Archaeological Museum of Messenia: In the land of the tholos tomb

Designed along a central axis emulating the River Pamisos, which runs through a large part of Messenia and flows into the Messenian Gulf, each section of the Museum is a branch of this course. The branches follow the old geographical division of the region into four provinces: Kalamata, Messene, Pylia and Triphylia.

The Mycenaean kingdom of Nestor, which belongs to Triphylia, is considered the land of origin for the tholos tombs that gradually appeared throughout the rest of the Aegean world. This is where the largest number of Mycenaean tholos tombs in Greece were located, dating from late 17th century BC to 1200 BC, when people stopped building them.

The relief golden cup from Peristeria, one of the most precious grave offerings found in the royal tholos tombs, is just a small example of what you will find in the Museum, which is located in the heart of Kalamata’s historic centre, where the Municipal Market used to be.