Messene - 2014

Messene. P. Themelis (ASA) reports on continuing excavations and restoration at the site. In the area of the north stoa (Fig. 1), which is 196 m. long, a column of one of the Corinthian inner colonnades was restored to a height of 5 m and a large gamma-shaped platform with a long stone bench in front of its east side restored (Fig. 2). The later baths (balaneion) (5th to 7th c. AD), built almost in the middle of the stoa were almost completely uncovered and their rooms distinguished clearly.

Another structure uncovered in the Agora is the dining hall (deipnisterion), where worshippers of Messana, queen of the land of Messene, who had been deified, dined (Fig. 3). The goddess’ temple lies close to the building, to the east. The dining hall was constructed in the Hellenistic period and had a Doric colonnade on its east side (Fig. 4). It was used for other purposes in later periods and was destroyed in the earthquake of AD 365 without being reconstructed.

Work began in the hall of symposia in the rich house west of the theatre, whose floors bore mosaics, including one with a maker’s inscription uncovered in 2013. In another room of the house a hoard of bronze coins of Constantius II was found, dating to AD 351-361, when the house was abandoned. The floor of this room too bore a decorative mosaic with maker’s inscription: ΘΕΟΔΟΥΛΟΣ ΕΠΙΣΚΟ<Ι>ΠΟΣ (Ε)ΠΟΙΕΙ.

In a hall north of the narthex of the early Christian basilica in the area of the theatre were revealed – in secondary use - stone benches of a Hellenistic exedra and a throne from the theatre.

Finally, restoration of the east stoa of the gymnasium above the stadium was completed (Fig. 5), as was restoration of the sanctuary of Eleithyia on the south slope of Mt Ithome (Fig. 6).