Skopa Peninsula
Skopa peninsula is located east of the settlement of Kotronas (87 km from Sparta) and was the site of the sea citadel of ancient Tefthroni. A narrow strip of land, 300 metres long, connects the peninsula with Kotronas.
Ancient Tefthroni was one of the most important ports. According to tradition, the name comes from the morphology of the soil, while according to Pausanias, one of its inhabitants was the Athenian Tefthrantas.
Skopa peninsula is a natural observatory, and for this reason, it was chosen as the citadel of the ancient city. On the west side of the peninsula (the one with steep slopes), visitors can see the remains of the citadel's fortifications.
Skopa Peninsula was inhabited before 2000 BC. In the ancient city of Tefthroni (which belonged to the Commonwealth of Free Lakonians), one could visit Naia spring. The inhabitants honoured Isoria Artemis (a deity), whose cult started at Cotronas and then continued to Sparta. The church of Agios Nikolaos is built on the ancient temple, and around it, visitors can see scattered ancient marble sections.
The ancient city sank in water after the great earthquake, which took place in the 3rd century AD. Fishermen and divers have accidentally discovered ruins and findings. According to the findings (obsidian, ceramics, burial stones, stone axes), the area presents Proto-Greek, Middle Helladic and Mycenaean habitation, as well as development during the Roman times. Shells (pottery fragments), obsidian stones and burials in jars have been found on the Skopa Peninsula. Finally, even today, there are tower houses at Kotronas with ancient capitals and inscriptions embedded in their brickwork.
