GREECE PELOPONNESE ELEIA ALIFIRA

The acropolis

In a remote Eleian region lies the acropolis of ancient Alifira (Alipheira). It is only a few kilometers from the road connecting Krestena / Olympia and Andritsaina, but hardly anyone of the very few rushing to the temple of Epicurean Apollo in Bassae stops here. From modern Alifira a new road winds up the hill (683 m) to a point from where the remaining ascent is quite tolerable. Impressive architectural remains and a superb view reward the effort.

First evidence of the ancient city that was named after Aliphon or Alipheiron, grandson of the mythical Arcadian king Pelasgos, comes from the middle of the 6th century BC in connection with the worship of Athena. In the 4th and 3rd century BC, Alifira was a member of the Arcadian League. In 244 BC the city fell to the Eleians and declined from its prosperity. After a short resistance, Alifira was taken by Philip V in 219 BC, who established a Macedonian garrison. It was then a member of the Achaian League, but by the times of Pausanias (2nd century AD) it was "a city of no size".

The excavations of 1932-35 uncovered the whole of the acropolis with impressive fortification walls of rectangular and polygonal blocks. These walls surrounded not only the whole terrain on the hilltop but separately also the highest terrace ("the heights"). Mighty towers were set into the wall at intervals.

Plan of the acropolis of Alifira: 1. to the modern road, 2. Sanctuary of Asklepios, 3. "suburb", 4. fortification of the suburb with the "Tower of Vuvulas", 5. the acropolis proper ("the heights"), 6. Temple of Athena, 7. altar, 8. statue base.

Above right: The architectural remains on the lower northwest area of the acropolis are - according to Pausanias - associated with a sanctuary of Asklepios. This rectangular building is generally interpreted as the healing center of the Asklepieion. - Below: The simple rectangular temple of Asklepios (dimensions 6 x 9 m) with several rows of stones still standing has a pronaos in antis and is dated to ca. 300 BC. Here it is visited by a flock of sheep.

Below: Inside the temple is the cubical base of a statue. Very probably it supported an akrelephantine statue of the god, an ivory statue of Asklepios with wooden core, as indicated by the ivory fragments found here.