View source for Leontio

{{Short description|Community of Erymanthos, Achaea, Greece.}}
{{for multi|the town of ancient Achaea|Leontium (Achaea)|the ancient Greek figure|Leontion}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name               = Leontio
|name_local         = Λεόντιο
|type = municipal unit
|image_map      = DE Leondiou.svg 
|map_caption = Location within the regional unit
|image_skyline      = Leontio daskalos06.jpg
|caption_skyline    = 
|city_flag          = 
|city_seal          = 
|coordinates        = {{coord|38|7|N|21|55|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_min      = 772
|elevation_max      = 1400
|periph = [[West Greece]]
|periphunit         = [[Achaea]]
|municipality = [[Erymanthos (municipality)|Erymanthos]]
|established_c      = 
|established_m      = 
|districts          = 3
|population_as_of   = 2021
|area_municunit = 71.59
|pop_municunit = 477
|pop_community = 394
|area_community  = 
|postal_code        = 250 08
|area_code          = 
|licence            = AX
|website            = [http://leontio.gr/ leontio.gr]
}}

'''Leontio''' ({{langx|el|Λεόντιο|Leóntio}}, before 1923: {{langx|el|Γουρζούμισα|Gourzoúmisa|label=none}}<ref>[http://pandektis.ekt.gr/pandektis/handle/10442/172025 Name changes of settlements in Greece]</ref>) is a mountain village and a former [[Communities and Municipalities of Greece|municipality]] in the municipality of [[Erymanthos (municipality)|Erymanthos]], [[Achaea]], [[West Greece]], [[Greece]]. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality [[Erymanthos (municipality)|Erymanthos]], 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 71.586&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 is situated in the southern foothills of the [[Panachaiko]], 13&nbsp;km east of [[Chalandritsa]], 22&nbsp;km southeast of [[Patras]], 20&nbsp;km southwest of [[Aigio]] and 19&nbsp;km northwest of [[Kalavryta]]. Its population in 2021 was 394 for the community and 477 for the municipal unit. The village was renamed after the ancient town of [[Leontium (Achaea)|Leontium]], the remains of which lie nearby.

==Subdivisions==
The municipal unit Leontio is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):
*[[Ano Mazaraki]] 
*[[Demesticha]]
*Leontio (Leontio, Vetaiika, Golemi, Thomaiika, Katsaitaiika, Kounavaiika, Ovryokambos)

==Population==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! Year !! Population community !! Population municipal unit 
|-
| 2001 || 395 || 514
|-
| 2011 || 284 || 335
|-
| 2021 || 394 || 477
|}

==History==

Evidence suggests that the [[Achaea (ancient region)|Achaeans]] settled Leontio after the Trojan Wars, at this time it was a Polis. This is supported by archeological excavations in the area by the archaeologist N. Kiparisis during the period 1931–32. [[Mycenean Greece|Mycenean]] tombs from the 14th-12th century BC were found. The different artifacts excavated in a number of ancient cemeteries confirmed the Polis flourished at about 1,000 BC. Though older findings date it back to 3,000-2,000 BC. The acropolis dates back to around the 3rd century BC.

It was located on the ancient border of Achaea and [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]] near [[Vlasia]]<ref>[https://archive.today/20120911095422/http://www.styga.gr/index.php?sid=b116a380b321c05ee71fd35878ffafa6&act=detail&article=141 www.styga.gr]</ref> where excavations uncovered a Mycenean tomb and an ancient theater from the 4th century BC.<ref>[http://www.diodos.gr/content/view/99/37/ www.diodos.gr] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721075734/http://www.diodos.gr/content/view/99/37/ |date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> The temple of [[Artemis]] was located along the ancient road which led to Arcadia. Its length was 35 m and its width was 11 m.<ref>[http://www.nea.gr/tour/Pages/Dimoi/leontio.htm nea.gr] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227042809/http://www.nea.gr/tour/Pages/Dimoi/leontio.htm |date=February 27, 2008 }}</ref>

The city was destroyed at the end of the 3rd century BC by [[Philip V Macedon]].<ref>[http://www.kalavrita.gr/DynSITE/index.php?contentID=11&cMode=vMode&AID=30 kalavrita.gr] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806120212/http://www.kalavrita.gr/DynSITE/index.php?contentID=11&cMode=vMode&AID=30 |date=August 6, 2007 }}</ref> Leontio controlled several places including [[Chios]] and [[Leontopoda]].<ref>[[Stefanos Thomopoulos]], ''History Of The Cities In Patras From The Ancient Period Until 1821, Volume I'', Achaikes Editions, Patras 1998 {{ISBN|960-7960-08-4}}</ref> The area followed the fate of the rest of Achaea.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commonscat|Leontio Achaias}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Leontio 
|North     = [[Panachaikon|Panachaikon Mt.]], [[Erineos]] 
|Northeast = [[Sympoliteia (municipality)|Sympoliteia]]
|East      = [[Aigio]]
|Southeast = [[Kalavryta]]
|South     = Kalavryta
|Southwest = [[Farres]]
|West      = [[Messatida]] 
|Northwest = [[Patras]] 
}}

{{Leontio}}

[[Category:Populated places in Achaea]]
[[Category:Erymanthos (municipality)]]
[[Category:Ancient Achaea]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Peloponnese]]