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The city and Peninsula of Methana are first mentioned by historians such
as Thoukidides (5th century BC) and Diodoros the Sicilian ( 1st century
BC); by georgaphers such as Stravonas ( 1st century BC) and Claudios
Ptolemeos ( 2nd century AD); by the Latin poet Ovidios ( 1st century BC)
as well as by the great traveller of the Ancient times Pavsanias ( 2nd
century BC). It is later mentioned by Ieroklis (6th century AD) as well
as in a manuscript of the 9th century AD.
The
Peninsula of Methana is considered to have first been populated during
the Neolithic Years, based on very important acheological
findings in Paleocastro (Vathi) and on the summit of the Mount Helona.
In Paleocastro we find the Acropolis of Methana and, as the ceramic
findings testify, this position has been continuously populated since
the Stone Age (5,000 BC) and throughout the following periods this
position remains the most densly populated in the area. In the following
period, the Protohellinic Period (2,800 - 1,900 BC) there is a steep
rise in the population of the area. Protohellinic settlements
have been located in the Isthmus and in Nisaki of Methana. In the
Hysterohellinic, Mycenean era the residents of the area were lons. They
built their settlements in Megalohorion, on the plateau of Throni and on
Helona. At the beginning of historical times, Methana as well as
Kalavria, accepted the Dorian settlers peacefully. We have much more
information about the next period - the classical period. What we
know about Methana is that the settlement of Megalohorion is fortified,
while new settlements are built in Nisaki, Throni, Oga, Magoula, Kaimeni
Gi and Helona. From the information the historians have they believe
that the population of the area must have been approximately 9,000
people. The regime must have been oligargichal. In the Hellinistic
years,
Methana
and Kalavria were independent. According to archeological findings the
political map of the area has no differences from that of the previous
era. The settlement of Foukaria seems to be new. In Kalavria there are
no differences, while on the peninsula of Methana residents begin to use
the spa of Vromolimni (Agios Haralambos) and Kato Mouska. In the 4th
and 3rd century BC Methana must have had some degree of independence
as they made their own coins on which the head of Hifestos (the god of
fire and volcanoes) was carved. In the 3rd century BC in the
Hellinistic period, during the regime of the Antigonos Gonatas the
Macedonian (283 - 239 BC), the volcano of Methana errupted. During the
same period, the peninsula was taken over by the dynesty of the
Ptolemians for about one century and was named Arsinoi in honour of the
wife of Ptolemeos the 4th.
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