Oiniades (Greek: Οινιάδες) is a municipal unit of the municipality Missolonghi, Greece. The municipal unit has an area of 270.899 km2.[2] It was named after the ancient town of Oeniadae.

Oiniades
Οινιάδες
The ancient shipyard
The ancient shipyard
Oiniades is located in Greece
Oiniades
Oiniades
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°24.7′N 21°11.7′E / 38.4117°N 21.1950°E / 38.4117; 21.1950
CountryGreece
Administrative regionWest Greece
Regional unitAetolia-Acarnania
MunicipalityMessolonghi
Area
 • Municipal unit270.9 km2 (104.6 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
8,393
 • Municipal unit density31/km2 (80/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
300 01
Area code(s)2210
Vehicle registrationME

History

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Ancient Oeniadae (Ancient Greek: Οἰνιάδαι) was a port town on the west bank of the river Achelous and one of the most important towns of ancient Acarnania. Oeniadai was first mentioned in the 5th century BC.[3]

It was situated against a hill in the marshes, which protected it from invaders.[4] Its location has been identified on that of the present village Katochi.

It was an important port on the route to Corfu. It changed its alliances repeatedly in the course of history; at first it was a member of the Peloponnesian League, but in 424 BC it was incorporated in the Delian League. In the Hellenistic period, Oiniadai allied with the Aetolians until 218 BC when Philip V declared it free. From 211-189 BC during the Roman-Macedonian wars the city was again under Aetolian control. In Roman times it lost its strategic importance. However it was still inhabited in the 3rd century AD judging from coin finds.

Archaeology

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The city walls are well preserved and several buildings were excavated beginning in 1900-1901:

  • a theatre
  • a bath complex
  • a shipyard.

Municipality

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Subdivisions

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The municipal unit Oiniades is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):

  • Neochori Mesolongiou (Neochori, Magoula, Marmara)
  • Gouria
  • Katochi
  • Lesini
  • Mastros (Mastros, Platania)
  • Pentalofo

Population

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Year Municipality population
1991 10,686
2001 10,227
2011 9,373
2021 8,393

References

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  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  3. ^ OINIADAI Greece, entry in The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites.
  4. ^   Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Oeniadae". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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