have been thinking about my wishes these days. Oh, I won't tell you why I'm spinning my head. I just wonder how much I want everything, and sometimes those desires of mine are based not so much on myself, but on those around me.
This month is the last month in Greece, and we will go home, because the sun has already brought enough warmth there. But this time I decided not to fly home, but to drive by car so that we could visit many unseen places. I don't know if I will be able to go on vacation this summer, because our house is waiting for renovation. Maybe we could go for a week to Turkey before the fall, but that's all. So, I got the idea of going home by car, visiting beautiful cities with their architecture. I expected my husband's surprise and disapproval, but he agreed. So, next month we will raise our wings again, this time towards our beloved homeland, but in the meantime, the traditional Wednesday walk is waiting for us. Looking at the maps, we decided to turn to Ancient Messini.
I understand that such ancient sites are not interesting without their history, so here are a few facts I found. Without history, ancient remains would be just a pile of stones. This time, our walk I dedicate to people with imagination.
Ancient Messini is not as well known to tourists as, for example, Sparta or Ancient Olympia. It’s even strange that this site is not included in the UNESCO heritage list. But I think this will be done, since the site has been open to tourists for only a few years. The scale of this ancient city in the history of Greece is significant.
It was a huge city, the capital of Ancient Messina, which, like all the scattered ancient Greek states, fought, was enslaved, liberated and lived its usual city life. In the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Messenia was conquered by the Spartans as a result of the two Messenian Wars. No stone was left in the capital, and the Spartans turned those who were unable to leave their native lands into helots (something between serfs and slaves).
Those who were able to escape founded, in particular, the city of Messina in Sicily. Many years later, with the assistance of the armies of Argos and Thebes, the Messinians returned to their homeland and began building a incredible city. The most powerful city walls were built, the likes of which were unknown in the Greek world. The function of one of the walls was performed by Mount Itomi, on the top of which was the Acropolis. Looking at such a large Agora, you can’t help but wonder: what was the population of the city like? The Messinians wanted to make themselves known to the whole world... And then, as you know, the Romans came...
According to legend, the Messenians had a certain talisman. If it had died, then Messenia would have disappeared forever. The talisman was buried in the most secluded place on Mount Itoma, under which was the ancient city of Messina, the capital of Messinia.
Inspecting the complex took us about two hours at a leisurely pace. We visited two theaters - the drama theater and for political speeches. There is a stunning mountain landscape all around. On the mountain above the complex are the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. There are few people, a calm atmosphere. You can calmly walk around and take photos.
The scope and scale of these ancient remains is impressive. The Agora of Messini is considered the largest in Greece. A huge stadium, a theater, a temple.
You walk and walk and only when you approach the stadium do you realize that there is still a lot to see. The elements are carefully restored. For example, the conical roof is assembled in several tiers to the right of the stadium, and on the side of the market a platform for collecting columns is visible.
However, it's worth considering the weather - the space is generally open. We walked there in cloudy weather, so the heat did not bother us.
Each significant part of the city has a plate with a photo and a diagram of how it was, plus descriptions in Greek and English.
And if you drive a little higher into the village, you can have a very tasty meal in a tavern with a terrace, overlooking the entire Ancient Messinia.
I really didn’t expect such a scale or such excellent condition for an ancient city. It seems to me that this is the best preserved ancient city of this scale. Its central square is larger than Athens. But, as always, walking in such sites, I imagine how it would look if it was fully reconstructed.
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With love, 
Photos are taken by me.
© 2024
