View source for Myrsini

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{{Infobox Greek Dimos
  |name = Myrsini
  |name_local = Μυρσίνη
|type = community
|periph = [[West Greece]]
|periphunit         = [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]]
|municipality = [[Andravida-Kyllini]]
|municunit = [[Lechaina]]
|pop_community = 1265
  |population_as_of = 2021
  |area =  
  |elevation = 
  |coordinates        = {{coord|37|55|N|21|14|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
  |postal_code = 
  |area_code = 
  |licence = 
  |website = 
 |image_skyline      = 
 |caption_skyline    = 
 |city_flag          = 
 |city_seal          = 
}}
'''Myrsini''' ({{langx|el|Μυρσίνη}}, before 1915: Σουλεϊμάναγα - ''Souleimanaga''<ref>[http://pandektis.ekt.gr/pandektis/handle/10442/170952 Name changes of settlements in Greece]</ref>) is a town in [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]], [[Greece]]. It is part of the municipal unit of [[Lechaina]] since 1997. Myrsini lies in a flat coastal plain that stretches from [[Amaliada]] to [[Kato Achaia]]. It is 3 km southwest of Lechaina and 3&nbsp;km northwest of [[Andravida]].

==History==
Myrsini is named after the [[Ancient Greek|ancient city]] of [[Myrsinos]] or Myrtountion (named in [[Homer]]'s ''[[Iliad]]'' and in [[Strabo]]'s ''[[Geographica]]'' V), which was located in the area. According to Homer, Myrsinos took part in the [[Trojan War]] together with all of the Eleans (''[[Iliad]]'' II.616). During the [[Byzantine Empire]], a village named ''Agios Nikolaos'' (St Nicholas) was located in the area. Only part of its church altar survives today. In the 16th century, the inhabitants moved further inland to escape corsair raids and founded the present village. During the [[Ottoman Greece|Ottoman era]], the village was named ''Suleymanaga'' (Σουλεϊμάναγα), after a local Ottoman governor named Suleyman [[Agha (Ottoman Empire)|Agha]].

Along with the rest of the [[Peloponnese]], the village was conquered in 1685 by the [[Republic of Venice]] during the [[Morean War]], but was recovered by the Ottomans in 1715. It became a part of [[Greece]] after the [[Greek War of Independence]], and was renamed to its present name in 1915.

==Population==
{| class=wikitable
! Year !! Population 
|-
| 1700 || 51 (19 families) 
|-
| 1920 || 1,168 
|-
| 1928 || 1,288 
|-
| 1940 || 1,481 
|-
| 1951 || 1,496 
|-
| 1961 || 1,352 
|-
| 1971 || 1,180  
|-
| 1981 || 1,100  
|-
| 1991 || 1,160 
|-
| 2001 || 1,196 
|-
| 2011 || 1,135 
|-
| 2021 || 1,265
|}

==Notable people==
<!-- ONLY ADD PEOPLE HERE IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE -->
Notable residents of Myrsini include:
* [[Peter Katholos]] former footballer who played for [[Sydney Olympic F.C.]] and [[Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Lechaina}}

[[Category:Populated places in Elis]]
[[Category:Geography of ancient Elis]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Peloponnese]]
[[Category:Lechaina]]
[[Category:Andravida-Kyllini]]
[[Category:Dissolved municipalities and communes in Greece]]


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{{WestGreece-geo-stub}}