Mainalo

Mainalo (Greek: Μαίναλο, Ancient Greek: Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον, romanized: Mainalos or Mainalon; Latin: Maenalus[2]) is the tallest mountain in the Menalon highlands of the Peloponnese, and is located in Arcadia, Greece. In antiquity, the mountain was especially sacred to Pan.[2]

For the village with the same name, see Mainalo, Arcadia.

Mainalo
Greek fir forest on Mainalo
Highest point
PeakOstrakina or Profitis Ilias
Elevation1,981 m (6,499 ft) [1]
Coordinates37.6436°N 22.2797°E / 37.6436; 22.2797 
Naming
Etymologyfrom Ancient Greek Μαίναλον (Maínalon)
Native nameΜαίναλο  (Greek)
Geography
Mainalo
The mountain is in the middle of the Peloponnese, in Arcadia, Greece
Geology
Mountain typeMount
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

The mountain's highest point, known as both Profitis Ilias and Ostrakina,[1][3] at a height of 1,981 m (6,499 ft),[1] is the highest point in Arcadia.[4] The mountain has a length of 15 to 20 kilometres (9.3 to 12.4 mi) from southwest of Tripoli to northeast of Vytina, and a width of 5 to 10 kilometres (3.1 to 6.2 mi) from Zygovisti to Kapsas.[4] The mountain is part of a Natura 2000 site, designated in March 2011, covering an area of 226.4 square kilometres (87.4 sq mi).[5] In the 19th and early 20th century, the mountain was known as Apano Chrepa.[6]

Mainalo is home to a ski resort, which is found at an elevation of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft), with 7 ski slopes and 4 lifts,[7] which are at an altitude between 1,550 to 1,770 metres (5,090 to 5,810 ft).[4]

Geography

Mainalo's ground is primarily made of lime, among various calcareous substrates.[5]

Mainalo has various named peaks. Listed by height, they are, among others;[1][3]

  • Ostrakina (Greek: Οστρακίνα) or Profitis Ilias (Greek: Προφήτης Ηλιας) at 1,981 metres (6,499 ft)
  • Pateritsa (Greek: Πατερίτσα) at 1,875 metres (6,152 ft)
  • Aidini (Greek: Αϊδίνη) at 1,849 metres (6,066 ft)
  • Mavri Koryfi (Greek: Μαύρη Κορυφή) at 1,818 metres (5,965 ft)
  • Mourtzia (Greek: Μουρτζιά) at 1,794 metres (5,886 ft)
  • Mesovouni (Greek: Μεσοβούνι) at 1,730 metres (5,680 ft)
  • Krevatia (Greek: Κρεββάτια) at 1,563 metres (5,128 ft)
  • Epano Chrepa (Greek: Επάνω χρέπα) at 1,559 metres (5,115 ft)
  • Lioritsi (Greek: Λιορίτσι) at 1,155 metres (3,789 ft)
  • Sterna (Greek: Στέρνα) at 1,071 metres (3,514 ft)

Ecology
Ostrakina Ski Center in winter

The mountain houses many forests of Greek fir and Crimean pine. Natura 2000 cites these forests as the "[Greek fir and Crimean pine's] best representation in Peloponnisos."[5]

Mainalo has several ecological environments, comprising:[5]

Many amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and diurnal predatory birds inhabit Mainalo. These include, among others;[5]

Notable people

The following people were associated with the ancient city Maenalus, which may have stood near the summit of Mainalo:[2][9]

  • Androsthenes of Maenalus, a pankratiast who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 420 and 416 BC.[10][11]:27[12]:10
  • Damoxenidas of Maenalus, a boxer who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 384 BC.[10][11]:159[13]:246
  • Ephotion of Maenalus, a pankratiast who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 464 BC.[12]:60
  • Euthymenes of Maenalus, a boys' and adult wrestler who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 400 and 392 BC.[10][12]:66
  • Nicodamus of Maenalus, a sculptor who made statues of ancient Olympic victors and Greek mythological figures.
  • Phormis of Maenalus, a distinguished fighter who became rich in service of Gelo.[10]
  • Xenocles of Maenalus, a boys' wrestler who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 372 BC.[10][12]:177
gollark: Please /forge setdim me continuously.
gollark: It appears that I reactivated an ancient device of evil in the overworld, yes.
gollark: Yes. Eventually. Remind me tomorrow.
gollark: Bee those particular pronouns if they're apious.
gollark: Pronouns are, due to horrible failings of our language, necessary to refer to people without it being verbose.

References
  1. Μαίναλο - Γράφημα των κορυφών του Μαίναλου [Mainalo - Graph of the peaks of Mainalo]. Oreivatein (in Greek). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2.  Smith, William, ed. (1857). "Maenalus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. 2. London: John Murray. pp. 243–244.
  3. Στην κορυφή Τζελάτη του Μαινάλου [At the Tzelati peak of Mainalo]. hikingexperience.gr (in Greek). 15 October 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  4. "Mainalo". Peloponnese Travel Guide in Greece - Peloponnese.eu. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  5. "N2K GR2520001 dataforms". Natura 2000. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  6. Orr, James (1915). "Greece; Graecia". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. II. Chicago: Howard-Severance Co. p. 1296 – via Archive.org.
  7. "Ostrakina Ski Center - Mainalon". Greek Travel Pages. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  8. Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats (PDF). EUR 28. European Commission, DG-ENV. April 2013.
  9. Leake, William Martin (1846). "Gates of Helos". Peloponnesiaca: a Supplement to Travels on the Moréa. London: J. Rodwell. pp. 241–243 – via Internet Archive.
  10. Leake, William Martin (1846). "Olympia". Peloponnesiaca: a Supplement to Travels on the Moréa. London: J. Rodwell. pp. 59–65 – via Internet Archive.
  11. Matz, David (1991). Greek and Roman sport: a dictionary of athletes and events from the eighth century B.C. to the third century A.D.. United States: McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. ISBN 9780899505589. OCLC 925131929.
  12. Golden, Mark (2004). Sport in the Ancient World from A to Z. United States: Routledge. ISBN 9781134535965 – via Archive.org.
  13. Durántez Corral, Conrado (2010). El significado de la victoria en los juegos de Olimpia - Los vencedores Olimpicos [The significance of victory in the games of Olympia - The Olympic victors] (PDF) (in Spanish). León: University of León.

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