Notes and Inscriptions from South-Western Messenia Author(S): Marcus Niebuhr Tod Source: the Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol
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Notes and Inscriptions from South-Western Messenia Author(s): Marcus Niebuhr Tod Source: The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 25 (1905), pp. 32-55 Published by: The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/624207 . Accessed: 14/06/2014 14:24 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of Hellenic Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 130.239.116.185 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:24:24 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions NOTES AND INSCRIPTIONS FROM SOUTH-WESTERN MESSENIA. I.-Introduction. THE following notes and inscriptions represent part of the results of a journey made in the spring of 1904, supplemented and revised on a second visit paid to the same district in the following November. One iuscription from Korone, a fragment of the 'Edictum Diocletiani,' I have already published (J.H.S. 1904, p. 195 foll.). I have attempted to state as briefly as possible the fresh topographical evidence collected on my tour, avoiding as far as possible any mere repetition of the descriptions and discussions of previous writers. The literature dealing with this part of Greece is not extensive. I give here a list in chronological order of the more important works in which its geography and antiquities are discussed, and append to each the abbreviated title which I shall use for purposes of reference. 1. Pausanias iv. 34, 35. 2. W. M. Leake, Travels in the Morea, i. 428-448: London, 1830.1 [Leake.] 3. A. Blouet, ExpIdition Scientifizue de Morde,i. 9-18 and Plates 8-17: Paris, 1831. [Blouet.] 4. E. P. Boblaye, Becherches GJographiquessur les Buines de la Moree, 111-113: Paris, 1835. [Boblaye.] 5. Bory de St. Vincent, Expedition Scientifique de Mor6e. Section des SciencesPhysiques. Relation. Paris, 1836. [Bory.] 6. W. M. Leake, Peloponnesiaca, 195-197: London, 1846. [Leake, Peloponnesiaca.] 7. E. Curtius, Peloponnesos, ii. 165-172, 195-196: Gotha, 1852. [Curtius.] 8. C. Bursian, Geographievon Griechenland, ii. 172-175: Leipzig, 1868. [Bursian.] 9. J. G. Frazer, Pausanias's Description of Greece,iii. 445-456: London, 1898. [Frazer.] I Leake's Morea was not published until 1830, taken twenty-five years previously, in 1805 and though the journeys to which it relates were 1806. This content downloaded from 130.239.116.185 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:24:24 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions NOTES AND INSCRIPTIONS FROM S.-W. MESSENIA. 33 For the geology of the district, Philippson, De-r Peloponnes, p. 355-377, should be consulted. A full bibliography is given at the end of this work (p. 611-616). It is a pleasant duty to take this opportunity of expressing my warm thanks to those who, either by their generous hospitality or by the un- grudging way in which they placed at my disposal their knowledge of local antiquities, contributed largely to the pleasure and success of my tour; especial mention is due to Mr. P. Torolopoulos, demarch of Methone, Mr. C. Bebonis of Korone, Messrs. P. and N. Klappas of Kandianika, and Dr. D. Marcopoulos of Petalidhi. II.- Methone. Pausanias (iv. 35) tells us that Methone lay on the site of the Homeric and that it derived its name either from Methone, a daughter of Hliaa'ov, Oeneus, or from the M6cOwvXitos which protected its harbour. It was given by the Spartans to the Nauplians who had been driven from their home for their philo-Laconian sympathies by Damocratidas of Argos, and remained undisturbed even on the restoration of the Messenians by Epaminondas. Subsequently it was desolated by a band of Illyrian corsairs, who, under pretence of trade, enticed to their ships and kidnapped a large number of its inhabitants. It was made a friee city by Trajan. To these facts we may add the abortive attempt of the Athenians to gain possession of Methone at the outset of the Peloponnesian War-an attempt in the frustration of which Brasidas won his first laurels (Thuc. ii. 25)-and its siege and capture by Agrippa shortly before the battle of Actium (Dio Cass. L. 11, 3; Strabo viii. 4. 3). The only temples mentioned by Pausanias are those of Athena Anemotis, 'the wind-stiller,' founded by Diomedes, and of Artemis: that which most attracted the traveller's notice was a well of bituminous water, which leads him into a long excursus on remarkable wells and springs. The modern town lies wholly outside and to the N. of the Venetian fortress, which is now uninhabited and is rapidly falling into ruin: it is situated on the southernmost spur of the long ridge of "Aryto9 NK6hXaoq2 which runs due N. from here and terminates above Pylos. The eastern wall of the fortress is built in part on ancient foundations, and considerable remains are left of the ancient mole running parallel to this wall from the rock which may be identified3 as the M60ovw 'XOo of Pausanias: this is joined to the mainland by a ruined bridge, and on it rises an octagonal tower, originally built to protect the harbour but subsequently used as a lantern and a prison. A mole built in 1895-6 runs eastward from the landing-place (Blouet, P1. 15, fig. II. E) through the extremity of the ancient jetty, thus completely cutting off the old harbour, which is too shallow to be of any use: to the N. of this mole sailing boats can approach close to the fortress, but the 2 Perhaps the ancient (Thuc. iv. 3Blouet, p. 12 ; Leake, p. 430. To'heXs 118. 4; Steph. Byz. s.v.). H.S.-VOL. XXV. ) This content downloaded from 130.239.116.185 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:24:24 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 34 MARCUS NIEBUHR TOD coasting steamers which call at Methone in the summer season have to anchor out in the bay. In the ruined chapel of 'Ayla to0(la within the fortress are eight small columns of white marble, one of shell conglomerate, a fluted Ionic column of black limestone, and a much damaged Ionic capital of white marble.5 On the top of a Byzantine capital with an ornament in relief on the two short sides is a late inscription (No. 1, below), the first which has been found at Methone. From the E. the fortress and town are approached by a bridge which rests on ancient foundations (Curtius, p. 170). Though scanty, this evidence seems to warrant our placing the ancient Methone on the site of the medieval fortress, and also, perhaps, of the modern town (see esp. Blouet, p. 12). Three other sites in the neighbourhood call for a few words of comment : (1) Gell (Itinerary of the Morea, p. 54) says: ' E. of Modon, about 2,700 paces from the city, is a place called Palaia Mothone, where are the vestiges of a city, with a citadel, and a few marbles. It is difficult to determine the date of the ruins.' The spot in question is about 13 miles N.E.6 of the modern town and lies in the valley of the upper Methone River and on the northern slope of the low ridge which forms the left bank of the river valley. The site still bears the name HaXact Meo<'7y, and a large ruined church near by as well as the quantity of stones everywhere in evidence seems to indicate that there was once a village here. But there are now no vestiges of antiquity to be seen, the walls which were pointed out to me as such being medieval. I was shown Pausanias'' bituminous well,' but my informants admitted that the water is perfectly sweet and clear! I think it is not impossible that at some time previous to the building of the fortress at Modon, the inhabitants, finding themselves too easy and accessible a prey to corsairs, may have migrated inland to this less exposed and better watered site, carrying with them the name of their town: in this case 'Old Methone' would be opposed to the new town of Modon. (2) The members of the 'Expedition de Morde' found on the shore and neighbouring hills, 2 kms. E.7 of Modon, many Roman ruins, proving the existence there of baths and factories of coarse pottery, as well as a small temple situated on an eminence above the sea (Boblaye, p. 113). Here also I failed to discover traces of antiquity. In about the position indicated, where the hills rise to the E. of the plain of Methone, stood the old chapel of "Ayto 'Hlaq on a low cliff above the shore. But about fifteen years ago the encroachment of the sea caused a landslip which carried away half of the chapel, the remainder of which lies wholly in ruins: it has been replaced by a new church on the eminence to the N., about a hundred yards from the sea. 4 Blouet, P1. 14, Figs. I, II. 6 Gell's loose use of the term East has led 5 The two capitals from Coron figured by Frazer to confuse this site with that referred to Bloii•t (PI.