Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume II.djvu/354

 n3S MESSAPIA. form ME22ANI0N or MESSANinN. 4. Coins struck by the Mamertines, w-ith the name of MA- MEPTINflN. These are very numerous, but in copper only. (Milhngen, Trans, of Roy. Soc. of Lit. voL i. pt. ii. pp. 93—98 ; Eckhel, vol i. pp. 219— 224.) [E. H. B.] MESSA'PIA (Metro-aTTio), was the name com- monly given by the Greeks to the peninsula forming the SE. extremity of Italy, called by the Romans Calabria. But the usage of the term was very fluctuating; lapygia and Messapia being used some- times as synonymous, sometimes the latter con- bidered as a part only of the former more general designation. (Pol. iii. 88; Strab. vi. pp. 277, 282.) [This question is more fully discussed under Cala- IJRIA, Vol. I. p. 472.] The same uncertainty pre- vails, though to a less degree, in the use of the name of the people, the SIessapii (Micradmoi), who are described by Herodotus (vii. 170) as a tribe of the lapygians, and appear to be certainly identical with the Calabri of the Piomans, though we have no explanation of the origin of two such different ap- pellations. The ethnical affinities of the Jlcssapians have already been discussed, as well as theu- history related, under the article Calabria. Italian topographers in general admit the exist- ence of a town of the name of Messapia, the site of which is suppn.sed to be marked by the village now called Mesagne, between Oria and Brindisi ; but the passage of Pliny, in which alone the name is found, appears to be corrupt; and we should proba- bly read, with Cluverius and Moinmsen, " Varia (Uria) cui cognomen ad discrimen Apulae Mes- sapia." (Plin.^iii. 11. s. 16. § 100; Cluver, Jtal. p. 1248; Mommsen, Die Unier. Ital. Licdekte, p. 61.) [E. H. B.] MESSA'PIUM, mountain of Boeotia. [Vol. I. p. 414, a.] MESSE'IS (Meo-ffjjis). 1. A fountain of Pherae in Thessaly. [Pherae.] 2. A fountain of Therapne in Laconia. (Pans. iii. 20. § 1.) MESSE'NE (Meo-o-jjj/ij : Etli. and Adj. Metr- ai]VLos: Adj. Mea<Ti]PiaK6s), the later cajiital of Messeuia, built under the direction of Epaminondas in B. c. 369. (Diod. xv. 66; Pans. iv. 27.) The ruime of Messene had been apjjlied in ancient times to the country inhabited by the ]Iessenians ; but there was no city of this name till the one founded by Epaminondas. The Thebans and their allies assisted the Messenians in building it ; and the best architects and masons were invited from all Greece to lay out the city with regularity, and to arrange and construct properly the temples and other public buildings. Epaminondas also took especial pains wiih the fortifications, which were regarded by Pausanias as the most perfect in Greece. The walls, a.s well as the towers and bulwarks, were built en- tirely of stone ; and the excellence and solidity of the masonry are still apparent in the existing remains. (Pans. iv. 31. § 5.) The foundation of the city was attended with great ])omp and the celebration of solemn sacrifices. First, sacrifices were offered by Epaminondas, who was recognised as Oekist or Founder, to Dionysus and Apollo Ismenius, — by the Argives to the Argive Hera and Zeus Nemeius, — by the Messenians to Zeus Itho- niatas and the Dioscuri. Next, prayer was offered to the ancient Heroes and Heroines of the Messenian nation, especially to the warrior Aristomencs, that they would come back and take up their abode in MESSENE. the new city. After this, the ground was marked out and the building begun, under the sound of Argive and Boeotian flutes, playing the strains of Pronomus and Sacadas. (Paus. iv. 28. § 6; Grote's Greece, vol. ix. p. 309.) The history of this town is related under Messenia, so that it is only necessary in this place to give an account of its topography. Messene is situated upon a rugged mountain, which rises between the two great Messenian plains, and which thus commands the whole country. This mountain, about half-way up, divides into two sum- . mits, of which the northern was called Ithome and the southern Eva. The sharp ridge connecting them is about half a mile in length. Mt. Ithome is one of the most striking objects in all Pelopon- nesus. It rises to the height of 2631 feet, or more than 700 feet higher than the Acrocorinthus; but it looks much loftier than it really is, in consequence of its precipitous sides and isolated position. Upon this summit the Acropolis of Messene was built; but the city itself was situated in a hollow somewhat in the form of a shell, extending on the west side of the sharp ridge which connects Ithome and Eva. The city was connected by a continuous wall with its acropolis. There are considerable remains of the ancient city, and the walls may still be traced in the greater part of their extent. They are most perfect on the northern side, with the Arcadian or Megalopolitan gate in the centre. They may be followed up to the summit of Ithome, and then along the ridge connecting Ithome and Eva ; but here towards the south-east traces of them are sometimes lost. In this part, however, the foundations of the eastern or Laconian gate, as it has been called, are clearly seen. The sum- mit of Mt. Eva was evidently not included within the city walls. The direction of the southern wall is most uncertain. From the eastern gate to the ruins, which are supposed to be those of the southern gate, and near which the present road runs to the southern Jlessenian plain, no line of walls can be traced ; but on the western side the walls may again be clearly followed. The circuuiference of the walls is about 47 stadia, or nearly 6 English miles ; ' but it includes a large space altogether unfit for the site of buildings ; and the great extent was doubtless intended to receive a part of the surrounding popu- lation in time of war. The space included within the city-walls now con- sists of corn-fields and pastures amidst woods of wild olive and oak. Nearly in the centre of the ancient town is the modern village of Mavromdti ; and near the southern gate, at the foot of Mount Eva, are two poor villages, named Simissa. On the eastern slope of Mount Eva is the monastery of Vurkano, embossed in cypress and orange groves, and one of the most PLAN OF ARCADIAN OR MEGALOPOLITAN GATE.