Where did the prefectures of Peloponnese get their names from?
Achaia
From the tribe of the Achaeans who were one of the four tribes of the Ancient Greek area. They came from central Macedonia but gradually moved down to Thessaly and then to Peloponnese.
Corinthia
From the words "kori" meaning daughter and "anthos" meaning blossom, which means a girl who looked like a blossom. The name refers to the wider area of Corinth.
Argolida
The area around Argos. The name comes from the words «agros» and «argos» which, according to Pausanias, means plain.
Arkadia
It comes from the Arkadians, a race of Pelasgian origin. According to Pausanias, Arkadia comes from the word arktos or bear from the mother of Arkados who was transformed into a bear. The second version is that it comes from the words "ark" or "argo" and "Zeus" meaning boat of Zeus. A third version claims that it comes from "arkas" which means native. A fourth version claims that it comes from the root "ark" and "alk" from which the verbs "ararisko": appropriate, "arigo": help, "alkeo": remove.
Ilia
From the Ilian tribe that settled in the area from Aetolia. They allied with the Dorians and subdued the old tribes of the region. Their first king was Oxylus who founded the Olympic Games.
Messinia
From the city of Ancient Messini which was inhabited by the Thebans in the 3rd century BC. It refers to the wider area of Messini.
Lakonia
From the words "las" meaning stone and "daimon" meaning god, respected. It refers to the peak of Taygetus mountain which was worshiped by the ancients.