Methoni (Messenia)

Methoni municipality
Δημοτική Ενότητα Μεθώνης
(Μεθώνη)

Basic data

State :

Greece

Region :

Geographic coordinates :

36 ° 49 ′ N , 21 ° 42 ′ E Coordinates: 36 ° 49 ′ N , 21 ° 42 ′ E

Height above d. M .:

20 m
city center

Area :

97.202 km²

Residents :

2,598 (2011)

Population density :

26.7 inhabitants / km²

Code No .:

440503

Structure:

6 local communities

Website:

http://www.pylos-nestor.gr (In Greek)

Located in the municipality of Pylos-Nestor and in the Messenia region

Methoni ( Greek Μεθώνη ( f. Sg. ), Also Modon , Modoni , Mothone or old Greek Methone , from Homer Pedasos ) is a small Greek port town in Messenia at the southwest end of the Peloponnese with around 2598 inhabitants today (as of 2011). Until the end of 2010 Methoni was an independent municipality, after incorporation since 1997 as a municipality (dimos). On January 1, 2011 Methoni became a municipality of the new municipality Pylos-Nestor (for further subdivision see there ).

history

Methoni is mentioned as Pedasus in Homer's Iliad . The polis was an important port city in ancient times because of its natural harbor . She was together with Pylos in the Second Messenian War until 620 BC. Last held against Sparta by the Messenians, but was then held until 370 BC. Under the rule of Sparta. 431 BC The Athenians tried unsuccessfully to conquer the city.

During the Roman Civil Wars, Mark Antony fortified Methoni strongly, but Mark Vipsanius Agrippa conquered it before the Battle of Actium . The Roman Emperor Trajan declared Methoni a free city at the beginning of the 2nd century AD. During the Byzantine rule and the Venetian rule that began in 1124 , the city was provided with mighty city walls that are still very well preserved today. Methoni and the Koroni fortress on the east side of the finger served at the time as the "two eyes of Venice" in the Peloponnese and were important bases for shipping. In 1498 the Ottomans conquered the city, from 1686 to 1715 Methoni was again briefly under the rule of Venice . At this stage, the Venetians added modern bastions to the land side of the fortress, although the work was not completed before clearing the Peloponnese. The city was devastated in the Greek War of Independence in 1825, but liberated by French troops in 1827 and handed over to the Kingdom of Greece . During the Second World War , the fortress was used by the German Wehrmacht as a base and was badly damaged by the bombing of the Allied forces .

The modern place Methoni was built a little further inland after the fortress was abandoned. There is a tranquil tourism .

Attractions

Fortress, port and modern place of Methoni, on the far left of the Burtzi

The main attraction is the former city with its still well-preserved city walls and gates, the modern fortress on the land side (around the Baroque period) and the ruins in the city. A special landmark is the sea storm called Burtzi at the southern end of the cape with its distinctive dome. This tower was built as a small fortress with a gate and wall. It served as a landmark at the port entrance, as a watchtower and probably also the last place of refuge.

The following objects deserve attention in the former urban area:

House with a stone pyramid as a roof (rebuilt)
two Turkish baths with preserved domes, details of the underfloor heating
walled-in lion of St. Mark of the Venetians
Gate towards Burtzi
Church ruins with stump of a minaret
Greek Orthodox Church

literature

Şerban Marin: The Venetian Chronicles and an Episode of the Venetian Expansionism in Romania. The Capture of Modon and Coron , Venice 2014. ( academia.edu )

Methoni Castle
View over Alt-Methoni to the island of Sapientza
Fortress wall of Methoni Castle (Modon)
St. Mark's Lion on the outer castle wall
Southern tip of the fortress with the gate to the Burtzi
Burtzi with Sapientza Island in the background
Burtzi
Entrance to the Methoni Fortress
Interior of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of Christ (Μεταμόρφωση του Σωτήρος) in the castle
Crucifix in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of Christ (Μεταμόρφωση του Σωτήρος) in the castle
British cistern in the fortress
Southern tip of the castle and Burtzi at night