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{{Unreferenced|date=August 2007}} |
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{{Infobox Greek Dimos |
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{{Infobox Greek Dimos |
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|name = Megalopoli |
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|name = Megalopoli |
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|name_local = Μεγαλόπολη |
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|name_local = Μεγαλόπολη |
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|type = municipality |
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|image_map = |
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|image_map = 2011 Dimos Megalopolis.png |
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|periph = ] |
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|prefec = ] |
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|periph = ] |
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|periphunit = ] |
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|province = ] |
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|pop_municipality = 8784 |
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|population = 8657 |
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|area_municipality = 722.6 |
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|population_as_of = 2001 |
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|pop_municunit = 6905 |
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|population_ref = |
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|area_municunit = 331.5 |
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|pop_dens = |
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|pop_community = 5344 |
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|area = |
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|population_as_of = 2021 |
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|elevation = 430 |
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|elevation = 430 |
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|coordinates = {{coord|37|24|N|22|8|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |
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|lat_deg = 37 |
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|lat_min = 24 |
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|lat_hem = N |
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|lon_deg = 22 |
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|lon_min = 8 |
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|lon_hem = E |
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|postal_code = 222 00 |
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|postal_code = 222 00 |
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|area_code = 27910 |
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|area_code = 27910 |
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|mayor = |
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|image_skyline = Megalopoli.jpg |
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Ancient '''Megalopolis''', or now '''Megalópoli''' (Μεγαλόπολη) is a town in the western part of the prefecture of ]. "Megalopolis" is a Greek word for ''Great city''. When it was founded, in 371 BC, it was the first urbanization in rustic and primitive Arcadia. In ancient times, the town grew very large. Its theater, known to have a capacity for 20,000 people was one of the largest known. In ] and ] times the city was known as ''Sinanou'' (Σινάνο) until the 19th century. |
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'''Megalopoli''' ({{langx|el|Μεγαλόπολη}}) is a town in the southwestern part of the regional unit of ], southern ]. It is located in the same site as ancient '''Megalopolis''' ({{langx|grc|Μεγαλόπολις,}} literally ''large/great city''). When it was founded in 371 BCE, it was the first large urbanization in ]. Its theatre had a capacity of 20,000 visitors, making it one of the largest ancient Greek theatres.<ref>{{Citation|author-link=Pausanias (geographer)|author=Pausanias|title=Description of Greece, Book VIII, Chapter 32|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0525.tlg001.perseus-eng1:8.32|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> |
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Today Megalopoli has several schools, shops, churches, hotels and other services. The population of Megalopoli in 2021 was 5,344 residents.<ref name="census21" /> |
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The population in 2001 reached over 5,000. It is the only growing community in western Arcadia. Other villages and towns reported a loss in population in 2001. Megalopoli's distance from ] is 30 km (18 miles). Megalopoli is located 33 km (19 miles) SE from ] and 55 km (35 miles) NE from ] on ], and ]. The city has a square its the heart. Its ] is 27910 with 5 digits. The mountains surrounding Megalopoli are ], and ]. Its nearest television and communications tower are on top of mount ]. Much of the area is isolated, and the forested valley contains about 10,000 people. It is one of the most underpopulated areas in the ]. It is situated between the ] and the ] rivers. |
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] from ancient Megalopolis. The head of ] on the obverse, ] seated on the reverse.]] |
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==Geography== |
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Megalopoli has three schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, hotels, a post office and squares ('']''). It also has a train station which has a freight yard 1 km from downtown. The track does not pass through to Tripoli, the line for Kalamata – Tripoli – ] – ] is 4 km (2 miles) S. A wider highway opened southwest around the 1980s. Megalopolis is now bypassed by a new freeway connecting ] to ]. Construction began in 1999 in the southwest and headed northeast in 2001 and was opened to traffic in 2002. The freeway now runs between the little villages Perivolia and Routsi, and there lies ] River. |
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Megalopoli is situated in a wide valley, surrounded by mountains: the ] to the south, the ] to the north, the ] to the southeast and the ] to the west. Its elevation is 430 m above sea level. The river ] flows through this valley, coming from the east and flowing to the north, passing south and west of the town. Its tributary ] passes north of the town. The large ] deposits around Megalopoli are being exploited by ]. The ], 3 km northwest of the town centre, has produced electricity from this lignite since 1969. |
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In the mid-1960s, the ] (DEI) and the government started construction on a power plant which took several years to complete in order to increase power consumption throughout Greece. The power plant is approximately 8 km NW of downtown. It was first opened in 1969. The area is about 0.2 to 0.3 km² (0.08 - 0.12 square miles). It provides ] to southern Greece. A ] mining area is situated around the plant. The power lines are near the plant. It is connected with GR-76 (Krestena – Andritsaina – Megalopoli). A part of the population are employees of this plant. |
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==History== |
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In 1993, a brush fire burned much of eastern Megalopolis and the ] area. It burnt approximately 50 to 60 km² (19-23 square miles) of land. |
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Megalopolis is known for its ancient ruins situated northwest of the town centre, on both banks of the river Elisson. The ruins include an ] that used to hold up to 20,000 people and was {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. Other landmarks include the Thersileon with 67 pillars and a temple ({{convert|11.5|x|5|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}).{{Cn|date=September 2024}} |
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Megalopolis is known for its ] deposits, which are prone to catching fire in summer and can smoulder and scorch the earth for weeks. In antiquity, it was often identified as the site of the mythical ] where the Greek giants were defeated and killed in a decisive battle with the gods, possibly inspired by enormous bones dug up from around the area taken as giants bones, which were noted by Ancient Greek writers such as ]. These have been conjectured in modern times to be those of ] fossil animals which are still often unearthed from the area today, such as those of the extinct ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mayor |first=Adrienne |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781400838448/html |title=The First Fossil Hunters: Dinosaurs, Mammoths, and Myth in Greek and Roman Times |date=2011-12-31 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-3844-8 |location=Princeton |pages=98-99 |doi=10.1515/9781400838448}}</ref> |
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==Antiquity== |
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Megalopolis is famous for its ancient ruins founded northwest, which include an ] that used to hold up to 20,000 people and was 30 m (100 feet) tall. Other landmarks include the Thersileon with 67 pillars and a temple (11.5 m × 5 m, 37 feet x 11 feet). ] reported the ancient belief that the Megalopolis area was a battleground of the ]. The foundation for this apparently was the presence of ] deposits, which are prone to catch fire in summer and can smoulder and scorch the earth for weeks (] is supposed to have slain the ] with lightning bolts; see also below), coupled with the presence of ] bones of prehistoric ]s and ]. Herodotus informs his readers that the bones of "Titans" were exhibited in various places in the surrounding area at least since the 5th century BC. |
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The city was founded in 371 BC by the ] general ] in an attempt to form a political counterweight to ]. It was one of the 40 places that were megále pólis (great city). Megalopolis became the seat of the ] in 370 BC, which in the 3rd century BC became the ]. It used to be one of the about 20,000 places that have an ancient theatre. In 331 BC, Megalopolis was invaded by the ] and there was a battle with the ] who came to Megalopolis' help. The Macedonians defeated the Spartans. In 223 BC, the Spartan king ] destroyed and burnt down the city but the inhabitants were saved by ], a soldier of the ]. The city fell during the ] and was refounded after the ]. |
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The city was founded through a synodical of twenty to forty neighbouring communities between 371 and 368 BC by the Arcadian League in an attempt to form a political counterweight to ]. Megalopolis was a member of the ] after its foundation until the dissolution of the federation in 362 BC. In 353 BC, when Thebes had her hands full with the so-called Sacred War, the Spartans made an attempt to reduce Megalopolis; but the Thebans sent assistance and the city was rescued.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Megalopolis |volume=18 |page=74 |first=Ernest Arthur |last=Gardner }}</ref> In 331 BC, Megalopolis was invaded by the ]ns and there was a battle with the ] that came to Megalopolis' help. In 317 BC at the start of the ], ], the new Regent of the Macedonian Empire, besieged Megalopolis which had sided with his enemy ].<ref name=Diod1868>Diodorus Siculus, ''Bibliotheca Historica'' XVIII 68,2-72,1.</ref> The siege failed.<ref name=Diod1868/> |
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In the 270s BC, ] managed to take control over the city as a tyrant backed by Macedon. In 235 BC, the second tyrant of the city, ], gave up control over the polis and the city became a member of the ]. In 222 BC, the Spartan king ] burnt down the city, but it was rebuilt in the years after the destruction. |
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As a member of the Achaean League, Megalopolis had a profound influence on the federal politics and it was the hometown of several notable Achaean figures such as ], ] and ]. |
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==Nearest places== |
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Rome conquered Megalopolis during the ] in 146 BCE, as part of their conquest of Greece. The city remained populated under the Romans but by the 6th century it was almost completely abandoned. During the Byzantine era, and later also the Ottoman, the town on the same place was called '''Sináno''' (Σινάνο). It was renamed Megalopoli after the ]. |
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Megalopoli retained a rural character until the early 1960s, when with the help of Megalopoli-born Prof. ] (then ]) the Greek ] started mining ] in the ] and the construction of the ] followed soon.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Vourvidou-Photaki|first=Iphigenia|date=Dec 1981|title=Biographical statement and scientific work of the late Academician & Professor of Organic Chemistry Leonidas Zervas|url=http://jupiter.chem.uoa.gr/thanost/zervas/|access-date=31 Mar 2021|website=Laboratory of Physical Chemistry|publisher=University of Athens, Department of Chemistry|language=el}}</ref> The town was struck by the massive Arcadia ] of 5 April 1965, in which 17 inhabitants were killed and 80% of residences were demolished or rendered uninhabitable. |
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In 2005 and 2006 the Public Power Corporation used the Megalopolis Power Station as a site for a 60MW power rental plant during the summer months in order to balance the grid after a major blackout which affected Athens and Southern Greece on the ] ]. |
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==Subdivisions== |
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==Municipality== |
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The municipality Megalopoli was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following three former municipalities, that became municipal units:<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=]}}</ref> |
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==Communes== |
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*Megalopoli |
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The municipality has an area of 722.629 km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 331.498 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-21 }}</ref> |
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===Subdivisions=== |
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The municipal unit of Megalopoli is subdivided into the following communities (villages within the community in brackets):<ref name=Kallikratis/> |
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**Kato Makrysi (pop: 119) |
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*'''Megalopoli''' (Megalopoli, Oresteio) |
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*'''Megalopoli''' |
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==Province== |
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The province of Megalopoli ({{langx|el|Επαρχία Μεγαλόπολης}}) was one of the ] of the Messenia Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Megalopoli, except the municipal unit ].<ref name=census91>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |title=Detailed census results 1991 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183824/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }} {{small|(39 MB)}} {{in lang|el|fr}}</ref> It was abolished in 2006. |
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==Population== |
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==Population== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" |
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! Year !! Communal population !! Change (qty) !! Change (%) !! Municipal population |
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! Year !! Community !! Municipal unit !! Municipality |
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| 1920 || 1,776 || || || |
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| 1920 || 1,776 || – || – |
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| 1961 || 2,235 || 1,059 || 59.63% || |
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| 1961 || 2,235 || – || – |
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| 1981 || 4,875 || 2,640 || 113.06% || |
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| 1981 || 4,875 || – || – |
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| 1991 || 4,646 || -229 || -4.7% || 8,888 |
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| 1991 || 4,646 || 8,888 || – |
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| 2001 || 5,114 || 468 || 1.01% || |
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| 2001 || 5,114 || 8,657 || – |
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Megalopolis is also a province. It contains the communities of: |
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It also contains the municipalities of: |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" |
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!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="220" | '''Name of municipality''' |
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!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="140" | '''Municipal code''' |
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!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="110" | '''Seat''' |
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!colspan="1" bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="110" | '''Postal code''' |
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| ] || 0522 || ] || 220 21 |
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| 2011 || 5,779 || 7,890 || 10,687 |
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| ] || 0505 || ] || 220 22 |
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| 2021 || 5,344 || 6,905 || 8,784 |
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| Megalopoli || 0516 || ] || 222 00 |
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== Notable people == |
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==External links== |
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*] (4th century BC), envoy of ] |
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*] (3rd century BC), Cynic philosopher and poet |
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*] (253–183 BC), general and statesman |
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* (in Greek) |
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*] (c. 203–120 BC), historian |
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*] (1902–1980), Greek chemist |
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<table width = 75% border = 2 align="center"> |
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<tr><td width = 35% align="center"> |
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<td width = 30% align="center">'''North:''' ]</td> |
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<td width = 35% align="center"> |
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</td></tr> |
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<tr> |
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<td width = 10% align="center">'''West:''' ]<br/> </td> |
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<td width = 35% align="center">'''Megalopoli'''</td> |
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<td width = 30% align="center">'''East:''' ]</td> |
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<tr><td width = 35% align="center"> |
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<td width = 30% align="center">'''South:''' ]</td> |
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<td width = 35% align="center"> |
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</table> |
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==See also== |
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==See also== |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Arcadia}} |
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{{commons category|Municipality of Megalopoli}} |
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* (in Greek) |
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{{Geographic location |
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== References == |
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|Centre = Megalopoli (municipal unit) |
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{{reflist}} |
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|North = ] |
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|Northeast = ] |
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|East = ] |
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|Southeast = |
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|South = ] |
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|Southwest = ], ] |
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|West = ] |
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|Northwest = ] |
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}} |
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{{Kallikratis-Peloponnese}} |
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{{Megalopoli div}} |
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{{Prefectures and provinces of Greece}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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Today Megalopoli has several schools, shops, churches, hotels and other services. The population of Megalopoli in 2021 was 5,344 residents.
Megalopolis is known for its ancient ruins situated northwest of the town centre, on both banks of the river Elisson. The ruins include an ancient theatre that used to hold up to 20,000 people and was 30 m (98 ft) tall. Other landmarks include the Thersileon with 67 pillars and a temple (11.5 m × 5 m or 38 ft × 16 ft).
The city was founded through a synodical of twenty to forty neighbouring communities between 371 and 368 BC by the Arcadian League in an attempt to form a political counterweight to Sparta. Megalopolis was a member of the Arcadian League after its foundation until the dissolution of the federation in 362 BC. In 353 BC, when Thebes had her hands full with the so-called Sacred War, the Spartans made an attempt to reduce Megalopolis; but the Thebans sent assistance and the city was rescued. In 331 BC, Megalopolis was invaded by the Spartans and there was a battle with the Macedonians that came to Megalopolis' help. In 317 BC at the start of the Second War of the Diadochi, Polyperchon, the new Regent of the Macedonian Empire, besieged Megalopolis which had sided with his enemy Cassander. The siege failed.
As a member of the Achaean League, Megalopolis had a profound influence on the federal politics and it was the hometown of several notable Achaean figures such as Philopoemen, Lykortas and Polybius.
Rome conquered Megalopolis during the Third Macedonian War in 146 BCE, as part of their conquest of Greece. The city remained populated under the Romans but by the 6th century it was almost completely abandoned. During the Byzantine era, and later also the Ottoman, the town on the same place was called Sináno (Σινάνο). It was renamed Megalopoli after the Greek War of Independence.
Megalopoli retained a rural character until the early 1960s, when with the help of Megalopoli-born Prof. Leonidas Zervas (then Minister of Industry) the Greek Public Power Corporation started mining lignite in the Megalopoli Mine and the construction of the Megalopoli Power Plant followed soon. The town was struck by the massive Arcadia earthquake of 5 April 1965, in which 17 inhabitants were killed and 80% of residences were demolished or rendered uninhabitable.
The municipality Megalopoli was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following three former municipalities, that became municipal units:
The municipal unit of Megalopoli is subdivided into the following communities (villages within the community in brackets):
MegalopoliLocation within the region 
Megalopoli (municipal unit)
