Arcadian Gate and City Wall in Messene

This is the winner of a Diploma

One of Greece’s most significant archaeological sites, Messene is especially renowned to for the impressive ruins of its monumental fortification – the 9.5km long curtain wall flanked by towers at regular intervals with two main entrances, one of which being the Arcadian gate.

The Arcadian Gate and adjacent section of the wall up to ‘Tower 17’ were restored from 2003 to 2005. Work involved careful archaeological and archival research and documentation, as well as consolidation and a conservation treatment. Scattered blocks and the original position of the wall were identified and preserved, as well as their original position determined.

“For the accurate anastylosis and functional restoration of a rare and representative example of Hellenistic defensive architecture situated in the Southern Peloponnesus.”