A comprehensive work on the cultural continuity of Messinia, which meets the requirements of scientific research, was undoubtedly a desideratum. The extensive effort presented in this edition aims to fill an existing gap and highlight the main expressions of the history of this ancient region of our land and its significant contribution to the cultural development of Hellenism.

The sixteen presentations are presented in the form of a living journey, which starts from prehistoric times and continues through Antiquity, Byzantium, the Latin rule, the Ottoman rule, the Revolution, and ends in the modern era.

The remarkable archaeological remains, objects of prehistoric, classical, and Byzantine archaeology, with a focus on Ancient Messene, the famous Byzantine churches, and the unique fortresses of the region, are highlighted. The fundamental milestones of the historical course of Messinia are depicted in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the pre-revolutionary period, and the Regeneration, with a focus on the beginning of the Revolution, the heroic Mani, and the culmination of the Struggle in Navarino.

The multifaceted intellectual dynamism of Messinia is documented with studies referring to the origin and evolution of Language and Philology, culminating in the famous tablets of Linear B, as well as the development of philosophical-theological reflection and musical education. The Messinian society itself emerges vividly in presentations on aspects of popular life (housing, agriculture, social and intellectual life) and rural areas, such as the significant cultivation of raisins, which constitutes a significant economic source for the inhabitants. The significant architecture of Kalamata, with its imposing mansions and neoclassical buildings, as well as the urban settlement after the earthquakes, which is thoroughly researched, mark the trends and choices of the Messinians in the crucial issue of urban aesthetics and respect for traditions. [...]

(from the preface by Georgia Xanthaki-Karamanou)