The remains of Ancient Messinia are backed by high mountains, dominated by the summit of Mount Ithomi (800meters) on whose lower slopes it was built. In its center is the modern village of Mavromati (which means 'dark eye'). It is 25km to the northwest of Kalamata. Mt Ithomi is one of three mountains surrounding the ancient acropolis, the others being Eva on the southeast, and Psoriari on the west.
This city was the 4th century BC fortified capital of the ancient Messenians, noted in its times for its impressive military architecture. It dates from 369BC, after Epaminondas returned the Messenians to their country in the 4th century BC, after the battle of Leuktra, and encouraged the building of a capital. The fortified city, with its 9km/5.5mile enclosing wall, was part of the strategic barrier against Sparta organized by Epaminondas, the southernmost of a chain of walled cities including Megalopolis and Argos.
According to
Diodorus, the city was built in only 85 days. No doubt Messenians were eager to re-establish their capital after four
centuries of resistance to Spartan oppression. In 214BC Messinia was besieged by a Macedonian general, Demetrios of
Pharos, who was killed there, and it was attacked in 202BC by the Spartan tyrant Nabis, but the attack was repelled by
Philopoemen who later attacked the Messenian rebels who had been incited by the demagogue, Dinokratis to revolt
against the Achaean League. Taken prisoner by them, he was forced to take poison in the dungeon where he was thrown; his
death was avenged by Lykortas, father of Polybius, who succeeded him.
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