Description:
The archaeological site of Ancient Messene is located about 30 kms NW of Kalamata in south-western Peloponnese. The city was founded in 369 BC by Epaminondas the renowned Theban general as the capital of a newly liberated and independent Messenia following the defeat of Sparta at Leuktra (371 BC). After the fourth century AD the ancient city was radually abandoned, fell into ruins and was covered by alluvial soil. Systematic excavations conducted by the Archaeological Society at Athens under the direction of the late Prof. Anastasios Orlandos and since 1986 of the project leader brought to light the central part of the city with all its architectural complexes, comprising public buildings, sanctuaries, funerary monuments, urban villas, walls, towers and gates as well as 17.000 artifacts including numerous marble statues some of them exhibited at the local Museum the rest being kept in storerooms. During the last seven years efforts were concentrated on the conservation, restoration and enhancement of the entire excavated area of the city and its monuments in order to give them if possible their original form and make them accessible and understandable to the public. Among the monuments consolidated, conserved and restored are the Stadium and the Gymnasium, the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the temple of the goddess Messana in the Agora, the Fountain House of Arsinoe, funerary monuments located inside the fortification walls and outside the Arcadian Gate, the temples of Artemis Limnatis and Eileithyia on the south slopes of mount Ithome.