Messenia Prefecture Νομός Μεσσηνίας
Periphery	Peloponnese
Capital	Kalamata
Population	180,264 (2005) Ranked 15th
Area	2,991 km² Ranked 15th
Population density	60.3/km² Ranked 19th
Number of provinces	4
Number of municipalities	29
Number of communities	2
Postal codes	24x xx
Area codes	272x0, 276x0
Licence plate code	ΚΜ
ISO 3166-2 code	GR-17
Website

Messenia (Greek: Μεσσηνία, in Modern Greek Messinia; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a prefecture in the Peloponnese, a region of Greece. Messenia is bounded on the east by Mount Taygetus, on the north by the river Neda and the Arcadian Mountains, on the south and west by the sea. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The peripheries (περιφέρειες) are the subnational divisions of Greece. ... The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Peloponnesos; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth. ... There is also a Kalamata in the Democratic Republic of Congo, see Kalamata, Democratic Republic of Congo Kalamata (Greek, Modern: Καλαμάτα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ai), older forms: Kalamai is a city in southern Greece, on the Peloponnesos, by the Mediterranean. ... This is a list of the prefectures of Greece, in order of descending population (in 2005). ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Following is a list of Greek prefectures ordered by population density. ... Here are a lists of the provinces (Greek: επαρχεία, eparcheia fr. ... Communities and municipalities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. ... Communities and municipalities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. ... Here are list of postal codes in Greece. ... This is an alphabetical list by town of dialing codes in Greece. ... Greek car number plates are composed of three letters and four digits per plate (e. ... Website - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This is a list of traditional Greek place names. ... Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as Peripheries of Greece, which are further subdivided into 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos, Greek: νομοί, νομός)): See also List of the prefectures of Greece by area List of the prefectures of Greece by population density List of the prefectures of Greece by population External... The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Peloponnesos; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth. ... Taygetus or Taygetos (Greek: Ταΰγετος), also Taigetos is a mountain range of the Peloponnesus, Southern Greece, extending about 65 mi (100 km) north from the southern end of Cape Matapan in the Mani Peninsula. ...

History

Historically and economically the most important part of Messenia is the great plain, consisting of two distinct portions, watered by the river Pamisus (mod. Pirnatza) and its affluents. This is the most fertile tract in Greece, and at the present day produces oranges, citrons, almonds, figs, grapes and olives in great abundance and of excellent quality. The plain, is bounded on the north by the Nomian Mountains (modern Tetrási, around 1,570 m, 5210 ft.) and their westerly extension, on the west by the mountains of Cyparissia (around 1,300 m, 4000 ft.), a southern continuation of which forms the south-west peninsula of the Morea, attaining its greatest height in Mt Mathia (mod. Lykódimo about 950 m, 3160 ft.). Off the south coast of, this peninsula lie the three Oenussae islands and the islet of Theganussa (Venetikó). RDA percentages are US recommendations for adults Orange—specifically, sweet orange—refers to the citrus tree Citrus sinensis (syn. ... Citron is a citrus fruit of the species Citrus medica. ... Binomial name Prunus dulcis (Mill. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis- Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina- Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica- Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus coronata Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa- Chinese... Species Vitis acerifolia Vitis aestivalis Vitis amurensis Vitis arizonica Vitis x bourquina Vitis californica Vitis x champinii Vitis cinerea Vitis x doaniana Vitis girdiana Vitis labrusca Vitis x labruscana Vitis lincecumii Vitis monticola Vitis mustangensis Vitis x novae-angliae Vitis palmata Vitis riparia Vitis rotundifolia Vitis rupestris Vitis shuttleworthii Vitis... Binomial name Olea europaea L. 19th century illustration The Olive (Olea europaea) is a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, from Syria and the maritime parts of Asia Minor and northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian... Kyparissia, rarely Cyparissia is a town of around 4,000 in western Messenia. ... The Morea and surrounding states carved from the Byzantine Empire, as they were in 1265 (William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas, 1911) The name Morea (Μωρέας) for Peloponnesos first appears in the 10th century in Byzantine chronicles. ...

The earliest inhabitants of Messenia are said to have been Pelasgians and Leleges, of whom the latter had their capital at Andania. Then came an Aeolo-Minyan immigration, which apparently extended to Messenia, though the Pylos of Nestor almost certainly lay in Triphylia, and not at the site which in historic times bore that name. In the Homeric poems eastern Messenia is represented as under the rule of Menelaus of Sparta, while the western coast is under the Neleids of Pylos, but after Menelaus’s death the Messenian frontier was pushed eastwards as far as Taygetus. Ancient Greek writers used the name Pelasgians (Greek: Pelasgoí, s. ... The Leleges were one of the aboriginal peoples of Greece, the Aegean Sea and southwest Anatolia (compare Pelasgians), who were already to be found there when the Indo-European Hellenes arrived. ... Andania (Ανδανία) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Pylos (Greek Πύλος), formerly Navarino, is the name of a bay and a town on the west coast of the Peloponnese, in the district of Messenia in southern Greece. ... In Greek mythology, Nestor of Gerênia was the son of Neleus, the King of Pylos, and Chloris. ... The Homère Caetani bust at the Louvre, a 2nd century Roman copy of a 2nd century BC Greek original. ... This article is about Menelaus the king of Sparta. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Excavations at Pylos and Nichoria have revealed for Messenia's late Bronze Age (1300s BC) a bureaucratic, agricultural kingdom ruled by the wanax at Pylos. The Messenians spoke Mycenaean Greek, and worshipped the Greek gods at local shrines like that at PA-KI-JA-NE (*Sphagianes). Pylos (Greek Πύλος), formerly Navarino, is the name of a bay and a town on the west coast of the Peloponnese, in the district of Messenia in southern Greece. ... Nichoria is a site in Messenia, across the Ayia mountain range to the east of Navarino. ... Map of Bronze Age Greece as described in Homers Iliad Mycenaean is the most ancient known form of the Greek language, spoken on the Greek mainland and on Crete in the 16th to 11th centuries BC, before the Dorian invasion. ...

Later Greeks agreed that a body of Dorians under Cresphontes invaded the country from Arcadia, and, taking as their capital Stenyclarus in the northern plain, extended, first their suzerainty, and then their rule over the whole district. However, given that the Arcadian language is a direct and conservative descendent of Mycenaean Greek, it is more likely that the Dorians pushed the native Messenians into Arcadia. This article or section should include material from Dorian invasion The Dorians were one of the ancient Hellenic (Greek) races. ...

The task apparently proved an easy one, and the Dorians blending with the previous inhabitants produced a single Messenian race with a strong national feeling. But the fertility of the soil, the warm and genial climate, the mingling of races and the absence of opposition, combined to render the Messenians no match for their hardy and warlike neighbours of Sparta. War broke out—in consequence, it was said, of the murder of the Spartan king Teleclus by the Messenians - which, in spite of the heroism of King Euphaes and his successor Aristodemus ended in the subjection of Messenia to Sparta (c. 720 BC). Two generations later the Messenians revolted and under the leadership of Aristomenes kept the Spartans at bay for some seventeen years (648 BC—631 BC, according to Grote): but the stronghold of Ira (Eira) fell after a siege of eleven years, and those Messenians who did not leave the country were reduced to the condition of helots. The next revolt broke out in 464 BC, when a severe earthquake destroyed Sparta and caused great loss of life; the insurgents defended themselves for some years on the rock-citadel of Ithome, as they had done in the first war; but eventually they had, to leave the Peloponnese and were settled by the Athenians at Naupactus in the territory of the Locri Ozolae. After the Battle of Leuctra (371 BC), Epaminondas invited the exiled Messenians scattered in Italy, Sicily, Africa and elsewhere to return to their country: the city of Messene was founded in 369 BC to be the capital of the country and, like Megalopolis in Arcadia, a powerful check on Sparta. Other towns too were founded or rebuilt at this time, though a great part of the land still remained very sparsely peopled. But though independent Messenia never became really powerful or able to stand without external support. After the fall of the Theban power, to which it had owed its foundation, it became an ally of Philip II of Macedon and took no part in the battle of Chaeronea (338 BC). Subsequently it joined the Achaean League, and we find Messenian troops fighting along with the Achaeans and Antigonus Doson at Sellasia in 222 BC. Philip V sent Demetrius of Pharos to seize Messene, but the attempt failed and cost the life of Demetrius: soon afterwards the Spartan tyrant Nabis succeeded in taking the city, but was forced to retire by the timely arrival of Philopoemen and the Megalopolitans. A war afterwards broke out with the Achaean League, during which Philopoemen was captured and put to death by the Messenians (183 BC), but Lycortas took the city in the following year, and it again joined the Achaean League, though much weakened by the loss of Abia, Thuria and Pherae, which broke loose from it and entered the League as independent members. In 146 BC the Messenians, together with the other states of Greece, were brought directly under Roman sway by L. Mummius. For centuries there had been a dispute between Messenia and Sparta about the possession of the Ager Dentheliales on the western slope of Taygetus: after various decisions by Philip of Macedon, Antigonus, Mummius, Caesar, Antony, Augustus and others, the question was settled in 25 by Tiberius and the Senate in favour of the Messenians (Tac. Ann. iv. 43). For the 5th century BCE Spartan by the same name, see Aristodemus (Spartan). ... Centuries: 9th century BC - 8th century BC - 7th century BC Decades: 770s BC 760s BC 750s BC 740s BC 730s BC - 720s BC - 710s BC 700s BC 690s BC 680s BC 670s BC Events and Trends 728 BC - Piye invades Egypt, conquering Memphis and receives the submission of the rulers... Aristomenes was a mythical king of Messenia, celebrated for his struggle with the Spartans, and his resistance to them on Mount Ira for 11 years. ... Centuries: 8th century BC - 7th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 690s BC 680s BC 670s BC 660s BC 650s BC - 640s BC - 630s BC 620s BC 610s BC 600s BC 590s BC Events and Trends Assyrian king Ashurbanipal founds library, which includes our earliest complete copy of the Epic... Centuries: 8th century BC - 7th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 680s BC 670s BC 660s BC 650s BC 640s BC - 630s BC - 620s BC 610s BC 600s BC 590s BC 580s BC Events and Trends 637 BC - Josiah becomes king of Judah. ... Helots were Peloponnesian Greeks who were enslaved under Spartan rule. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 5th century BC - 6th century BC Decades: 510s BC 500s BC 490s BC 480s BC 470s BC - 460s BC - 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC 420s BC 410s BC Years: 469 BC 468 BC 467 BC 466 BC 465 BC - 464 BC - 463 BC 462 BC... Combatants Thebes Sparta Commanders Epaminondas Cleombrotus I † Strength 6,000–7,000 10,000–11,000 Casualties Unknown About 2,000 {{{notes}}} Leuctra was a vildlage of Boeotia in the territory of Thespiae, chiefly noticeable for the battle fought in its neighborhood in 371 BC between the Thebans and the... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 420s BC 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC - 370s BC - 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 376 BC 375 BC 374 BC 373 BC 372 BC - 371 BC - 370 BC 369 BC 368... For information about the modern board game of the same name, see Epaminondas (game). ... Messene (Greek: Μεσσήνη Messínî or Messénê ) was an ancient Greek city, the capital of Messenia (until the modern prefecture was created). ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC - 360s BC - 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 374 BC 373 BC 372 BC 371 BC 370 BC - 369 BC - 368 BC 367 BC 366... Megalopolis (Greek: large city, great city) can mean: The town of Megalópoli (Μεγαλοπολη), Megalopolis, Greece. ... Philip II - King of Macedon Philip II of Macedon (382 BC–336 BC; in Greek Φίλιππος = φίλος (friend) + ίππος (horse), transliterated Philippos) was the King of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination. ... Chaeronea was a city in the province of Boeotia in Ancient Greece. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 380s BC 370s BC 360s BC 350s BC 340s BC - 330s BC - 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 343 BC 342 BC 341 BC 340 BC 339 BC - 338 BC - 337 BC 336 BC 335... The Achaean League was a confederation of Greek city states in Achaea, a territory on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. ... Antigonus III Doson (263 BC-221 BC), king of Macedonia 229 BC-221 BC. He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty. ... Sellasia, Selasia or Selassia (Greek: Σελλασία) rarely Arakhova is a village and a municipality which this town is the seat of the municipality of Oinounta, Inounta or Inouda (Greek, Modern: Οινούντα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ous), ancient form: Oinous or Inous, Latin: Oenus located in the northwestern part of the prefecture of... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC - 220s BC - 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC Years: 227 BC 226 BC 225 BC 224 BC 223 BC - 222 BC - 221 BC 220 BC... Coin of Philip V. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ ([coin] of King Philip). ... Nabis was the last king of Sparta. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC - 180s BC - 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 188 BC 187 BC 186 BC 185 BC 184 BC - 183 BC - 182 BC 181 BC... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC - 140s BC - 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC Years: 151 BC 150 BC 149 BC 148 BC 147 BC - 146 BC - 145 BC 144 BC... Events Han dynasty was restored in China as Liu Xiu proclaimed himself emperor, start of jiangwu era (->56). ... Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16, 42 BC – March 16 AD 37), was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37. ... The Roman Senate (Latin, Senatus) was a deliberative body which was important in the government of both the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. ...

In the middle ages Messenia shared the fortunes of the rest of the Peloponnese. Striking reminders of these conflicts are afforded by the extant ruins of the medieval strongholds of Kalamata, Coron (anc. Asine, mod. Korone), Modon (Methone) and Pylos. At the present day Messenia forms a department, now a prefecture with its capital at Kalamata. There is also a Kalamata in the Democratic Republic of Congo, see Kalamata, Democratic Republic of Congo Kalamata (Greek, Modern: Καλαμάτα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ai), older forms: Kalamai is a city in southern Greece, on the Peloponnesos, by the Mediterranean. ...

About less than half of the population live within GR-7, in places from Allagi to S of Kalamata, along with the plain as the Kalamata-Messene metropolitan area, Peloponnese's third largest metropolitan city. Kalamata has an airport 5 km W of Kalamata. A harbor and port named from this city is not far from the downtown, originally connected with train tracks. It is one of the largest waterfronts in the peninsula. There is also a Kalamata in the Democratic Republic of Congo, see Kalamata, Democratic Republic of Congo Kalamata (Greek, Modern: Καλαμάτα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ai), older forms: Kalamai is a city in southern Greece, on the Peloponnesos, by the Mediterranean. ...

Climate

Climate may vary, in the lowlands, temperatures are a bit warmer than Athens. Snow is not common during winter months except for the mountains expecially the Taygetus. Rain and clouds are common inland. Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína IPA: ) is the capital of Greece and one of the most famous cities in the world, named after goddess Athena. ...

For one day in July 2000, morning temperatures were at the 37°C point in many areas. 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December This is a timeline for events in July, 2000. ...

Transportation

There are four major highways in Messenia:

• Greek National Road 7, N, Cen.
• Greek National Road 9, NW, W, SW
• Greek National Road 9A, NW, N
• Greek National Road 82, SW, Cen., E

Greek National Road 7 is a north-to-south highway that runs from Kalamata in the south and ends in Corinth in the north. ... Greek National Road 9 is the second-longest national highway that runs into the Peloponnese. ... Greek National Road 82 (Pylos - Kalamata - Sparti) is a west to east highway linking Pylos with the GR-9/E55, Kalamata and downtown Sparta with GR-37/E???. The highway begins in downtown Pylos and runs through the southwestern part of Messenia and through curvy roads and through Lykodimos and...

Population

1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

Communications

Television

• Notioi Elliniki Teleorasi, lit. the Southern Greece Television

Municipalities and communities

See also: List of settlements in the Messenia prefecture Aetos (Αετός) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Kopanaki or Kopanáki is a small but scenic Greek town in Messenia which lies in the south-western corner of Peloponnese. ... Aipeia (Αιπεία) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Andania (Ανδανία) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Androusa (Ανδρούσα) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Arfara (Αρφαρά) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Aris (Άρις) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Aristomenis (Αριστομένης) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Avia (Αβία) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Avlona (Αυλώνα) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Chiliochoria (Χιλιοχώρια) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Dorio, or Dorion is a municipality and a village in the prefecture of Messinia, Greece. ... Eira (Είρα) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Filiatra (Greek: Φιλιατρά), is a town located in western Messenia. ... Gargalianoi (Greek: Γαργαλιάνοι), also Gargaliani, is a community located in the western part of Messenia. ... Ithomi (Ιθώμη) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... There is also a Kalamata in the Democratic Republic of Congo, see Kalamata, Democratic Republic of Congo Kalamata (Greek, Modern: Καλαμάτα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ai), older forms: Kalamai is a city in southern Greece, on the Peloponnesos, by the Mediterranean. ... Koroni (Κορώνη) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Kyparissia, rarely Cyparissia (Greek: Κύπαρισσία) is a town of around 4,000 in western Messenia. ... Lefktro (Λεύκτρο) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Meligalas (Μελιγαλάς) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Messene (Greek: Μεσσήνη Messínî or Messénê ) was an ancient Greek city, the capital of Messenia (until the modern prefecture was created). ... Methoni (Greek Μεθώνη) is a town on the southwestern coast of the prefecture of Messinia, Greece. ... Nestoras (Νέστορας) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Oichalia (Οιχαλία) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Papaflessas (Παπαφλέσσας) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Petalidi (Greek, Modern Πεταλίδι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on), is a village and the seat of the municipality of the same name in the southcentral part of the prefecture of Messenia. ... Pylos (Greek Πύλος), formerly Navarino, is the name of a bay and a town on the west coast of the Peloponnese, in the district of Messenia in southern Greece. ... Thouria (Θουρία) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Voufrades (Βουφράδες) is a municipality in Messenia, Greece. ... Trikorfo (Τρίκορφο) is a community in Messenia, Greece. ... Tripyla (Τριπύλα) is a community in Messenia, Greece. ... This is a list of settlements in the prefecture of Messinia, Greece. ...

Islands

• Venetiko, southeast
• Sapientza
• Schiza, southwest. In April 19, 1991, an AB205 crashed on the island, no deaths were reported
• Sphagia/Sfagia

Sapientza is a Greek island off the southern coast of the Peloponnese. ... Schiza is a Greek island off the southern coast of the Peloponnese. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sphagia is the modern name of the island known in ancient times as Sphacteria. ...

Provinces

• Province of Kalamata - Kalamata
• Province of Messene - Messene
• Province of Pylia - Pylos
• Province of Tryfilia - Kyparissia

External links

• http://www.messinia-guide.gr The complete guide for Messenia
• http://www.messinia.org
• http://www.messinia.net.gr
• www.kyparissianews.gr
• In French:
  • http://perso.wanadoo.fr/ahama2/messenie.htm
  • http://www.diasnews.com/languag/france/mesocidefra.htm
• In German:
  • http://www.griechenland.de/go4sun/Griechenland/Peloponnes/Messenien/FORUM
  • http://www.unterkunft.de/query/province__Messenien/infos.ausgermanien.de/Messenien
  • http://www.gottwein.de/latine/map/gr_mess.htm

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...