Messa or Messe ( grc, Μέσση) was one of the nine cities of

ancient Laconia Laconia or Lakonia ( el, Λακωνία, , ) is a historical and administrative region of Greece located on the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparta. The word ''laconic''—to speak in a blunt, con ...

enumerated in the

Catalogue of Ships The Catalogue of Ships ( grc, νεῶν κατάλογος, ''neōn katálogos'') is an epic catalogue in Book 2 of Homer's ''Iliad'' (2.494–759), which lists the contingents of the Achaean army that sailed to Troy. The catalogue gives the na ...

, in the ''

Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...

'' by

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

, who gives it the epithet of πολυτρήρων, 'abounding in pigeons'.

Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...

says that the position of Messa was unknown; but

Pausanias Pausanias ( el, Παυσανίας) may refer to: *Pausanias of Athens, lover of the poet Agathon and a character in Plato's ''Symposium'' *Pausanias the Regent, Spartan general and regent of the 5th century BC *Pausanias of Sicily, physician of th ...

mentions a town and harbour named Messa, which is identified by most modern scholars with the Homeric town. This Messa is situated on the western coast of

Mani Mani may refer to: Geography * Maní, Casanare, a town and municipality in Casanare Department, Colombia * Mani, Chad, a town and sub-prefecture in Chad * Mani, Evros, a village in northeastern Greece * Mani, Karnataka, a village in Dakshi ...

, between Hippola and

Oetylus Oetylus or Oitylos ( grc, Οἴτυλος), also known as Beitylus or Beitylos (Βείτυλος), or Bityla (Βίτυλα), was a town of ancient Laconia on the eastern side of the Messenian Gulf, at the modern settlement of Oitylo. Pausanias says ...

; and the cliffs in the neighbourhood are said to abound in wild pigeons. Its site is located near the modern Cape Tigani.

References

Populated places in ancient Laconia Former populated places in Greece Locations in the Iliad {{AncientLaconia-geo-stub