Peloponnese
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PeloponnesosMap.jpg
The Peloponnese (Greek Πελοπόννησος, Peloponnesos "Island of Pelops"; Latinized as Peloponnesus) is a large peninsula in Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Isthmus of Corinth.
Its name derives from the Ancient Greek mythological hero, 'Pelops', who supposedly conquered the entire region. Of the name, Peloponnesos, 'Pelops' refers to this hero and 'nesos' refers to island, therefore the name means the Island of Pelops. However, Peloponnesos only became a true island with the creation of the Corinth Canal in 1893. In 2004 the Peloponnese gained a second connection to the mainland, with the completion of the Rio-Antirio bridge.
"The Peloponnese" is sometimes used as shorthand for the Peloponnesian League.
In medieval times it was called the Morea. According to folk etymology, this is because the Crusaders found it densely planted with mulberry trees (Greek: moreai) used by the flourishing Byzantine silk industry.
The Peloponnese is a periphery of Greece, consisting of 5 prefectures (Greek: νόμοι):
The prefectures of Achaea and Ilia are also part of the peninsula, but are part of the West Greece periphery. A small part of the peninsula belongs to the periphery of Attica.
Template:Peripheries of Greece
External links
- Official Regional Government Website (http://www.peloponnisos.gr/)
- Peloponnese (Peloponnesos) Guide (http://www.superbgreece.com/Peloponnese/index.htm)
- ΠΕΛΟΠΟΝΝΗΣΟΣ newspaper (in Greek) (http://www.peloponnisos.com.gr/)de:Peloponnes
et:Peloponnesos el:Πελοπόννησος es:Peloponeso fr:Ploponnse it:Peloponneso la:Peloponnesus nl:Peloponnesos ja:ペロポネソス半島 pl:Peloponez pt:Peloponeso fi:Peloponnesos sv:Peloponnesos