The Society for Messinian Archaeological Studies (EMAS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 by the late Professor Petros G. Themelis, with the primary goal of supporting the excavation and restoration of the monuments at the archaeological site of ancient Messene by securing private funding, donations, and sponsorships. EMAS supported Professor Petros Themelis’s long-standing excavation efforts and exemplary restoration and presentation work on the monumental complex of the ancient city, for thirty years, so that ancient Messene is today one of the best-preserved, maintained, and restored ancient cities in the entire Mediterranean.
Following the unexpected death of its late founder, EMAS, feeling a great debt to his magnificent work and as a minimal tribute to his memory, set as its main and primary goal to continue contributing to the effort to highlight and preservethe brilliant excavation and restoration work achieved over the years. In this context, our Society entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Minister of Culture, Ms. Lina Mendoni, under which, starting in 2024, EMAS will focus on responsibilities related to a) the care, cleaning, and maintenance of the archaeological site of ancient Messene and its monuments, b) the preparation of studies concerning the stabilization, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the monuments at the archaeological site of ancient Messene, c) the purchase and sale of properties within the designated archaeological site of ancient Messene on behalf of the Greek State and, in this case, the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
It also engages in a) the publication of scholarly works—books focused on the study and publication of topics related to the tangible and intangible excavated heritage of the Messinian city from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods; and b) organizing lectures, educational programs, and events in honor of the late professor and scholar Petros G. Themelis.
In addition to the above, its primary and main objective has been, and continues to be, the support of artistic creation and contemporary art through both collaborations with artists and the organization of cultural and artistic events(exhibitions of painting, sculpture, and mosaics, as well as musical and theatrical performances), activities that simultaneously highlight and promote our cultural sites and monuments, as it firmly believes that monuments must be brought to life and given a second life, through human presence and through dialogue with art, music, and theater.
