Peristeria, the “Mycenae of the Western Peloponnese”

The archaeological site of Peristeria (Περιστεριά) is strategically located 8 km NE of Kyparissia in southern Greece’s Messenia region. Peristeria was the richest urban center of Western Peloponnese during the early Mycenaean period. It was occupied until the end of the Mycenaean period (1680-1180 BC) and dominated Messenia before the Palace of Nestor in Pylos was built. Thanks to the excavations led by Spyridon Marinatos and Georgios Korres in the 1960s and 1970s, it was identified as one of the most significant centers of the Mycenaean world in mainland Greece, earning the title the “Mycenae of the Western Peloponnese”.

Peristeria, tholos tomb 1

Peristeria reached its peak during the early Mycenaean period (17th/16th century BC) and continued to thrive until the 15th century BC. During this time, the hill was fortified on its southern side with a wall, the population grew, and a powerful center emerged, ruled by prominent leaders who accumulated the region’s wealth. These rulers exhibited both outward ambition and receptiveness to the cultural trends of the era. Among the most significant discoveries at the site are three tholos tombs, another tholos tomb to the south of the hill, part of a palace, and several residential structures. The prestige and power of these local lords are reflected in the numerous elaborate offerings of gold, precious materials and everyday items, most of which were found in the vaulted tombs. These findings are now displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Chora.

The artistic themes, materials, and craftsmanship of the finds at Peristeria highlight the widespread use of gold and other imported materials, suggesting that these items were products of barter trade. They also point to Peristeria’s connections with Crete, other Mycenaean centers in mainland Greece, as well as with the broader Mediterranean and Europe. Around 1400/1300 BC, Peristeria lost its administrative significance and became a smaller settlement. It was likely not fully integrated into the sphere of influence of the Palace of Nestor, but was eventually succeeded by another Mycenaean center at the site of “Elliniko” in Mouriatada, which is identified with the Homeric Amphigenia. Evidence of habitation on the hill extends into the Hellenistic and Roman periods. (Source: Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia)

Peristeria, tholos tomb 3 (upper) and tholos tomb 2 (down)

Works planned for the Mycenaean hill site of Peristeria will stabilize the remains of the three tholos tombs and improve infrastructure for visitors, the Ministry of Culture announced last week. Commenting on the site, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said the focus of the project would be to restore and highlight the remains of the Mycenaean tholos tombs. “The goal is to protect the remains and enhance their visibility, whenever they are obscured. With the upgrade of the entrance and infrastructure of the archaeological site, these relatively unknown Mycenaean monuments will play a key role in positioning the archaeological site of Peristeria on the cultural map of Messenia”, Mendoni noted. The main visitors’ path will be accessible to both pedestrians and people with disabilities. Platforms will offer visitors a wider vista of the site and include benches. Lightning and fire protection systems, along with other necessary facility systems, will also be implemented.

Peristeria, tholos tomb 1, view of the entrance

Tholos Tomb 1 is the largest of the tombs at Peristeria. Built around 1500 BC, it was covered by a tumulus (earthen mound) supported by a surrounding wall. The tomb features a well-designed façade with full-height limestone cladding, and two Minoan symbols— a branch and a double axe— are carved on the left pillar of the entrance. The restored dome has a diameter of 12.04 meters and reaches a height of 10 meters. The lintel of the stomion consists of three large blocks weighing up to 22 tons each, whereas scholars believe that there was also a relief triangle. Although the tomb was looted in antiquity, numerous offerings were still found inside, including fragments of palace pitchers, gold leaves, a small gold votive decorated with 1,000 tiny glued beads, a gold plate with an embossed image of a procession of male figures (similar to ritual processions in Minoan art), thin gold discs, votives, and a scarab made of amethyst, along with pieces of black stone vessels.

Tholos Tomb 2 is smaller and predates the larger tholos Tomb 1. Although ii was found looted, it still yielded a variety of significant artifacts, including animal and anthropomorphic figurines, an abundance of gold leaves, fragments of palatial pitchers, and numerous objects made of gold, silver, copper, amber, and ivory.

Tholos Tomb 3, constructed in the early Mycenaean period (late 17th century BC), is the oldest tholos tomb at Peristeria. Its diameter was 6.90 meters, and only part of the dome remains, reaching a height of about 2 meters. Inside, two decorated amphorae from the early Mycenaean period were discovered, along with a number of gold offerings. Notable items include a large gold diadem with embossed decoration, three gold cups with embossed spiral designs, gold tassels, and jewelry for the deceased’s shroud made from very thin gold sheets, rosettes, newts, and owls. Hoards of semi-precious materials such as amethyst, sardius, amber, and rock crystal were also found, as well as arrowheads made of flint and obsidian and boar tusks from tooth-rimmed helmets.

(Source: Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia)

Early Mycenaean amphorae from Peristeria tholos tombs, Archaeological Museum of Chora

Amethyst necklace, 1525 BC to 1450 BC, Archaeological Museum of Chora, Peristeria, tholos tomb 2 (upper left), Gold artifacts from Peristeria tholos tombs (owl, bird, newt seashell, pendants, heart shaped gold leaf, bees), Archaeological Museum of Chora (upper right), Gold cup, 1620 BC to 1550 BC, Archaeological Museum of Chora, Peristeria, tholos tomb 3, height 14 cm (down) (photos: Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia)

The Mycenaean archaeological sites in Messenia showcase the grandeur of the region’s civilization from its earliest days. The Palace of Nestor at the acropolis of Ano Englianos, located near the town of Pylos, in the village of Chora, stands out as one of the most impressive Mycenaean palaces, not only because of its size but also due to its historical significance. Visitors can explore the throne room of the Homeric king, Nestor, the wise advisor to the Achaeans during the Trojan War. The Palace of Nestor was a bi-level building with large courtyards, abundant storage spaces, private apartments, workshops, baths, stairwells, and skylights, along with sophisticated drainage. The halls were decorated with remarkable wall paintings, while pictorial representations also adorned the palatial floors. The approximately 1000 clay tablets in Linear B script, which were brought to light during excavations in the wider area, confirm the site’s function as a financial, administrative, political and religious centre of Mycenaean Messenia. The Griffin Warrior Tomb, excavated by the University of Cincinnati-sponsored team in 2015, yielded valuable finds, including the famous Combat Agate.\

The Palace of Nestor at Ano Englianos (photos: Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia)

The Pylos Combat Agate, believed to be a Cretan work of Late Minoan I, may be the finest example of glyptic art yet discovered in a Minoan or Mycenaean context (courtesy of the University of Cincinnati)

Additionally, several vaulted tombs in sites like Ano Eglianos, Koukounara, Kaminia, Halkia, Kefalovryso, Platanovrysi, Aristomeni, Diodia, Tragana, Myrsinohori, Kato Eglianos, Volimidia, Kaplani, Voidokilia, Psari, Kampos, Koryfasio, and Malthi are must-see archaeological landmarks in Messenia (Source: Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia). Iklaina was also a prominent Mycenaean center that its memory seems to have survived for at least four centuries after its abandonment since it’s mentioned by Homer in the Iliad.

All sightseeing can be combined with the natural beauty of Messenia, including trekking routes, stunning beaches, high-quality resorts and hotels, and exquisite gastronomy.

Archaeologists Jack Davis and Sharon Stocker on the 3500-year-old Warrior’s Tomb Discovery in Pylos

I.A.

TAGS: ARCHAEOLOGY | MESSENIA | MYCENAEAN | TOURISM