Thuria

Thuria or Thouria (Ancient Greek: Θουρία) was a town of ancient Messenia, situated in the eastern part of the southern Messenian plain, upon the river Aris, and at the distance of 80 stadia from Pharae, which was about a mile (1.6 km) from the coast. It was generally identified with the Homeric Antheia, though others supposed it to be Aepeia. It must have been a place of considerable importance, since the distant Messenian Gulf was even named after it (ὁ Θουριάτης κόλπος). It was also one of the chief towns of the Lacedaemonian Perioeci after the subjugation of Messenia; and it was here that the Third Messenian War took its rise in 464 BCE. On the restoration of the Messenians by Epaminondas, Thuria, like the other towns in the country, was dependent upon the newly-founded capital Messene; but after the capture of that city by the Achaeans in 182 BCE, Thuria, Pharae, and Abia joined the Achaean League as independent members. Thuria was annexed to Laconia by Augustus; but it was restored to Messenia by Tiberius. Pausanias found two cities of this name. The Thuriatae had descended from the summit of the lofty hill of the upper city to dwell upon the plain; but without abandoning altogether the upper city, where a temple of the Syrian Goddess still stood within the town walls. There are considerable remains of both places. Those of Upper Thuria are on the hill of the village calle

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