Messinia Prefecture & Ancient Messinia (Ithomi) Page Four

arcadia gate The main road, heading west within the walls, leads to a line of towers still standing to their original height.

The Asklipion (sanctuary to Asklipios, the god of healing) is northwest of Mavromati, near the remains of a small theater and the fountain of Arsinoe. It was formerly thought to be an agora (marketplace).

The temple to Asklipios dates from the Hellenistic period and is 71.9 meters (237 feet) by 66.67meters (220 feet). A sacrificial altar was also discovered. The temple stood in a courtyard with porticos around it, with Ionic bases and Corinthian capitals with a winged nike rising from their acanthus leaves, the bases of which are visible. In the corners ofthe courtyard are semicircular benches (exedrae). The theater is next to the temple (as at Epidavros), and was used also for ritual ceremonies; near it are the bouleuterion (vouleftirion, or council house) and the Propylaia.