Images in this gallery are from Ancient Messene, also known as Ithomi, in the south west Peloponnese prefecture of Messenia. It is 32 kilometres northwest of Kalamata.
Situated on the fertile foothills of Mount Ithomi, just below the stone houses of the village of Mavromati, Ancient Messene was founded in 369 B.C as the capital of liberated Messenia by the Theban general Epaminondas, who defeated the Spartans two years earlier at the battle at Leuktra. It is said the city was...
more »Images in this gallery are from Ancient Messene, also known as Ithomi, in the south west Peloponnese prefecture of Messenia. It is 32 kilometres northwest of Kalamata.
Situated on the fertile foothills of Mount Ithomi, just below the stone houses of the village of Mavromati, Ancient Messene was founded in 369 B.C as the capital of liberated Messenia by the Theban general Epaminondas, who defeated the Spartans two years earlier at the battle at Leuktra. It is said the city was built in 80 days and it follows the Hippodamian system in town planning.
The archaeological site has been largely excavated and restored to a point and is one of most impressive sites in Greece; however it's not very well known to most travellers in the region.
Highlights are the wonderfully restored Stadium and Gymnasium architectural unit, the 2nd century BC Hellenistic Sanctuary of Asclepius, the political and religious heart of the city and the 9 kilometres long circuit wall, made of enormous limestone blocks and with battlement towers built during the 4th century BC to protect the city.
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