Listed 31 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "KALAMATA Province MESSINIA" .
ALAGONIA (Ancient city) AVIA
A town of Laconia near the Messenian frontier, belonging to the Eleuthero-Lacones,
containing temples of Dionysus and Artemis. This town was distant 30 stadia from
Gerenia, but its site is unknown.
AVIA (Ancient city) KALAMATA
he Abia: nr. Zarnata. A town of Messenia, on the Messenian gulf, and
a little above the woody dell, named Choerius, which formed the boundary between
Messenia and Laconia in the time of Pausanias. It is said to have been the same
town as the Ira of the Iliad (ix. 292), one of the seven towns which Agamemnon
offered to Achilles, and to have derived its later name from Abia, the nurse of
Hyllus, the son of Hercules. Subsequently it belonged, with Thuria and Pharae,
to the Achaean League. It continued to be a place of some importance down to the
reign of Hadrian, as we learn from an extant inscription of that period.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
EPANO KARDAMYLI (Medieval settlement) KALAMATA
Kardamule: Eth. Kardamulites. A town of Messenia, and one of the seven
places offered by Agamemnon to Achilles. (Il. ix. 150, 292.) It was situated on
a strong rocky height at the distance of seven stadia from the sea, and sixty
from Leuctra. (Paus. iii. 26. § 7; Strab. viii.) It is called a Laconian town
by Herodotus (viii. 73), since the whole of Messenia was included in the territories
of Laconia at the time of the historian. It again became a town of Messenia on
the restoration of the independence of the latter; but it was finally separated
from Messenia by Augustus, and annexed to Laconia. (Paus. l. c.) Pausanias mentions
at Cardamyle sanctuaries of Athena and of Apollo Carneius; and in the neighbourhood
of the town a temenus of the Nereids. There are considerable ruins of the town
to the NE. of the modern Skardhamula, at the distance of 1300 (French) metres
from the sea.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
FARES (Ancient city) KALAMATA
Pharai, Phere, Pherai, Eth. Pharates, Pharaiates. An ancient town
of Messenia, situated upon a hill rising from the left bank of the river Nedon,
and at a distance of a mile from the Messenian gulf. Strabo describes it as situated
5 stadia from the sea (viii. p. 361), and Pausanias 6 (iv. 31. § 3); but it is
probable that the earth deposited at the mouth of the river Nedon has, in the
course of centuries, encroached upon the sea. Pherae occupied the site of Kaleamata,
the modern capital of Messenia; and in antiquity also it seems to have been the
chief town in the southern Messenian plain. It was said to have been founded by
Pharis, the son of Hermes. (Paus. iv. 30. § 2.) In the Iliad it is mentioned as
the well-built city of the wealthy Diocles, a vassal of the Atridae (v. 543),
and as one of the seven places offered by Agamemnon to Achilles (ix. 151); in
the Odyssey, Telemachus rests here on his journey from Pylos to Sparta (iii. 490).
After the capture of Messene by the Achaeans in B.C. 182, Pharae, Abia, and Thuria
separated themselves from Messene, and became each a distinct member of the league.
(Polyb. xxv. 1.) Pharae was annexed to Laconia by Augustus (Paus. iv. 30. § 2),
but it was restored to Messenia by Tiberius. Pausanias found at Pharae temples
of Fortune, and of Nicomachus and Gorgasus, grandsons of Asclepius. Outside the
city there was a grove of Apollo Carneius, and in it a fountain of water. (Paus.
iv. 30. § 3, seq., iv. 31. § 1.) Strabo correctly describes Pharae as having an
anchorage, but only for summer (viii. p. 361); and at present, after the month
of September ships retire for safety to Armyro, so called from a river strongly
impregnated with salt flowing into the sea at this place: it is the (hudor halmuron,
mentioned by Pausanias (iv. 30. § 2) as on the road from Abia to Pharae.
There are no ancient remains at Kalamata, which is not surprising,
as the place has always been well occupied and inhabited. The height above the
town is crowned by a ruined castle of the middle ages. It was the residence of
several of the Latin chieftains of the Morea. William Villehardouin II. was born
here. In 1685 it was conquered and enlarged by the Venetians. It was the headquarters
of the insurrection of 1770, and again of the revolution of 1821, which spread
from thence over the whole peninsula.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
GERINIA (Ancient city) AVIA
Gerenia, (Paus., Steph. B. s. v.); ta Gerena (Strab.); Gerenos (Hes.
Fragm. 22): Eth. Gerenios. A town of Messenia, where Nestor was said to have been
brought up after the destruction of Pylos, and whence he derived the surname Gerenian,
which occurs so frequently in Homer. There is, however, no town of this name in
Homer, and many of the ancient critics identified the later Gerenia with the Homeric
Enope. (Il. i. 150; Pans. iii. 26. § 9; Strab. viii. p. 360.) Under the Roman
empire Gerenia was the most northerly of the Eleuthero-Laconian towns, and was
situated on the eastern side of the Messenian gulf, upon the mountainous promontory
now called Cape Kephali. It possessed a celebrated sanctuary of Machaon, which
bore the name of Rhodon. Pausanias says that in the district of Gerenia there
was a mountain called Calathium, upon which there was a sanctuary of Claea, and
close to the latter a cavern, of which the entrance was narrow, though within
there were many things worthy to be seen. (Paus. iii. 26. § 11.) This cavern is
undoubtedly the one noticed by Leake, which is situated at the head of a little
valley behind the beach of Kitries, and immediately under a rocky gorge in the
mountains: at present the entrance is not narrow, but it appears to have been
widened to make it more convenient for a sheep-fold, for which purpose it is at
present used. Leake observed two or three sepulchral niches in the side of the
cliffs about the valley. Two very ancient inscriptions discovered at Gerenia are
published by Bockh. (Corp. Inscr. no. 13, 42.)
Gerenia is placed by the French Commission at Zarnta, about three
miles from the coast, where a castle built by the Franks rests upon very ancient
foundations. But Leake observes that the words of Pausanias (iii. 26. § 11) -
I erenias de hos es eesopsaian ano triakonta atechei stadious Alapsonia - leave
little or no doubt that Gerenia was a maritime town, and that it is now represented
by Kitries on the coast. He further supposes that Zarnata is the site of Alagonia.
But since the most ancient towns in Greece were almost universally built at some
distance from the coast, it is not improbable that the acropolis and the original
town of Gerenia stood at Zarnata, but that the town itself was afterwards removed
to the coast.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
KALAMES (Ancient city) KALAMATA
Calam, -ae (Kalamai), a village of Messenia near Limnae, and at no
great distance from the frontiers of Laconia, is represented by the modern village
of Kalami, at the distance of three-quarters of an hour NW. of Kalamata: the latter
is the site of the ancient Therae, and must not be confounded with Kalami. (Paus.
iv. 31. § 3; Pol. v. 92; Leake, Morea, vol. i. p. 362, Peloponnesiaca, p. 183;
Bollaye, Recherches, p. 105; Ross, Reisen im Peloponnes, p. 2.)
LEFKTRA (Ancient city) MESSINIA
Leuctrum (ta Leuktra, to Leuktron). A town of Laconia, situated on
the eastern side of the Messenian gulf, 20 stadia north of Pephnus, and 60 stadia
south of Cardamyle. Strabo speaks of Leuctrum as near the minor Pamisus, but this
river flows into the sea at Pephnus, about three miles south of Leuctrum. The
ruins of Leuctrum are still called Leftro. Leuctrum was said to have been founded
by Pelops, and was claimed by the Messenians as originally one of their towns.
It was awarded to the latter people by Philip in B.C. 338, but in the time of
the Roman empire it was one of the Eleuthero-Laconian places. Pausanias saw in
Leuctra a temple and statue of Athena on the Acropolis, a temple and statue of
Cassandra (there called Alexandra), a marble statue of Asclepius, another of Ino,
and wooden figures of Apollo Carneius.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
LIMNES (Ancient city) KALAMATA
A place on the frontiers of Messenia and Laconia, containing a temple
of Artemis Limnatis, used jointly by the Messenians and Lacedaemonians. An outrage
offered by the Messenians to some Lacedaemonian virgins at the festival of this
goddess is said to have been the cause of the First Messenian War. (Strab. vi.,
viii.; Paus. iii. 2. § 6, iv. 31. § 3.) The possession of this temple, and of
the Ager Dentheliatis, the district in which it was situated, was a frequent subject
of the dispute between the Lacedaemonians and Messenians down to the time of the
Roman emperors. (Tac. Ann. iv. 43.) The ruins of the temple of Artemis Limnatis
have been discovered by Ross, near the church of Panaghia Volimniatissa, in the
village of Volimnos.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
PEFNOS (Ancient city) LEFKTRA
Pephnos, Pephnon. A town of Laconia, on the eastern coast of the Messenian
gulf, distant 20 stadia from Thalamae. In; front of. it was an island of the same
name, which Pausanias describes as not larger than a great rock, in which stood,
in the open air, brazen statues of the Dioscuri, a foot high. There was a tradition,
that the Dioscuri were born in this island, The island is at the mouth of the
river Milea, which is the minor Pamisus of Strabo (viii. p. 361). In the island,
there are two ancient tombs, which are called those of the Dioscuri. The Messenians
said that their territories originally extended as far as Pephnus.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
THALAMES (Ancient city) LEFKTRA
Also Thalame, Eth. Thalamatas. A town of Laconia, distant 80 stadia
north of, Oetylus, and 20 stadia from Pephnus. (Paus. iii. 26. § § 1, 2.) Pephnus
was on the coast, on the eastern side of the Messenian gulf, and Thalamae was
situated inland, probably at or near Platza, upon the river Milea, the minor Pamisus
of Strabo (viii. p. 361). Ptolemy (iii. 16. § 22) also calls it one of the inland
towns of Laconia. Theopompus called Thalamae a Messenian town (Steph. B. s. v.
Thalamai), and we know that the Messenians said that their territory originally
extended as far as the minor Pamisus. Thalamae was said to have been founded by
Pelops, and was called in the time of Strabo the Boeotian Thalamae, as if it had
received a Boeotian colony. (Strab. viii. p. 360.) Thalamae is mentioned by Polybius
(xvi. 16). It was subsequently one of the Eleuthero-Laconian towns. (Paus. iii.
21. § 7.) In the territory of Thalamae, on the road to Oetylus was a temple and
oracle of Ino or Pasiphae, in which the future was revealed to those that slept
in the temple. Even the Spartan kings sometimes slept in the temple for this purpose.
The temple probably stood upon the promontory Trachela, where there are some ancient
remains.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
THOURIA (Ancient city) MESSINIA
Thouria: Eth. Thouriates. A town of Messenia, situated in the eastern
part of the southern Messenian plain, upon the river Aris (Pidhima), and at the
distance of 80 stadia from Pharae, which was about a mile from the coast (Paus.
iv. 31. § 1). It was generally identified with the Homeric Antheia, though others
supposed it to be Aepeia. (Paus. l. c.; Strab. viii. p. 360.) It must have been
a place of considerable importance, since the distant Messenian gulf was even
named after it (ho Thouriates kolpos, Strab. l. c.). It was also one of the chief
towns of the Lacedaemonian Perioeci after the subjugation of Messenia; and it
was here that the Third Messenian War took its rise, B.C. 464 (Thuc. i. 101).
On the restoration of the Messenians by Epaminondas,Thuria, like the other towns
in the country, was dependent upon the newly-founded capital Messene; but after
the capture of this city by the Achaeans in B.C. 182, Thuria, Pharae, and Abia
joined the Achaean League as independent members. (Polyb. xxv. 1.) Thuria was
annexed to Laconia by Augustus (Paus. l. c.); but it was restored to Messenia
by Tiberius. Pausanias found two cities of this name. The Thuriatae had descended
from the summit of the lofty hill of the upper city to dwell upon the plain; but
without abandoning altogether the upper city, where a temple of the Syrian goddess
still stood within the town walls (Paus. iv. 31. § 2). There are considerable
remains of both places. Those of Upper Thuria are on the hill of the village called
Paleokastro, divided from the range of mountains named Makryplai by a deep ravine
and torrent, and which commands a fine view of the plain and gulf. The remains
of the walls extend half a mile along the summit of the hill. Nearly in the centre
of the ruins is a quadrangular cistern, 10 or 12 feet deep, cut out of the rock
at one end, and on the other side constructed of masonry. The cistern was divided
into three parts by two cross walls. Its whole length is 29 paces; the breadth
half as much. On the highest part of the ridge there are numerous ruins, among
which are those of a small Doric temple, of a hard brown calcareous stone, in
which are cockle and muscle shells, extremely perfect. In the plain at Palea Lutra
are the ruins of a large Roman building, standing in the middle of fig and mulberry
grounds. Leake observes that it is in an uncommon state of preservation, part
even of the roof still remaining. The walls are 17 feet high, formed of equal
courses of Roman tiles and mortar. The roof is of rubble mixed with cement. The
plan does not seem to be that of a bath only, as the name would imply, though
there are many appearances of the building having contained baths: it seems rather
to have been the palace of some Roman governor. As there are no sources of water
here, it is to be supposed that the building was supplied by an aqueduct from
the neighbouring river of Pidhima.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
AVIA (Ancient city) KALAMATA
A town of Messenia on the Messenian Gulf, and at one time a member of the Achaean League.
EPANO KARDAMYLI (Medieval settlement) KALAMATA
A town in Messenia; now Scardamoula.
FARES (Ancient city) KALAMATA
A town of Messenia mentioned as early as Homer (Il. v. 543).
LIMNES (Ancient city) KALAMATA
A town in Messenia, on the frontiers of Laconia, with a temple of Artemis Limnatis.
ALAGONIA (Ancient city) AVIA
Alagonia is considered to be the extensive mountainous area in the west part of the mountain range of Taygetos, on the borders between the provinces of Messinia and Lakonia and includes the villages of Alagonia, Artemisia, Ladas, Karveli, Nedousa and Piges which were named Pisinohoria during the turkish rule. It got its name from the ancient city Alagonia which belonged to the Eleftherolakones (=free Lakones) in Mani. at Artemisia and in the area of Volimos there was the famous Temple of Limnatidos Artemidos where the incident between Messinian men and the women from ancient Sparta took place in the early 8th century B.C. and caused the Peloponnesean wars(740-460 B.C). During the Roman era, it had become a part of the «Public of the Freelakones».
This extract is cited Oct 2002 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below.
KALAMATA (Town) MESSINIA
The capital of the province of Messinia has 44.052 residents and it
is built in the eastern part of the inmost part of the Messinian Gulf, at the
foot of Mount Taygetos.
It extends to a great length and has a Beach of 4 km with crystal
clear waters.
It was founded, according to local tradition, in the mid-2nd century
A.D. during the Homeric years by Fari, the son of Hermes and Filodameas, and was
firstly named Farai while its contemporary name, according to tradition, comes
from an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Kalomata Virgin Mary.
In the years of the Franks Kalamata, the basis of the barony, became
an important centre of medieval civilization, while in its castle, which had been
an acropolis for the ancient Faron and restored by the Franks, the prince and
occcupant (1289-1307) of Moreas, Vileardouinos the 2nd (1246-1278), father of
the princess Izambo, was born.
During the Turkish rule, it became an important financial centre with
Panayiotis Benakis, the most famous of its noblemen, along with the Mavromichalis
family from Mani.
Those become the organisers of the Revolution in 1770, the well-known
Orlofikon. On the 23rd of March in 1821, the Greek Revolution was declared at
the church of St. Apostles against the turkish invader by Petrobeis Mavromichali
the bey of free Mani.
Today, Kalamata is a contemporary city which has been rebuilt after
the disastrous earthquake on the 13th September 1986.
It has recreation facilities, parks and sports facilities where athletes
of individual and team sports prepare in order to take part in international competitions
like the weightlifters and the athletics team who won gold medals in the Olympic
Games of Atlanda.
There are also congress halls, hotels, marinas, campsites and rooms
to rent.
This extract is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
STOUPA (Port) KALAMATA
Stoupa, the community of Neochorio Lefktrou, where the ancient polisma of Mycaenean Lefktro was, is 50 km away from Kalamata and is on the way to Areopoli and the Caves of Diro. In the community there’s a beach with granular sand and crystal waters. From time to time, semi-sweet water springs up which probably comes from Drako (=dragon), a stream which originates from Taygetos and reaches the beach of Stoupa, while occasionally, brackishness in the shape of a threshing-floor appears and impresses the visitors. The scenery being picturesque, the calm water, the fish tavernas and the hospitality of the local people have lately turned Stoupa into the most popular holiday resort of Mani.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
AGIOS FLOROS (Village) ARFARA
A village about 8 km E of Messene. A group of warm and cold springs
at a site 1 km to the N have been recognized from antiquity as the sources of
the Pamisos river. Pausanias mentions annual sacrifices to this river, as well
as springs where children were cured. Archaeological excavations have uncovered
the remains of a small Doric temple with cella and pronaos, connected by a ramp
to an open-air altar. Masonry predating the temple surrounded an opening at the
back of the cella, presumably a sacred spring, and many small dedicatory objects
were found in the earth floor. Two inscriptions recorded dedications to Pamisos.
At the end of the excavation season, the remains were re-covered and the finds
taken to the National Museum in Athens.
M. H. Mc Allister, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
ALAGONIA (Ancient city) AVIA
A site occupied in mediaeval times by the fortress of Zarnata, S of the modern town of Kambos on the Mani peninsula. Pausanias (3.26.11) lists it among the Free Lakonian cities and mentions Sanctuaries of Dionysos and Artemis. There are traces of polygonal masonry in the facade of the fortress.
M. H. Mc Allister, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Oct 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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