History

το Ανάκτορο του Νέστορα

Λουτρό στα Ανάκτορα του Νέστορα

Αρχαία Μεσσήνη Θέατρο

Kalamata stands in the place of ancient FARON whose founder was, according to mythology the son of Hermes and the daughter of Danaean Fylomadias, Faris. The area is inhabited since the pre-historic era and was a big centre at the Mycenean period. The city depended on Sparta until the foundation of Messini from the Theban general Epaminonda in 369 BC. It city was granted again to Lakones at 31 BC from the Roman emperor Octavian August after his victorious naval battle in Aktio. After the emperor died, at Tiberios reign the city was finally granted to the Messinians.
From the descriptions of geographer Stravona (1st century AD) and Paysanias the Sightseer (2nd century AD), we know that in the city existed three sanctums, one dedicated to the heroes-healers Nikomacho and Gorgaso, the second for the adoration of Luck and the third was dedicated to Athena Neodousia.
The name Kalamata is met for first time in the life of Osios Nikonos (11th cen.) and the versions for the origin of name are many. According to the older version the name of the city is due to the church of Virgin Mary Kalomata that existed in the region. However newer researches have rejected the above version and recommend that Kalamata took its name either from the neighbouring ancient city Kalamon, or because of the many reeds (Greek word: kalami) in the area. Worth mentioning is another likely origin, from the usual surname of many residents “Kalamatis” which we meet in many meta-byzantine documents and manuscripts. The renaming from Faron to Kalamata took place in a period of demographic changes in the region in the 7th or 8th century.
The city was conquered by the Franks (1205), the Tyrks (1460 and 1715) and from the Venetians (1464, 1659 and 1685). The declaration of the revolution on 23 March 1821 in the temple of Saint Apostles meant the release from the Turks.