The little mining town of Megalópolis lies south of the river Elisson in the center of the Peloponnese. It has suffered severe earthquake damage on several occasions.
Megalópolis was founded after the Theban general Epameinondas's victory over Sparta at Leuktra (371 B.C.), and was intended, together with Mantineia and
Messene, to prevent any resurgence of Spartan power. In 353, 331 and 234 B.C. the town, peopled by settlers from the surrounding area, successfully withstood attacks from Sparta, but in 223 B.C. it was conquered and destroyed. Although it was rebuilt in 194 B.C., Pausanias, visiting the site in the A.D. second century, found only ruins. Megalópolis was the birthplace of the historian Polybios (208- 120 B.C.).
The site of the ancient city, which lies astride the river Elisson, a tributary of the Alfiós (Alpheios), was excavated by British archeologists.
Megalópolis is a station on the Peloponnese Railroad (Corinth-Kalamáta).