Tegea comes from the word “tegos“ which means “stegi” roof and was founded by Tegeas, son of Lycaon and grandson of Pelasgus. The foundation of Tegea dates back to the mythical era and is mentioned as one of the countries that participated in the Argonaut expedition and the Trojan War. After the end of the Trojan War, King Agapenor along with the Tegeans headed to Cyprus, where they founded the city of Paphos.

Tegea was consisted of 9 municipalities and settlements that were connected by the cult of the goddess Alea Athena. The city of Tegea was built in the early 5th century BC and quickly developed and became rich and powerful. Tegea was one of the most important cities of ancient Arcadia. Prominent Tegeans were the poets Clonas and Anytis, the historian Arianthos, the tragic Aristarchus, the legislators Antisthenes and Crisos, the heroes Agaios and Epochos, Atalanti, Ehemos and Diotima. According to mythology, Panas was also born here.

The temple of Athena Alea was built by the sculptor Skopas (mid-4th century BC). Inside the temple there was the ivory statue of the Goddess Athena and on either side the statues of Asclepius and his daughter Hygia and the teeth of the Erymanthian Boar. Later the Romans transferred them to Rome. Today visitors can admire parts of the temple found. In the village of Alea there is a museum, which mainly contains sculptural pieces.

Near the market of ancient Tegea, with its sanctuaries and votive offerings, there was an ancient theater. Around the 12th century, the Christian church of the old Episcopi was built on the theatron (koilon) of the theater. Today in Episkopi additional works have been carried out on the foundations of the church and most of the perimeter of the theater as well as its entrance have been revealed. One can still see remains of medieval walls and mosaic floors from the early Christian Basilica.