Consolidation work at the archaeological site began as early as 1988, but the intensive restoration of the monuments of ancient Messene—which had been unearthed by the lateProfessor Petros Themelis, director of the Messene project (1986–2023), and his team, have been carried out since 2000, thanks to funding from European Union programs (NSRF) as well as private donations (EMAS). Along with the restorations, landscaping work has been carried out—and continues to be carried out—around the monuments and throughout the site in general. The restoration of the monuments was based on approved plans, making use of authentic, ancient materials for the most part. New material was used in a small percentage of cases (primarily for structural stability) and in such a way that, on the one hand, it is fully integrated into the monument and, on the other hand, it is distinguishable from the ancient material.
Over the years (2000–2023), restoration and landscaping work was carried out on nearly all the monuments in the area (in the city’s agora with its public and sacred monuments, in the northern stoa of the Agora, in the Asclepieion complex, in the Roman villas of the ancient city, at the Hierothysio, at the summit sanctuaries of Limnatis and the sanctuary of Eileithyia and the Kuretes (which, according to recent research, has been identified as the Sanctuary of Demeter), as well as restoration work involving the nearly complete reconstruction of a very large portion of the monuments at the archaeological site: the Theater, the Arsinoy Fountain, the Propylaea of the Gymnasium, the western stoa of the Gymnasium, the stoas of the stadium and the cavea, the Palestra, the K3 burial monuments and the Mausoleum of the Saithids, as well as the Arcadian Gate (Europa Nostra Award).
As part of the development and enhancement of the archaeological site, access paths and shelters for visitors to rest and view the ancient monuments were also created, and informational signs were installed at all the monuments. The archaeological site was fenced off, and a ticket office and refreshment stand were built at the entrance. In addition to the above, through EMAS, land purchases continue to this day within the walled area—land necessary for the completion of the excavation project and the redevelopment of the site— as well as the publication of books, lectures, and guided tours, all designed to showcase the archaeological and restoration work in the best possible light.
A brief overview of the studies and conservation, stabilization, and restoration carried out by the director of the Messene excavation and restoration project, Professor Petros Themelis, and his team (1986–2023).
1. Stabilization of the Theater’s Gate, Athanasios Nakasis, Kaiti Toganidou, and Chr. Stamatopoulou, 1988
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/ANAST/A/41/3973
Approval Date: January 21, 1988
Execution Period: 1989
2. Construction of a drainage trench, a collection ditch, and a drainage conduit to prevent water from flowing through the archaeological site of Messene
. Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/ANASTIL/L/169/13567, Approval Date: March 28, 1989
, Period of Implementation: 1990–1992
3. Study for the partial restoration of the Odeon of Ancient Messene, Panagiotis Birtachas, Architectural Engineer
, Approval Protocol No.: 471/31613
, Approval Date: July 9, 1991
, Implementation Period: 1997–1999
4. Study on the Stabilization of the Rock Formation at Messini, Dr. M. Arvanitakis and Associates
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/DAAM/581/41018
Approval Date: September 25, 1991
5. Study on the restoration of the northwest corner of the Odeon in the Asclepieion complex of Ancient Messene, Panagiotis Birtachas, Architectural Engineer Approval Protocol
Number: YPPO/DAAM/164/13028
Date of Approval: March 15, 1995
Period of Execution: 1998–2002
6. Study for the restoration and reconstruction of the Arcadian Gate and the associated wall of ancient Messene. Eleni-Anna Xlepa and Kostas Papantonopoulos, 2000
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/DAAM/1652/66419
Approval Date: December 18, 2000
Implementation Period: 2003–2008
7. Restoration Program for the Stadium of Ancient Messene and the Stoas
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/DAAM/1727/58238
Approval Date: October 30, 2001
Implementation Period: 2003–2009
8. Restoration Study of the Stadium of Ancient Messene and its
Stoas Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/DAAM/696/32253
Approval Date: June 9, 2003
Implementation Period: 2004–2009
9. Structural study for the restoration of the Heroon-Mausoleum of the Saitids, Kostas Zambas, Civil Engineer. Also contributing: Gerasimos Thomas (MSc in Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens) for on-site documentation and initial designs, Irini Doudoumi and Efstratios Pavlidis (Architectural Engineers) for the final designs, May 2003
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOD/DAAM/2217/57338
Approval Date: October 23, 2003
Implementation Period: 2004–2009
10. Study on the design of access routes and the open space in front of the archaeological site
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/GDAPK/ARCH/A1/F7/16246/1124,
Approval Date: 08/2004
Implementation Period: 2004–2011
11. Restoration study of the K3 funerary monument at Ancient Messene.
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/DAAM/311/23941
Approval Date: March 14, 2006
Implementation Period: 2007–2015
12. Construction of a protective canopy over the marble artifact hall at the archaeological site, 2008
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/L.M.M.P.K./504/26392
Approval Date: March 11, 2008
Implementation Period: 2009–2010
13. Study on the stabilization and partial restoration of the theater at Ancient Messene
Approval Protocol Number: YPPO/DAAM/421/23525
Approval Date: September 15, 2009
Implementation Period: 2009–2012
14. Study for the restoration of the retaining walls along the aisles of the Theater of Ancient Messene, Niki Apostolou and Fotini Beliou, Architectural Engineers
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/DAAM/1704/74906
Approval Date: August 29, 2010
Implementation Period: 2010–2012
15. Restoration Study for the Northeast Corner of the Gymnasium of Ancient Messene
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/DAAM/1705/74910
Approval Date: August 29, 2010
Implementation Period: 2011–2013
16. Restoration study of Sanctuary 10 at the archaeological site of Ancient Messene.
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/DAAM/1730/76048
Approval Date: October 19, 2010
Implementation Period: 2011–2016
17. Stabilization of Tower 18 (40)
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/DAAM/2257/108286, Approval Date: November 22, 2010
Implementation Period: 2011–2016
18. Study for the restoration of sections of the auditorium of the theater at Ancient Messene
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/DAAM/113/8948
Approval Date: March 14, 2011
Implementation Period: 2011–2012
19. Study for the conservation and restoration of the northern stoa in the marketplace of Ancient Messene, Peloponnese
Region Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/SYN/F81/3798/88620
Approval Date: September 20, 2011
Implementation Period: 2012–2016
20. Construction of a floor in the Roman proscenium (Pulpitum) of the theater at Ancient Messene; Design: Niki Apostolou, Architectural Engineer; Fotini Belliou, Architectural Engineer; Vasilis Kasimis, Civil Engineer
; Approval Protocol Number: YPPOT/DAAM/857/58156
Approval Date: June 19, 2012
Not carried out
21. Mineralogical–Petrographic Study of the submitted sample, Department of Mineralogy–Petrology
Application/Ref. No. IGME 3437/December 21, 2012 / Protocol
No. 3437, Athens, January 10, 2013
22. Study on the partial roofing of the eastern and northern porticoes at the northeast corner of the Gymnasium of Ancient Messene, Municipality of Messene, Peloponnese Region. Themistoklis Bilis, Architectural Engineer, Date of submission: November 9, 2013
Reasons for roofing the northeast corner of the Gymnasium of Ancient Messene with self-supporting metal elements: (1) both the colonnades and the walls of the porticoes will be protected at their point of contact at the northeast corner of the Gymnasium, where they are preserved at a sufficient height; and (2) it will provide an ideal setting for housing and displaying stone architectural elements and inscriptions unearthed at the Gymnasium, as well as serving as a visitor information point, protected from adverse weather conditions such as heat waves and rain.
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOA/GDAMTE/DAAM/TMKEM/47006/5754/425/90
Approval Date: March 21, 2014
Implementation Period: 2015–2021
23. Study for the restoration and reconstruction of the western Doric colonnade of the Agora in Ancient Messene, by Fotini Belliou, Architectural Engineer, and George Ninos, Architectural Engineer
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOA/GDAPK/DIPKA/TPKXMAE/F8/230370/135380/11559/3367
Date of Approval: November 30, 2015
Project Period: 2016–2019
24. Restoration Study for the West Portico of the Gymnasium, Themistoklis Bilis, Architectural Engineer, & Maria Magnisali, Architectural Engineer, 2015
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOA/GDAMTE/DAAM/TMAM-260785/22580/1703/535
Approval Date: August 31, 2016
Project Duration: 2017–2021
25. Study on the electrical lighting of the section of the north and east porticoes of the Gymnasium of Ancient Messene to be converted into a building. Approval Protocol
Number: YPPOA/GDAMTE/DAAM/TMAM/314536/30376/1368/466
Approval Date: September 25, 2017
In progress
26. Geotechnical Study of the West Stoa of the Gymnasium of Ancient Messene, EDAFOS S.A., 2017–2018.
Approval Protocol Number: YPPOA/GDAMTE/DAAM/TMAM/120197/13053/465/187
Approval Date: May 10, 2018
Project Period: 2017
27. Preliminary Study for the Restoration of the Roman Baths of Ancient Messene, Themistoklis Bilis, Architectural Engineer, & Maria Magnisali, Architectural Engineer, 2025–2026
KAS Approval Ref. No.: 19336/17-01-2026
