Mantineia (Mantinia)

(Local Name: Mandínia) The ancient city of Mantineia, formed in 500 B.C. by the amalgamation of five villages, lies 15km/9mi north of Trípoli in the Peloponnese. The site is reached by taking the road which runs north from Trípoli and in 8km/5mi, where the main road bears northwest towards Vytína and Olympia, turning right into a side road signposted to Kakoúri.

Mantineia was destroyed by Sparta in 385 B.C. but rebuilt in 371 after a Theban victory over Sparta. The battle of Mantineia in 362 B.C. put an end to Theban predominance in the Peloponnese.

The surviving remains date from the rebuilding around 370 B.C. There are considerable remains, particularly on the north and east sides, of the elliptical circuit of town walls, which had a total length of almost 4km/2.5mi. The walls, faced inside and outside with dressed stone, are 4.2-4.7m/14-15ft thick, with 10 gates and 120 towers. The river Ophis was diverted to encircle the walls.

Within the town French excavations between 1869 and 1898 brought to light the agora, with the bouleuterion on the south side, a theater on the west side and scanty remains of temples.