Prastos

Prastos (Greek: Πραστός) is a settlement in Arcadia, Greece. Formerly, Prastos was the premier town of the Tsakonian region, but declined in importance after its devastation by Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt during the Greek War of Independence and a general economic migration to urban areas that occurred in the following decades. It is considered a traditional settlement.

Prastos Πραστός
View of Prastos
Prastos
Coordinates: 37°16′N 22°41′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Arcadia
Municipality	North Kynouria
Elevation	255 m (837 ft)
Community [1]
• Population	336 (2011)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	221 00
Area code(s)	27550

History

During the Ottoman period, Prastos was the leading city of Tsakonia, and one of the richest in the Peloponnese. The inhabitants had special trading rights granted by the Sublime Porte, which contributed to the town's economic success. It was the seat of a bishopric, that of "Rheoi and Prastos."[2]

During the Greek War of Independence, the town was sacked by Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt and its olive groves burned, making the settlement unsuitable for habitation for decades hence. Much of the surviving population fled to Leonidio and the Argolid and could not be persuaded to return to the relatively less fertile mountains even after the olive groves had recovered.[3]

See also

• List of settlements in Arcadia
• List of traditional settlements of Greece

Notes

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Θανάσης Κωστάκης (Αθήνα, 1951). Συντομή Γραμματική της Τσακωνικής Διάλεκτου. 35 Collection De L'Institut Français D'Athenes, p. 15
3. Costakis, p. 16