Rovies - RoviesOlives

Search
Go to content

Main menu

Rovies

Cooperative

Rovies is a village in the island of Evia (Euboea), on the coast of the north Euboean Gulf. It lies at the foothills of the pine-covered Cavalaris and oak-shrouded Telethrion mountains and next to an extensive olive grove.

According to the 2001 census the population of Rovies stands at 1,155 inhabitants.

The village of Rovies is said to have ancient roots. 'Oroviae' (Orobiae) is mentioned by Strabo (book 10, chapter 1, section3) (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D10%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D3), in relation to the "unfailing oracle of Apollo Selinountios" said to have been located in the area now called Taxiarchis, near the monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovallantou.

According to the local folk tradition the name Rovies to "orovo" ("rovi" in modern Greek) meaning a small green bean that thrived in the area and was suitable for cattle feed; while some researchers attribute the name is derived from the mythological creature, Orova.

Certainly, it seems that the area has been continuously inhabited since Paleolithic times, as stated in the Archaeological museum of Chalkida.  In 427 BC, the area was hit by a massive tidal wave created by a powerful earthquake, mentioned by Thucydides (6th year of the Peloponnesian war, book 3, chapter 89) (http://img.pathfinder.gr//clubs/files/61405/47.html), and its inhabitants retreated into the surrounding mountainous areas.










Rovies acquired a particular importance in Byzantine times and the following Frankish and Venetian periods. A local medieval tower, still standing in the center of the village is a testament to this past.

Later in 1470 AD, when the island of Evia (Euboea) fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks, Rovies maintained a military and administrative significance, as the conquerors assigned it the capital of the municipal region (Nahiyie y Roviez).

In 1832, Rovies and the surrounding farmland were sold by its Turkish owner to Apostolos Duma and in 1836 the area became part of the newly formed ''Aegeon'' municipality with the nearby town of Limni as its capital. And so it remained until 1912 when the "Aegeon" municipality was finally abolished and Rovies became a separate community together with the hamlets of Kalamoudi, Marouli, Koulouros, Paliochori, Damia, Drymona, and Mandanika (Dafni).

In 1997 Rovies once again became part of the "Kapodistrian" Elymnion municipality and in 2010 joined the district of the larger "Kallikratis" municipality of Mandoudi-Lymni-Agia Anna.


Back to content | Back to main menu