Ancient Psofida

Psofida is located in the northwestern part of Arcadia, in the country of the Azans, at the confluence of three rivers, the Erymanthos river in the west, the Leivartzinos in the northeast and the Vertsiotikos or Siraikos in the east - southeast. In this contribution - meeting of the rivers, the ancient city developed, in a beautiful position, the beauty of which was praised by the historian Polybius.

The myths associated with the existence of the city are handed down by many ancient writers, with its origin dating back, always according to mythology, to Gaia itself. Psofis, son of Arron, is considered a settler of Psofida. The original name of the city was Erymanthos, probably from the word “eryma”, which means fortification and the pre-Greek preposition “–nthos”.

Ancient Psofida, is also found with the name Figia, not only because of the name of the mythical Figeas, but from the many oaks that grew, as it does today in the area. Another variant is the one according to which the city was named after the daughter of the king of the Sicilian city “Erykos”, Psofida.