Ancient Messene

Messene is a significant ancient city in terms of its size, form, and state of preservation, and still has much to offer.Most of the area of Ancient Messene contains the ruins of the large classical city-state of Messene refounded by Epaminondas , after the battle of Leuctra and the first Theban invasion of the Peloponnese. Epaminondas invited the return to their native land of all the families that had gone into exile from Messenia during its long struggle with and servitude under the military state of Sparta, now finished as a conquering state.

This new Messene, today's Ancient Messene, was constructed over the ruins of Ithome, an ancient city originally of Achaean Greeks, destroyed previously by the Spartans and abandoned for some time.

Currently the substantial ruins are a major historical attraction. Much of it has been archaeologically excavated and partly restored or preserved for study and public viewing, as well as for various events.

The Theatre of Messene was one of the largest in antiquity. Its width exceeds 98.60m. while the diameter of the orchestra is 23.46m.Two of the 14 sectors were cut during the Roman imperial period when with financial support of the powerful Sethidas family the original Hellenistic plan was radically altered, the auditorium downsized, the scene building completely reconstructed and the proscenium considerably enlarged.

The sanctuary of Asclepios was one of the most important in Messene functioning as religious and political center of the city. More than 140 bases for bronze honorary statues of eminent citizens as well as five exedrae are placed around the temple, the altar and along the stoas. The huge almost rectangular court-yard is surrounded by four double stoas. Figural capitals supported the entablature consisting of an lonic epistyle and a friese decorated with bulls’ sculls, garlands and rosettes in relief. There are rooms and buildings of public and religious character around the stoas.

The Stadium and Gymnasium, forming one architectural unit, belong to the most imposing building complexes of Messene. The north part of the Stadium comprises 19 kerkides with 18 rows of stone seats each. The three Doric stoas around the stadium housed the Gymnasium activities.

The northern colonnade is double, while the eastern and western ones are simple. Inscribed bases erected among the columns of the west stoa supported the statues of eminent citizens and officials of the Gymnasium, while stone stelae with lists of ephebes according to tribes were standing around. The north part of the Stadium was transformed into an area for gladiator and animal fights during the late Roman period.

The Mausoleum of the Saithidae family, Façade. Doric temple-like building with four columns on the front supported by a high podium functioned as Mausoleum for burials of the elite Saithidae family from the 1st to the 3rd century. Eminent members of this family held important offices as High Priests and Helladarchs of the Province of Achaia under the Roman rule.

Among the most significant archaeological sites in Greece, each and every one of us should visit! To reach Messene from Athens you have to drive through the highway Corinth - Tripolis - Megalopolis - Kalamata or Corinth - Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia - Meligalas. From Olympia the journey to Messene lasts only 1 and 1/2 hr by car (around 75km.)

Be Well & Visit Greece

Vera Arapi

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