{"id":11159,"date":"2024-06-26T12:54:56","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T19:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=11159"},"modified":"2024-08-14T10:58:38","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T17:58:38","slug":"messene-vii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/messene-vii\/","title":{"rendered":"Messene, Achaea – Part VII"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Stadium<\/a>
Stadium of Messene.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continued From Messene, Achaea – Part VI<\/a><\/p>\n

To the east of the gymnasium\/palaestra area is the stadium, which is effectively considered part of the gymnasium complex. It is bordered on the northern, western, and eastern sides by doric stoas that have been reconstructed using the materials found in situ. The seating at the north end of the stadium is made up of 18 rows of seats broken into 18 sections separated by staircases. Though the slope on which the seating is built and track of the stadium is enclosed extends beyond this formalized seating area. Near the southern end of the eastern seating area, is a high backed bench and throne style seat for the important guest and officials. The western slope and the stoa built upon it did not extend all the way to the end of the stadium, cutting off about 60 meters short of the total 181 meter long dromos<\/em> that makes up the stadium.<\/p>\n

The seating underwent a renovation or repair in the 1st<\/sup> century CE, according to an inscription. In the late Roman period, a low curved wall was built about 75 meters south of the northern extent of the track, enclosing an elliptical space and creating an ad hoc amphitheater out of the stadium. Along the interior colonnade of the western stoa among the columns, are a series of three statue bases. The middle of these was dedicated by the ephebes to Kraton, son of Theophanes. The northernmost of these bases, larger than the other two, was dedicated to a pair of benefactors of Messene by the city and featured statues carved by Demetrios of Athens. Both are dated to the Hellenistic period.<\/p>\n

\"West<\/a>
West stoa of the gymnasium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inscribed on some of these columns of the western stoa are the names of ephebes, categorized according to the five traditional tribes of Messene as well as a sixth tribe attributed to Romans and foreigners, and a seventh tribe of Messenian towns. Eventually the Romans began being incorporated into the traditional tribes of Messene on these lists, though. Toward the north end of the stoa is a base for the display of herms. One of these remains in situ, a herm with the head of Hermes and a dedication (no longer really legible) by Anytos. A second, a 3rd<\/sup> century BCE herm with the head of Herakles, dedicated by Philiades, son of Neon, is on display in the site museum. Philiades is likely related to several members of the Philiadai family buried in the monument near the Asklepieion.<\/p>\n

\"North<\/a>
North stoa of the gymnasium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The north stoa, unlike the east and west stoas, had an inner colonnade. The northeast corner of the north and east stoas are reconstructed with a modern roof and some of the original entablature. There is a secondary entrance in the middle of the north stoa, though the primary entrance would have been to the west through the monumental propylon. An inscription on the architrave of the eastern stoa, still somewhat visible, records the restoration of the colonnade during the Roman period by Agathokles, a priest of Zeus Ithomatas, who dedicated it to the city and all the gods. The east stoa is believed to have served as a xystos<\/em>, a covered track for running. The open area between the eastern stoa and the dromos<\/em>, meanwhile, likely served as a paradromis<\/em>, an uncovered practice track. There are four monuments along the northern part of the eastern stoa. The first is an inscribed stele erected right outside the colonnade which honored the soldiers killed at the Battle of Makistos, part of an intervention at Elis that occurred around 270 CE.<\/p>\n

\"Shield<\/a>
Shield monument with stadium and north stoa in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A few meters to the southwest of the stele is a low square monument with round shields in relief on each side. It is theorized that this monument may have marked the victory of Epaminondas at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE, though it has also been identified as possibly being a monument also to the Battle of Makistos, where soldiers who had fallen in the battle were interred. Another couple of meters to the south of that is a Doric column erected on a platform. The column dates to the Augustan period and was topped with a bronze statue. Pausanias describes a column in the stadium that marked the tomb of the heroic king who led Messenia in the Second Messenian war, Aristomenes. According to the passage, Aristomenes bones were retrieved from Rhodes, where he died, and buried in the stadium.  Even during Pausanias\u2019 time, honors were paid there to Aristomenes. The final monument, a circular construction, is of unclear use or dedication, though was possibly used for the display of an unknown statue.<\/p>\n

The final monument in the Messene archaeological area is the mausoleum of the Saithidae family, of whose members can be frequently found referenced in inscriptions around Messene, and whom Pausanias specifically mentions in his description of the city. The Saithidae family\u2019s mausoleum, in the form of a Doric temple, dominates the south end of the stadium. Originally constructed in the 1st<\/sup> century CE, likely during the reign of Nero. It continued to be used into the 3rd<\/sup> century CE. The remains of a 2nd<\/sup> century CE sarcophagus was found among the ruins of the mausoleum. In late antiquity, however, the mausoleum was destroyed, robbed out of metal fittings holding the blocks together. It was in a state of ruin but has been completely reconstructed using mostly original materials.<\/p>\n

\"Funerary<\/a>
Funerary monument of the Saithidae family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The south end of the stadium actually abuts the city walls of Messene, and there is a drop off of several meters. As such, a massive podium was constructed to elevate the mausoleum up to the level of the stadium track. Found reused in the podium of the monument were funerary stele dating back to between the 3rd<\/sup> and 1st<\/sup> century BCE, from a necropolis that was located outside the city in the general vicinity. A number of these have been separated and erected in an area behind the mausoleum.<\/p>\n

In all, it took me a solid six hours to get through the archaeological area. I imagine a more casual tour of the site could take somewhere more like 2-3 hours. But, it\u2019s quite a large site and there is a lot of detail to enjoy, which I hopefully have done some justice to in my review of the site. Many of the monuments have signs with English and Greek information. There are also a number of helpful illustrations that aid in sorting out what you\u2019re looking at.<\/p>\n