Ancient Messini

Ancient Messini is thirty kilometers northwest of Kalamata. Ancient Messini used to be a town before the Goths came and ruined it. Before that the Romans took it over for a while.

Ancient Messini was built under the rule of a Theban general named Epanminodas in 370 B.C. The general also built the Messinian wall that was 9,024 meters long. Now you can only see a bit of the wall. On the wall there used to be towers, bastions and ramparts.

There was also a temple of Demeter, and of the god of health, Asclepius. Plus, there were also public baths, parts of a temple where animals were sacrificed and lots of other buildings. There was a gymnasium (later on called a Arena by the Romans) that was used for racing and other competitions. It looked like the stadium in Olympia, but it was shaped like a U and it had seats.

The stadium

There is also a spring that starts on Mt. Ithomi and comes through Mavromati village and goes into the ancient Messini sight.

Ianna sitting with the stream.

Ancient Messini is a peaceful place where mountains are all around. When I went I saw lots of wildflowers, trees, lizards, butterflies, olive trees, and orange trees.

Messini is a beautiful place.

One of the flowers.