930: Δουραλί - ''Dourali''<ref>[http://pandektis.ekt.gr/pandektis/handle/10442/172452 Name changes of settlements in Greece]</ref>) is a village and a former [[Communities and Municipalities of Greece|municipality]] in [[Laconia]], [[Peloponnese (region)|Peloponnese]], [[Greece]]. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality [[Evrotas (municipality)|Evrotas]], of which it is a municipal unit.<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref> The municipal unit has an area of 117.577&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archivedate=2015-09-21 }}</ref> It had its own primary school until 2012. The seat of the municipality of Evrotas is in [[Skala, Laconia|Skala]]. The inhabitants work as farmers producing oranges and [[olive oil]]. The municipal unit has a coastline on the [[Laconian Gulf]]. The river [[Evrotas (river)|Evrotas]] is west of Elos. The name dates back to [[Ancient Greece|ancient times]]. It is located west of [[Monemvasia]], east of [[Gytheio]] and southeast of [[Sparta]].

==Mythology==
[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] mentions a seaside city near [[Sparta]] called [[Helos]], whose inhabitants were enslaved and became the [[helots]].<ref name="Pausanias.3.20.6">[[Description of Greece]], 3.20.6, by [[Pausanias (geographer)]]</ref> Helos was founded by [[Heleus]], the younger son of [[Perseus]].<ref name="Pausanias.3.20.6" /> The city was reduced by siege by the [[Dorians]], and their inhabitants became the first slaves of the Lacedemonian state.<ref name="Pausanias.3.20.6" />

==Historical population==
{| class=wikitable
! Year !! Community !! Municipal unit
|-
| 1981 || 756 || - 
|-
| 1991 || 824 || 5,992 
|-
| 2001 || 920 || 6,452 
|-
| 2011 || 742 || 5,718
|-
| 2021 || 643 || 5,240
|}

==See also==
*[[List of settlements in Laconia]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Evrotas div}}

[[Category:Populated places in Laconia]]
[[Category:Evrotas (municipality)]]

{{Peloponnese-geo-stub}}