Study tour notes for Messene, Peleponnese
Jul. 26th, 2012 07:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hawkwing_lbMessene: a potted history
The early history of the area known as Messene or Messenia is obscure. A Linear B tablet from Mycenaean Pylos refers to an area called Mezana, and it's not too great a stretch to believe that it refers to the plain overlooked by the inaccessible Mt. Ithome. But since the history of Messenia down to 371 BC is a history of struggling with and mostly losing to their Spartan neighbours. The First Messenian War took place in the 8th century BC. The Spartans won, though according to Tyrtaeus it took them 19 years. The Messenians were made helots and perioikoi (dwellers-about) to the Spartans. When the Argives beat the Spartans in 669 BC, the Messenians rebelled. This was the Second Messenians War, and lasted about 12 years, after which the Messenians were no longer perioikoi, but entirely helots.
The helots: (Εἵλωτες / Heílôtes) were an unfree population group that formed the main population of Laconia and the whole of Messenia. Their exact status was already disputed in antiquity: according to Critias, they were "especially slaves" whereas to Pollux, they occupied a status "between free men and slaves". Tied to the land, they worked in agriculture as a majority and economically supported the Spartan citizens. They were ritually mistreated, humiliated and even slaughtered: every autumn, during the Crypteia, they could be killed by a Spartan citizen without fear of repercussion
The Third Messenian War took place in the middle of the 5th century BC, and because of an earthquake which damaged Sparta, the Spartans were a bit worried. They even asked the Athenians for help - but for fear the Athenians would side with the helots, sent them home in a hurry. After ten years, the Spartans won a victory and expelled the rebel Messenians (who were only a few holdouts), first to Naupactos, and then during the Pelepponnesian War, from Greece entirely.
Fast forward a century or so, and the Thebans have beaten the socks off the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra. (The Thebans then became the chief part of the Boeotian League.) After they and the Arcadians beat the Spartans again, the allies in the League decided to deprive Sparta of a large part of her territory. But they wanted to make it a symbolic, as well as physical deprivation, so under the aegis of the Theban general, Epaminondas, they restored and re-organised the polis of Messenia, founding its capital, Messene, here on this spot in the winter of 369 BC.
However, there are some traces of Geometric and Archaic occupation on this site, and some clay votives dating to the Archaic period suggest that there was an existing cult of Asklepios here prior to the foundation of the city. On the mountain top there was a sanctuary of Zeus.
This was most likely the site of the last stand by the Messenians who revolted against the Spartans in the Third Messenian War. Siting the city here after the battle of Leuctra was probably due to its association with Messenian heritage. In addition, it's a naturally defensible site: the city proper lies in a hollow between three hills, but the acropolis is to the north on Mt Ithome.
The city was built in local limestone on a grid system. Its 4th century fortifications feature a large encircling wall and with a system of towers, which at the time was an innovative development.
In 214 BC the Macedonian general Demetrios of Pharos attacked the city. The said general was killed in the siege. Later Nabis, tyrant of Sparta in 202BC, made an attempt. It was taken by the Achaean League in 182 BC, and finally came under Roman rule in 146 BC. At this point it became an important administrative and economic centre. Occupation continued on the site until at least the 5th century CE. There is some evidence of a later church.
SITE
Military Architecture
The city walls are 9km in length, featuring at least four gateways. They stretch between the two peaks of Ithome and Eua. They was all built in one phase entirely of stone, and encompass a large internal area - perhaps to allow for the continued growing of food during a siege, a revolutionary approach to a new city. Innovations were incorporated into the defences: a double doorway, the towers for catapults, etc. The walls are cut blocks, unmortared, coursed with a rubble core up to 2.5m thick. The towers every 30-90m (about 30 total) were to permit the use of catapults.
The Gate
The Arcadian gate: features a circular gateway with two doorways. The internal door is a double doorway. Pausanias remarks on there being a staute of Hermes in the gateway.
Outside the gate lie two mausolea, one dating from the 1st century BC and one from the 2nd century AD. We possess no information about their owners.
Theatre
The theatre was one of two at the site. The other is an odeion in the Asklepion, presently unexcavated. It was used, in addition to its dramatic functions, for political meetings. Philip V of Macdeon and Aratos the Sykionian met here in 214 BC, during one of the Macedonian Wars with Rome, and an inscription records a meeting here in the 1st century BC relating to unpaid taxes owing to Rome. Unsurprisingly, the style of construction is similar to the fortification walls.
Fountain House of Arsinoe
Thus called due to its location beside a spring sacred to Arsinoe, daughter of the mythical King Leukippos of Messene, and mother of Asklepios (in one rendition of the story), It is mentioned by Pausanias, and its initial form had a Doric colonnade. It was repaired in the 1st century CE, and later in the 4th century CE, at which time the Doric colonnade was removed.
The Agora is largely unexcavated, but some architectural and sculpted fragments found in the vicinity are believed to belong to temples of Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite. The Doric stoa (90m long) facing the agora was begun in the 3rd century CE but never finished. Possibly due to other trouble in Greece around this time - remember, the Herulians invaded Athens in 267 CE.
The Asklepieion
The Asklepieion at Messene is a complex of several buildings. There are 140 bases for bronze statues bases of prominent locals. The interesting thing about the Asklepieion at Messene is that it appears to have been a wholly civic cult, with very little connection to healing cult, as in Asklepieia elsewhere.
The Asklepion proper has four stoas facing each other, dated to about 215-00 BC. The column capitals are Corinthian and feature a winged Nike. The frieze was decorated with bull skulls and garlands. They create a courtyard which housed the temple. A second row of columns divided these stoas internally.
It is important to remember that this was a planned city. What you're seeing is a purpose-built city centre with public and religious buildings. Unlike other cities, this was no organic accretion: like the Cylons of Battlestar Galactica, they had a plan.
Unlike the Cylons, it seems to have actually made sense.
The North Side featured a monumental staircase leading from the courtyard. Here was a Sebasteion or Caesareum, a temple of the Roman imperial cult. Prior to the Roman times, this structure had been used for dining rooms during festivals.
The West Side possessed a large temple to Artemis, located northwest of the complex, replaced by a later shrine to Artemis (Artemision). Debate continues over the cult appellation of this Artemis - Orthia (upright), or Phosphorous (light bringer)? The shrine featured a colossal statue, a cultic table with lions' feet, and attendant statues, all sculpted by Damophon, a local sculptor. A JSTOR search on Damophon of Messene will bring you much of interest.
Outside this temple, now missing, was a pillar.
The structure beside the Artemision housed a shrine to Herakles.
A room with a curved base housed a shrine to nine muses, sculpted by local sculptor Damophon. We remain uncertain of the identification of other rooms in this area. Most likely they were shrines or cult buildings.
Temple
Although it is called the Asklepieion, Pausanias mentions that several deities were worshipped here. This was in fact a not uncommon practice in ancient Greek temples: you have seen an example of synnaoi theoi, temple-sharing gods, at the Erechtheum on the Athenian acropolis. Asklepios, Hygieia, Asklepios's daughter and often synnaia thea with him, and the mythical queen, Messene, from whom Messenia gets its name, are among the possibilities for the synnaoi theoi here.
The temple is fairly typical, oriented east-west with 6 and 12 Doric columns on its stylobate. Mostly made of local limestone but the colonnade uses sandstone, also used in the foundation. The antydon was screened by a wall, but featured a gold covered statue of the goddess Messene. The altar sat in front of the pronaos (porch) of the temple.
East Side
The entrance, the Propylon, is on the east side, aligned with the temple. Here too was the ekklesiasterio or pdeion, used for musical and theatrical performances during festivals. Note, if you please, the tiled floor in plain coloured squares.
Moving along, we come to the Boulouterion (or Synedrion or council chamber) with a bench on three sides where 76 elders oversaw the running of the temple complex - but not the city, don't be confused by the name! Temple only. Beside this, in the SE corner, was a room which acted as an archive.
South Side
South of the temple complex is a Hellenistic bath complex,with drainage and water system. It also features an apartment for a priest, Roman in date.
Two rectangular tombs from the 3rd century BC are located east of the baths, perhaps for a public figure. Some suggest one is for Damophon. A column dedicated to him from seven cities adds support to this claim but it would have been unusual.
Further on lies a posited sanctuary to Demeter with statues of Dioskouroi west of the Asklepieion. The building is in poor condition, and although it is mentioned by Pausanias, its identification with Demeter is not secure. Some plaques found in the Sebasteion are dedicated to the Dioskouroi.
The Stadium Area
Further south is a stadium. Only part of it has been excavated. It was framed by three Doric stoas, with a double stoa to the north. The stadium is part of the same complex as the gymnasium. Construction and upkeep was paid for by local Messenians, as we know from the inscriptions
The road from the Asklepion to the stadium joins the western stoa at a roofed propylon with a dedicatory inscription. The western stoa does not follow the entire length of the stadium. This stoa has in addition statue bases belonging to statues of gymnasium officials. It also featured a sanctuary to Herakles and Hermes.
The eastern stoa has collapsed. In front was a monument to Messenians dead in battle, with representations of shields, perhaps in an attempt to associate training with military activity. The eastern side of the stadium features seats for judges, priests and dignitaries.
Further south a building with a Doric facade has been termed an Heroon or mausoleum dated to the 1st century CE and is associated with a wealthy Messenian family.
Delphi is next up. At least I am already vaguely familiar with Delphi. Messene? New to me. It will be my first visit. (Don't tell anyone.)
The early history of the area known as Messene or Messenia is obscure. A Linear B tablet from Mycenaean Pylos refers to an area called Mezana, and it's not too great a stretch to believe that it refers to the plain overlooked by the inaccessible Mt. Ithome. But since the history of Messenia down to 371 BC is a history of struggling with and mostly losing to their Spartan neighbours. The First Messenian War took place in the 8th century BC. The Spartans won, though according to Tyrtaeus it took them 19 years. The Messenians were made helots and perioikoi (dwellers-about) to the Spartans. When the Argives beat the Spartans in 669 BC, the Messenians rebelled. This was the Second Messenians War, and lasted about 12 years, after which the Messenians were no longer perioikoi, but entirely helots.
The helots: (Εἵλωτες / Heílôtes) were an unfree population group that formed the main population of Laconia and the whole of Messenia. Their exact status was already disputed in antiquity: according to Critias, they were "especially slaves" whereas to Pollux, they occupied a status "between free men and slaves". Tied to the land, they worked in agriculture as a majority and economically supported the Spartan citizens. They were ritually mistreated, humiliated and even slaughtered: every autumn, during the Crypteia, they could be killed by a Spartan citizen without fear of repercussion
The Third Messenian War took place in the middle of the 5th century BC, and because of an earthquake which damaged Sparta, the Spartans were a bit worried. They even asked the Athenians for help - but for fear the Athenians would side with the helots, sent them home in a hurry. After ten years, the Spartans won a victory and expelled the rebel Messenians (who were only a few holdouts), first to Naupactos, and then during the Pelepponnesian War, from Greece entirely.
Fast forward a century or so, and the Thebans have beaten the socks off the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra. (The Thebans then became the chief part of the Boeotian League.) After they and the Arcadians beat the Spartans again, the allies in the League decided to deprive Sparta of a large part of her territory. But they wanted to make it a symbolic, as well as physical deprivation, so under the aegis of the Theban general, Epaminondas, they restored and re-organised the polis of Messenia, founding its capital, Messene, here on this spot in the winter of 369 BC.
However, there are some traces of Geometric and Archaic occupation on this site, and some clay votives dating to the Archaic period suggest that there was an existing cult of Asklepios here prior to the foundation of the city. On the mountain top there was a sanctuary of Zeus.
This was most likely the site of the last stand by the Messenians who revolted against the Spartans in the Third Messenian War. Siting the city here after the battle of Leuctra was probably due to its association with Messenian heritage. In addition, it's a naturally defensible site: the city proper lies in a hollow between three hills, but the acropolis is to the north on Mt Ithome.
The city was built in local limestone on a grid system. Its 4th century fortifications feature a large encircling wall and with a system of towers, which at the time was an innovative development.
In 214 BC the Macedonian general Demetrios of Pharos attacked the city. The said general was killed in the siege. Later Nabis, tyrant of Sparta in 202BC, made an attempt. It was taken by the Achaean League in 182 BC, and finally came under Roman rule in 146 BC. At this point it became an important administrative and economic centre. Occupation continued on the site until at least the 5th century CE. There is some evidence of a later church.
SITE
Military Architecture
The city walls are 9km in length, featuring at least four gateways. They stretch between the two peaks of Ithome and Eua. They was all built in one phase entirely of stone, and encompass a large internal area - perhaps to allow for the continued growing of food during a siege, a revolutionary approach to a new city. Innovations were incorporated into the defences: a double doorway, the towers for catapults, etc. The walls are cut blocks, unmortared, coursed with a rubble core up to 2.5m thick. The towers every 30-90m (about 30 total) were to permit the use of catapults.
The Gate
The Arcadian gate: features a circular gateway with two doorways. The internal door is a double doorway. Pausanias remarks on there being a staute of Hermes in the gateway.
Outside the gate lie two mausolea, one dating from the 1st century BC and one from the 2nd century AD. We possess no information about their owners.
Theatre
The theatre was one of two at the site. The other is an odeion in the Asklepion, presently unexcavated. It was used, in addition to its dramatic functions, for political meetings. Philip V of Macdeon and Aratos the Sykionian met here in 214 BC, during one of the Macedonian Wars with Rome, and an inscription records a meeting here in the 1st century BC relating to unpaid taxes owing to Rome. Unsurprisingly, the style of construction is similar to the fortification walls.
Fountain House of Arsinoe
Thus called due to its location beside a spring sacred to Arsinoe, daughter of the mythical King Leukippos of Messene, and mother of Asklepios (in one rendition of the story), It is mentioned by Pausanias, and its initial form had a Doric colonnade. It was repaired in the 1st century CE, and later in the 4th century CE, at which time the Doric colonnade was removed.
The Agora is largely unexcavated, but some architectural and sculpted fragments found in the vicinity are believed to belong to temples of Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite. The Doric stoa (90m long) facing the agora was begun in the 3rd century CE but never finished. Possibly due to other trouble in Greece around this time - remember, the Herulians invaded Athens in 267 CE.
The Asklepieion
The Asklepieion at Messene is a complex of several buildings. There are 140 bases for bronze statues bases of prominent locals. The interesting thing about the Asklepieion at Messene is that it appears to have been a wholly civic cult, with very little connection to healing cult, as in Asklepieia elsewhere.
The Asklepion proper has four stoas facing each other, dated to about 215-00 BC. The column capitals are Corinthian and feature a winged Nike. The frieze was decorated with bull skulls and garlands. They create a courtyard which housed the temple. A second row of columns divided these stoas internally.
It is important to remember that this was a planned city. What you're seeing is a purpose-built city centre with public and religious buildings. Unlike other cities, this was no organic accretion: like the Cylons of Battlestar Galactica, they had a plan.
Unlike the Cylons, it seems to have actually made sense.
The North Side featured a monumental staircase leading from the courtyard. Here was a Sebasteion or Caesareum, a temple of the Roman imperial cult. Prior to the Roman times, this structure had been used for dining rooms during festivals.
The West Side possessed a large temple to Artemis, located northwest of the complex, replaced by a later shrine to Artemis (Artemision). Debate continues over the cult appellation of this Artemis - Orthia (upright), or Phosphorous (light bringer)? The shrine featured a colossal statue, a cultic table with lions' feet, and attendant statues, all sculpted by Damophon, a local sculptor. A JSTOR search on Damophon of Messene will bring you much of interest.
Outside this temple, now missing, was a pillar.
The structure beside the Artemision housed a shrine to Herakles.
A room with a curved base housed a shrine to nine muses, sculpted by local sculptor Damophon. We remain uncertain of the identification of other rooms in this area. Most likely they were shrines or cult buildings.
Temple
Although it is called the Asklepieion, Pausanias mentions that several deities were worshipped here. This was in fact a not uncommon practice in ancient Greek temples: you have seen an example of synnaoi theoi, temple-sharing gods, at the Erechtheum on the Athenian acropolis. Asklepios, Hygieia, Asklepios's daughter and often synnaia thea with him, and the mythical queen, Messene, from whom Messenia gets its name, are among the possibilities for the synnaoi theoi here.
The temple is fairly typical, oriented east-west with 6 and 12 Doric columns on its stylobate. Mostly made of local limestone but the colonnade uses sandstone, also used in the foundation. The antydon was screened by a wall, but featured a gold covered statue of the goddess Messene. The altar sat in front of the pronaos (porch) of the temple.
East Side
The entrance, the Propylon, is on the east side, aligned with the temple. Here too was the ekklesiasterio or pdeion, used for musical and theatrical performances during festivals. Note, if you please, the tiled floor in plain coloured squares.
Moving along, we come to the Boulouterion (or Synedrion or council chamber) with a bench on three sides where 76 elders oversaw the running of the temple complex - but not the city, don't be confused by the name! Temple only. Beside this, in the SE corner, was a room which acted as an archive.
South Side
South of the temple complex is a Hellenistic bath complex,with drainage and water system. It also features an apartment for a priest, Roman in date.
Two rectangular tombs from the 3rd century BC are located east of the baths, perhaps for a public figure. Some suggest one is for Damophon. A column dedicated to him from seven cities adds support to this claim but it would have been unusual.
Further on lies a posited sanctuary to Demeter with statues of Dioskouroi west of the Asklepieion. The building is in poor condition, and although it is mentioned by Pausanias, its identification with Demeter is not secure. Some plaques found in the Sebasteion are dedicated to the Dioskouroi.
The Stadium Area
Further south is a stadium. Only part of it has been excavated. It was framed by three Doric stoas, with a double stoa to the north. The stadium is part of the same complex as the gymnasium. Construction and upkeep was paid for by local Messenians, as we know from the inscriptions
The road from the Asklepion to the stadium joins the western stoa at a roofed propylon with a dedicatory inscription. The western stoa does not follow the entire length of the stadium. This stoa has in addition statue bases belonging to statues of gymnasium officials. It also featured a sanctuary to Herakles and Hermes.
The eastern stoa has collapsed. In front was a monument to Messenians dead in battle, with representations of shields, perhaps in an attempt to associate training with military activity. The eastern side of the stadium features seats for judges, priests and dignitaries.
Further south a building with a Doric facade has been termed an Heroon or mausoleum dated to the 1st century CE and is associated with a wealthy Messenian family.
Delphi is next up. At least I am already vaguely familiar with Delphi. Messene? New to me. It will be my first visit. (Don't tell anyone.)
