Thuria, Messenia

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, at 80 stadia from Pharae, which was about a mile (1.6 km) from the coast. Recent excavations have revealed the theatre from the early Hellenistic period, a temple and the city walls.

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 arose in 464 BC.

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 BC, 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 original city on the acropolis is on the hill above the village of Paleókastro and divided from the range of mountains named Makryplái by a deep ravine and torrent, and which commands a fine view of the plain and gulf.