ITHOMI OR ANCIENT MESSÈNE
Go there and contact
Inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List since 2014, this site is as beautiful as it is unknown. At first glance, you may see the ruins of a grassy theatre. Not far from there, the remains of a large fountain. The large terrace a little further away bears the ruins of an ancient temple where the bronze statue of Epaminondas and the twelve gods recognized by the Greeks stood.
The most visible part today remains the large courtyard surrounded by porticos below. This agora was to constitute the nerve centre of the city in antiquity. You will easily notice the remains of a gutter running along the porticoes. On its eastern side, the agora was decorated with luxurious buildings as can be imagined from the remains of the small theatre that have been restored. To the right of the theatre, a monumental entrance surrounded by four pilasters. On the right again, a monument that was identified as the meeting place of an assembly since benches ran along the walls. To the west, under the shed that protects it, a chapel that was to be dedicated to the goddess Artemis. To the north, a monumental staircase, a few steps of which have been preserved, descended majestically to the square. It led to the sebastéion, where Roman emperors were worshipped. In the south of the agora, buildings are still being excavated. Lower down the stadium, but it is now very poorly preserved.
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on ITHOMI OR ANCIENT MESSÈNE
