ELIS, one of the ancient divisions of the Peloponnesus, bounded n. and n.e. by Achaia, e. and s. by Arcadia, and w. by the Ionian sea. It was originally divided into three districts—Ccele or Hollow Elis, Pisatis, and Triphylia. Of these, the first-named was by far the largest and most valuable, comprising as it did the broad and fertile plains watered by the Peneus and the Ladon, and producing excellent crops of corn, cotton, and flax; while the pastures by the river-banks reared cattle and horses of pro verbial excellence. This district, from its fertility, was called " the milk-cow of the Morea." Pisatis is drained by the Alpheus, and is separated from Ccele Elis by Mt. Pholot, a spur of Erymanthus. The low grounds of this division possess great natural fertility. Most of the surface of Triphylia is hilly, being occupied with offshoots from the great Arcadian ranges. It is separated from Pisatis by the Alpheus, on whose banks were the grove and temple of Olympic Jove, and the plain in which the great Olympic games were celebrated. Though E. had few facilities for preventing invasion, it yet
suffered less from war than any other of the Greek states—an advantage chiefly due to. the sacred character of the country, as the seat of the greatest of the national festivals. Their prerogative of holding the Olympic games gave the Eleans a prestige which they continued to enjoy in greater or less degree till the games themselves were suppressed by the emperor Theodosius in 394 A.D.—Ems, now Saloscopi, the Capital of the fore going country, stood on the Peneus, and was long famous as one of the most splendid aud populous cities of Greece. It was at one time strongly fortified, and contained many magnificent buildings, conspicuous among which was the gymnasium, in which it was necessary that all athletes intending to take part in the Olympic games should go through a month's training before they were allowed to compete. See Leake's Mona, and Curtius' Pelopannesus.