See Also: Messene(encyclopedia)

Messene (sh)




Ancient city, southwestern Peloponnese, Greece.

It is located north of the modern city of the same name. Founded งใ 369 BC as the site of the new capital of Messenia, Messene formed a strategic barrier against Sparta, along with Megalopolis, Mantinea, and Argos. It survived several Macedonian and Spartan sieges but fell to Philip II of Macedonia in 338 BC. Nothing is known of its history after the 2nd century BC.