Sellasia (Greek: Σελλασία, before 1929: Βρουλιά - Vroulia[2]) is a village in Laconia, Greece. It was the seat of the former municipality Oinountas. Since 2011, it is part of the municipality of Sparta. Sellasia is situated on the edge of the Eurotas valley, 10 km north of Sparta. The Greek National Road 39 (Sparta - Tripoli) passes east of the village. Sellasia is known for the cultivation of olives.

Sellasia
Σελλασία
Sellasia is located in Greece
Sellasia
Sellasia
Coordinates: 37°10′N 22°25′E / 37.167°N 22.417°E / 37.167; 22.417
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitLaconia
MunicipalitySparti
Municipal unitOinountas
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community390
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registrationΑΚ

History

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Sellasia was named after the ancient town Sellasia, which controlled the entrance to Sparta from the north. It was the site of the 222 BC Battle of Sellasia between the Spartans under Cleomenes III and the Macedonian/Achaean coalition under Antigonus III Doson. Afterwards, Sellasia was destroyed and the population was sold as slaves.[3]

People

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Sellasia is the birthplace of Pavlos and Thanasis Giannakopoulos, owners of pharmaceutical company Vianex and former owners of Panathinaikos A.O. sports club. It is the ancestral place of origin for both the families of tennis player Pete Sampras and professional wrestler Elias Markopoulos.[4]

Historical population

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Year Population
1981 523
1991 487
2001 524
2011 311
2021 390

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. ^ Name changes of settlements in Greece
  3. ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 3.10.7
  4. ^ "Wimbledon Stories: Ο Σπαρτιάτης που κέρδισε 7 φορές στο Λονδίνο". notospress.gr. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-30.