Lepreum - Early History and Golden Age

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. 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.

During the Classical and Hellenistic ages Lepreum became the leading city of the Triphylia region, and was called a "blessed country" by Strabo; It controlled an area of high fertility, had both a good defensive position and mild climate thanks to the surrounding mountains and had easy access to both the Neda River and the sea. Due to its position in control of the roads linking Elis with Arcadia and Messenia Lepreum was the defacto capital of Triphylia and was the only city in Triphylia to send troops to the Battle of Plataea during the Greco-Persian Wars. A temple dedicated to Demeter was built during the classical period in the Acropolis and parts of it still stand today.