THURIA (city in Messenia)
Ancient Greek city of Messenia
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Messenia
- Where
- 37.11° N, 22.04° E
Thuria is located on a high hill, which is the source of its name. Strabo 8.4.5 A temple dedicated to the Syrian Goddess stands in the upper town. Pausanias 4.31.2 Remains of a wall exist in the upper town of Thuria. Pausanias 4.31.2
Described in the sources
Thuria borders the city of Pherae. Strabo 8.4.4 +1 The upper town of Thuria is not completely deserted. Pausanias 4.31.2 It is stated that Homer's poems called the city Antheia. Pausanias 4.31.1 The Thuriatic Gulf takes its name from the city of Thuria. Strabo 8.4.5 The inhabitants of the city are referred to as the Thuriatae. Pausanias 4.31.1 A road leading from Thuria towards Arcadia passes the springs of the Pamisus. Pausanias 4.31.4 The ancient city of Aepeia is identified in the passage as the modern Thuria. Strabo 8.4.5 The city is located eighty stades inland from Pharae on the road into Messenia. Pausanias 4.31.1
Stories and history
Some writers claim that the city of Antheia is actually Thuria. Strabo 8.4.5 Augustus transferred the city to the possession of the Lacedaemonians of Sparta. Pausanias 4.31.1 The inhabitants of Thuria abandoned their original settlement on high ground and relocated to live in the nearby plain. Pausanias 4.31.2