ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS


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THE THOLOS TOMBS AT PERISTERIA

According to archaeologists, the tholos tombs, burial monuments of the 2nd millennium BC, first appeared in Messinia, before spreading to the rest of Greece. Tombs of this type were configured in such a way that they resembled houses, with a long corridor that led to the main hall, which was the "final residence" of the deceased... Such tholos tombs can be found in every corner of Messinia, from Kambos in Avia to Kaplani in Akritochori, from Ano Psari to Charakopio, from Malthi to Voidokilia and Antheia.

A significant archaeological site in Messinia, where great tholos tombs were discovered, is the hill of Peristeria, near the village of Myro, next to Kyparissia: Archaeologists refer to it as the "Mycenae of the western Peloponnese," since the wealth of the findings and the size of the tombs are reminiscent of the majestic archaeological monuments of the Mycenaean civilization. Peristeria seems to be the area where a significant settlement flourished at the end of the Late Helladic period. Traces of habitation were also unearthed at the adjacent hills of Karagenis and Kokorakos, evidently of the same period.

The findings and tombs of Peristeria date to the 2nd millenium BC, with some older ones that have also come to light. Up to now, the most important findings are four tholos tombs – the largest of which is also the largest in Messinia and the western Peloponnese –, part of a palace and many houses. The tombs of Peristeria contained many artifacts, such as jewelry, items of daily use etc., which today are kept at the Archaeological Museum of Chora.

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ANCIENT MESSINI-ITHOMI, ONE OF THE BEST-PRESERVED ANCIENT CITIES IN GREECE

THE "CLASSIC" SITES

At a distance of 30 km from Kalamata, in the village today called Mavromati, at the western foot of Mount Ithomi, lies Ancient Messini, one of the most important cities in Greece during the Hellenistic and Roman periods and capital of the free Ancient Messinia, for seven whole centuries. Ancient Messini was built in 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas, after he had defeated the Spartans at the battle of Lefktra and liberated the Messinians from the Spartan rule. Since then, it was a very prosperous city for many centuries, until 395 AD, when it became the target of a ferocious attack by the Goths, signaling its decline.
There is an interesting story connected with the founding of the city: It is said that, in order to determine its location, seers and priests were called in, in order to find the most favorable spot. They finally found it, choosing the location where the will of the Messinian hero Aristomenes was miraculously discovered. The new city was populated by Messinians who had immigrated to various areas of the then-known world, who were called back to their homeland for that purpose. The name "Messini" was chosen in honor of the area's mythical queen, Messini, who was gradually deified.
Much of the above information is given to us by Pausanias, who visited Ancient Messini between 155 and 160 AD, and described it in great detail. His descriptions are invaluable, especially regarding aspects of the city and the function of various structures, which we would have no other way of knowing. The excellently preserved city, of course, is something that one must definitely see with their own eyes. It is a rare archaeological site, where the visitor will be impressed by the temples, houses, walls and public buildings, most of which are maintained to a great height and in very good condition. At the same time, one feels deeply moved standing in a place where the history of the region is imprinted on its landscape.
The city was surrounded by a stone wall approximately 9.5 km long, which dates to the 3d century BC. A great part of this wall still stands today. There were two gates, the Arcadian Gate, which is preserved, and the Laconian Gate, which was destroyed in more recent times. The Arcadian Gate is an impressive construction, and was for centuries the trademark of the city: most travelers who passed from the area have depicted it in their sketches.
The archaeological site includes, among other things, public buildings, the Agora, the Temple of Artemis Fosforos (light-bringer) or Orthia (standing), the sanctuary of Zeus Soter, the sanctuary of Demeter and the Dioskouri, the Stadium, the Ecclesiasterion, the Heroon, the Gymnasium, the Theater, the Arsinoe Fountain ‒ a very impressive construction ‒, as well as residences. Other important buildings are the Congress, a hall where the representatives of Messini conferred, the pottery factory, the temple of Artemis Limnatis (of lakes) and Artemis Lafria Orthia, the imposing group of buildings of the Asclepieion, and much more.
The Archaeological Museum near the archaeological site houses a plethora of findings from Ancient Messini, which exceed 10,000 in number. The exhibits include the marble statue of Hermes of Messini, the Roman marble copy of Doryforos (spear-carrier), which is one of the most renowned statues of the 5th century BC, statues which decorated the Asclepieion, the stone-made Hecataeum with representations of the goddess Artemis, and so on.

Archaeological site of Ancient Messini
Ancient Messini 24002
Tel.: +30 27240 51201 (Archaeological Museum)
Fax: +30 27240 51218
Email: [email protected]
www.yppo.gr

Archaeological Museum of Ancient Messini
Ancient Messini 24002
Tel.: +30 27240 51201
Fax: +30 27240 51218
Email: [email protected]
www.yppo.gr

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THE TEMPLE OF EPIKOURIOS APOLLO

At a distance of 48 km north of Kyparissia, in the region of Vasses, lost in the wild landscape lies the "second Parthenon," one of the most important and well-preserved temples of antiquity. This majestic temple was dedicated by the residents of the region to Apollo, as an act of gratitude for releasing them from the plague epidemic during the Peloponnesian War; the name says it, after all: "epikourios" in ancient Greek means "the one who helps."
The temple was built by Ictinus, the architect of the Parthenon. It is estimated that it took its current form in the mid-5th century BC, but according to numerous findings, it went through earlier construction phases. We know for example that in the 7th century there was a temple here, dedicate to Apollo Vassitis. The temple we see today is impressive in its beauty. Pausanias, who visited it during his travels, refers to it with great admiration. It is an architectural masterpiece, in which all orders (Ionian, Dorian, Corinthian) are harmoniously combined, built of local limestone and divided into a vestibule and a nave, with six columns on the facade and fifteen on the long sides. Apollo's large, bronze statue stood in the nave.
The sculptural decor of the temple was the work of Alcamenes, one of the most famous sculptors of that time, who also created the temple's frieze, today exhibited at the British Museum. The subject of 10 out of the 23 embossed plates that constituted the frieze is the so-called Centauromachia (the battle between the Centaurs and the Lapiths); the subject of another 12 is the Amazonomachia (the battle between the Greeks and the Amazons) and one represents Apollo and Artemis on a chariot. The temple was the first classical monument to be included in the World List of Monuments of Cultural Heritage, in 1986.

Andritsaina 27061
Tel.: +30 26260 22275, 23406
Fax: +30 26260 23406

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THE PALACE OF NESTOR

In the period between 1700–1100 BC, in various parts of Greece flourished the famous Mycenaean civilization, one of the most illustrious civilizations in Greek history, which left its mark mainly through art, architecture and literature. Its name derives from the area where the first and most significant traces were discovered, Mycenae in Argolis. Of the most representative Mycenaean remains are the so called tholos tombs and the grandiose palaces, with many significant findings surviving also in Messinia.

A short distance away from Pylos, 4 km from the village of Chora, at the hill of Ano Eglianos, archaeologists brought to light in the previous century the palace of the mythical king of Pylos, Nestor, whom Homer refers to with admiration through the words of the Achaeans, who praise him for his wisdom and prudence. The palace probably flourished between 1300 and 1200 BC, and, according to the evidence so far, it is considered to be the best-preserved Mycenaean palace in the whole of Greece.

The palace is a two-storey building complex comprising three main buildings – residences, storage areas, workshops and sideboards –, which, in turn, are divided into a great number of sections. Of great significance is the Throne Room, with multicolored murals and painting representations that adorned the wooden roof, the columns of the circular “hestia” (fireplace) and the floor. In the area around the palace archaeologists discovered tholos tombs, one of which was attributed to Nestor and his successor, Thrasymedes. Strangely enough, the palace doesn't seem to have been enclosed within walls at any time, which means that it had been built with full knowledge that its location was protected.
Around the 12th century, the palace must have been destroyed by a fire which almost razed it to the ground. And we say "almost," because the fire had an exceptionally positive result: it "cooked" the ceramic tablets of the archives, resulting in their being better preserved through the centuries. Thus, around 1,200 texts with rare information were saved, concerning the economy, the society and the culture of the area in general, as well as the daily practices and financial-commercial exchanges of the palace, in particular, during Mycenaean times. Copies of these tablets can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Chora in the region of Trifylia (the originals are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Athens), alongside the clay bank of offers which was located in the Throne Room, parts of murals with representations of animals, persons and mythical beings, as well as moulds of clay tablets with Linear B inscriptions.

Palace of Nestor - archaeological site
Chora, Messinia 24600
Tel.: +30 27630 31437
Fax: +30 27630 29790
Email: [email protected]
www.yppo.gr

Archaeological Museum of Chora
Chora, Messinia 24600
Tel.: +30 27630 31358
Fax: +30 27630 29790
Email: [email protected]
www.yppo.gr

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CAPE TAINARON

For the ancient Greeks, Tainaron was inextricably linked with the Underworld: According to their belief, where the Mani peninsula – and mainland Europe – ended, the entrance to Hades began. There are several mythical references of heroes descending to Hades connected with that passage, as, for example, of Hercules, Orpheus, Theseus and Pirithous. It is certainly not a coincidence that there was a necromanteion in the area, where the living could come into contact with the dead.
East of the cape of Tainaron there was a temple dedicated to Poseidon Tainarios, as attested by the approximately 70 statuettes found in the area, depicting the bulls and horses of the god. Today you will find here the chapel of Aghii Asomati, built with materials from the ancient temple. Further along, you will come across the remains of a small cave, whose roof has collapsed. Many researchers believe that this was where the necromanteion was located. Others believe that it was located in a sea cave at the westernmost edge of the Tainaron peninsula, which they have named "cave of Hades": it is an imposing site with impressive formations, and it may well have operated as an oracle of the dead.
In the area you will also find antiquities scattered here and there, as, for example, the traces of a Roman settlement and a 1st century AD mosaic, as well as more modern sights, such as the lighthouse of Akrotainaron, built in 1822.

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