Andania

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Andania ( ancient Greek Ἀνδανία ) was, according to the Messenian legend, the first royal city of Messinia , which was founded by Polykaon and Messene . According to Pausanias , she is said to have been named after an otherwise unknown woman Andania. The city was already deserted in ancient times. It is believed to be in the present-day village of Konstantini ( modern Greek Κωνσταντίνοι ).

Andania is often referred to as the site of the mysteries celebrated in the Karnasian Grove .

location

Andania's location cannot be determined with absolute certainty. According to Livius (36.31.7), who called it a small city ( parvum oppidum ), it was located between the Arcadian megalopolis and the city of Messene , where in 191 BC it was located. Chr. T. Quinctius Flamininus and the Achaean general Diophanes met.

Pausanias provides the most precise information, according to which it was eight stadiums to the left of the Karnasischen Grove , on the road from Messene to Megalopolis. Since this can be located with certainty at the Divari spring near the village of Polichni, the village of Konstantini, located on a hill and one and a half kilometers northwest of Polichni, is ideal for Andania, which corresponds well to the eight stages. In the past, Andania was wanted at Hellenikó.

Remains of an ancient city wall were found in Constantini. The finds can be dated to the Classical and Hellenistic times, which fits in well with the fact that the place was deserted after Pausanias.

On the other hand, the statement by Strabo that Andania is in Arcadia and that the younger name of Oichalia , where Eurytus was, is inaccurate.

history

Mythical story

After Pausanias, Andania was founded by Polykaon and Messene and made the royal city. Later, Perieres and his son Aphareus ruled here too , until he moved the royal city to Arene . Closely connected with the mythical history of Andania is the mythical history of the Karnasian grove , which, according to Pausanias, is to be equated with the Messenian Oichalia.

Historical story

During the Messenian Wars , Andania was a center of Messenian resistance against Sparta, and the Messenian hero Aristomenes and other well-known resistance fighters came from Andania, according to Pausanias. When the resistance fighters retreated to the mountain fortress Hira , Andania was evacuated as well.

217 BC BC Lycurgus unsuccessfully attacked Andania, and in 191 BC BC Flamininus and Diophanes of Megalopolis met in Andania TQ. Pausanias, who lived in the 2nd century, found the city in ruins.

swell

literature