Alas, these are but reconstructed scenes of ancient Iklaina, which, however, would not have been possible to envisage without the valuable work done at the site by Michael Cosmopoulos, a Greek professor of archaeology at the University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) in the United States, who spearheaded the excavations here. The first phase of the dig – which brought up a piece of a stone tablet inscribed in Linear B, the earliest known form of Greek writing, which cast light on how what was possibly the first federal state in the Western world was run – has now been completed.

Phase 2, Cosmopoulos tells Kathimerini, involves the restoration of the palace and other structures and transforming the site into an archaeological park. “There will be two routes, one running inside the enclosure and the other raised above it so that visitors can view the excavated area when it is closed,” he says. Visitors will also be able to download a mobile app that will show them what different parts of the town looked like 3,000 years ago.

“The restoration plan has been completed and once the necessary licenses are issued by the Culture Ministry we will start the work – after finding the funding – while excavations carry on,” says Cosmopoulos.

Iklaina, a palace complex so important in its day that it was mentioned by Homer in “The Iliad” 500 years after it was destroyed, experienced its heyday at the same time as the Palace of Nestor some 10 kilometers away, from 1500 to 1250 BC. The excavation, carried out under the aegis of the Archaeological Society at Athens with funding from UMSL and the US National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society and the Institute for Aegean Prehistory – “The Greek state hasn’t had to spend a single penny,” says Cosmopoulos – began in 1999 with the surface study. Now, 20 years on, we know that the Mycenaean city was separated into three sections – administrative, residential and manufacturing – pointing to an advanced economic and social structure.

“A huge cyclopean platform that supported a structure of two or three stories was found inside the administrative quarter, and among its ruins we discovered some 2,000 fragments of a mural depicting nautical scenes, ladies of the court and animals. Around it, there were paved streets – still in an excellent state of conservation – public squares, an open-air sanctuary and a second monumental structure,” says Cosmopoulos.

“Some of the houses outside the administrative quarter were small villas with hearths surrounded by four columns. The amazing thing is that we had a central sewerage system this early in history, with sewers and an irrigation system of clay pipes. The workshops date toward the end of Iklaina’s heyday.”

According to Cosmopoulos, the Linear B tablet was one of the key discoveries. Dating from 1300 to 1350 BC, he says, “it is the oldest Linear B tablet ever found, some 100 to 150 years older than those found at Nestor’s Palace [1200 BC]. As a state record, it reveal the existence of the independent state of Iklaina.”

In 1200 BC, the state of Pylos was made up of two provinces divided into independent regions: nine in the western province and seven in the east, all ruled by the Palace of Nestor. “Iklaina was the capital of one of the regions, the only one to reveal a settlement but also the existence of two levels of government, central and regional, as is the case in modern federal states. Iklaina was occupied by the ruler of Nestor’s Palace around 1250 BC. The administrative center was destroyed by the invaders and only the workshops survived, meaning that it was demoted to a manufacturing hub. These were then abandoned in 1200 BC with the destruction of Nestor’s Palace,” explains the professor.

“All of this is of interest to us today because it tells us about the birth of the earliest states in mainland Greece and Europe, meaning in Western civilization. You know, we live at a time when the institution of the state regulates almost every aspect of our lives, but this was not always the case. This transition from a stateless world to one where the state is the dominant political institution is fascinating,” says Cosmopoulos. “We are not cut off from the past but the last link in a very long chain, and the only way to understand our world is to discover how it was created.”

Keeping the spark of Hellenism alive

Michael Cosmopoulos is a fellow of the Academy of Science of St Louis and the Royal Society of Canada, a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and a corresponding member of the Athens Academy.

He has authored more than 15 books, the most recent being “Iklaina: The Monumental Buildings,” published by the Archaeological Society at Athens in 2018. He has also published more than 100 studies in four languages, including a recent one on Iklaina in the American Journal of Archaeology. He has received three awards for his teaching, delivered more than 200 lectures and directed two other major excavations and training programs, at Oropos and Elefsina in Attica.

Archaeology, however, is not his only field of interest, as he is behind the increase in attendance at the University of Missouri-St Louis’ Greek Studies program from just 15 students to more than 300 a year by expanding its scope from simply teaching the language. He has also established Greek culture centers in the Canadian province of Manitoba and in St Louis, and organized dozens of conferences, events and programs.

“Students from a variety of disciplines come and want to attend classes in our country; so far there have been more than 1,000 young people,” says Cosmopoulos. “There’s a very vibrant Greek community in St Louis that is thirsty for Greek traditions and customs, even though they are third- and fourth-generation Greeks,” says the professor, adding that he is currently conducting a study into this community.

Cosmopoulos has also created an archive that belongs to the university and has ensured the survival of the Greek Studies Chair and the Greek culture centers with endowments from the community.

“We are fighting to keep the spark of Hellenism alive, but this requires coordination between all the different Greek studies programs in the United States and a plan for the next 50 years, as well as an agency here in Greece that will support Greek studies abroad,” he says.

Source: Kathimerini

The annual event was recently bestowed with a Gold Award at the Tourism Awards, the highest distinction in Greek tourism. Navarino Challenge enriches its program this year with innovative activities at the Municipality of Pylos-Nestor aiming at breaking the record of 7,500 athletes, visitors and volunteers.

The event’s enriched 3-day programme includes:

Open Water Swimming

Open water swimming enthusiasts will have the chance to compete in a chip-timed event on Saturday October 12, at the beautiful Navarino bay from the scenic Pylos harbour, covering the unique 1 mile (1.6 km) route of the open water swimming race by Vikos. The route has been designed by the national federal technical coach, Nikos Gemelos (the coach who has earned countless Olympic and world-class honours in open water swimming for Greece).

Challenge The Wind – Sailing Races

An interclub sailing race of triangle course with OPTIMIST and LASER 4.7 boats will be held for the first time from October 11-13. The race will be co-organized with the Maritime Athletic Pylos Association “Nestor”, under the aegis of the Hellenic Sailing Federation.

To be held on the second weekend of October, “Challenge The Wind”, as its name suggests, hopes to become an annual tradition and sporting benchmark for sailing competitions in the coming years.

Sea Κayaking in the Navarino Bay

The activity, to be held for the first time on Saturday October 12, will start from the port of Pylos at Poseidonia, and head to the island of Sphacteria, supported by Explore Messinia. Participants will paddle towards the inside of the bay exploring the coastline of Sphacteria.

Basketball camp with Joe Arlauckas

Basketball will be the sport of honour at the Pylos indoor basketball court.

On Sunday October 13, children from Pylos and Messinia, aged between 8 and 16 will have the opportunity to attend basketball lessons for free by the Euroleague legend Joe Arlaukas, while on Saturday, October 12, a basketball clinic will be held at Costa Navarino.

Kids’ Athletics at Pylos Square

Kids’ Athletics returns for another year to Pylos Square on Saturday October 12, with Periklis Iakovakis, the Olympic & World Champion in 400m. hurdles, as its ambassador. This is an activity that aims at getting children acquainted with track and field sports.

The Kids’ Athletics activities includes long jump, the sport of the world famous Olympic champion and legendary Kostis Tsiklitiras, who was born in Pylos, Messinia.

A Visit to the house of the Olympic champion Tsiklitiras

On Saturday October 12, 2019, visitors to Pylos can visit the refurbished family home of the Olympic champion, Kostis Tsiklitiras, now a museum housing a Library and Art Gallery with rare documents, paintings, historical maps and many interesting exhibits.

Traditional local flavours

On Saturday October 12, athletes and visitors can partake of Messinia’s rich culinary heritage as Pylos comes alive with booths celebrating local flavours: traditional lalagia, loukoums, sesame seed bars and nuts with honey, created by food blogger Mamatsita, Poseidonia and Pylos Poems.

Sunset Beach Yoga at Voidokilia

On Friday, October 11, instructor Dimitris Moros and FitnessArt hold sunset beach yoga sessions by Messinian Spa to the backdrop of the mythical Voidokilia, Messinia’s famed beach that traces the letter Omega of the Greek alphabet (written as “Ω”).

30% discount on registrations until 31/5

Runners and swimmers can act immediately to take advantage of the early bird offer by registering to a 30% discount until 31 May (children’s participation is free of charge). Entries for the award-winning sporting event are underway and interested parties can take part by completing the special form here.

Pre-sale is also available online via www.viva.gr or by phone at 11876 as well as at all Viva pre-sale points.

For more information on accommodation packages in the region visit VitaNTravel: http://vitantravel.gr/

“Navarino Challenge” has joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2019 programme of the European Commission and is under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports.

Navarino Challenge is co-organized by Costa Navarino, The Westin Resort Costa Navarino and Active Media Group with the support of the Municipalities of Pylos-Nestor and Trifilia.

Greece conjures up images of sandy beaches under blue skies, fresh and nourishing cuisine, and whitewashed houses. It is also the country where the Olympic spirit was born, making it a fitting host for a triathlon.

IRONMAN 70.3 Greece, Costa Navarino will take place in April, with the pleasant temperatures of spring bringing the ideal climate for racing. This unique race will take place in the Peloponnese—in the area around Costa Navarino and the Messenia regions. This area boasts one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Mediterranean, combined with a remarkable cultural heritage spanning 4,500 years. Visitors can explore monuments and archeological sites from every period of the Peloponnesian history, surrounded by a landscape of mountains, forests, and rivers.

Athletes will embark on a 1.9-km swim in the Ionian Sea in front of the pristine beach of Navarino Dunes. They will ride through ancient olive groves and pine-covered hills, while never losing site of the deep blue of the Ionian Sea. Leaving Soulinari they will head to Gargaliani village and back to Costa Navarino. The bike course is a challenging, two-lap course over excellent paved roads. Finally, the half marathon will start from The Westin Resort Costa Navarino towards Omega (Voidokilia) beach—a sweeping semicircle beach of light golden sand. The beach is right next to Gialova lagoon, a protected Natura 2000 site. The course continues to the lagoon over the village’s cobblestone roads before heading back to the finish line at The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort at Costa Navarino.

For the second consecutive year, the reenactment of the Navarino Battle was the peak of the celebrations, in the very city that linked its name to the renaissance of the Hellenic State. Thank you all for doing us the honor of spectating and living with us this amazing Cultural experience. You give us the power to move forward, and we will be expecting you again in 2019!

Grand Sponsor:

Costa Navarino

Official Sponsors:

National Bank NBG Group

Κ.Ε.Δ.Ε

ΠΕΔ Πελοποννήσου

Terna S.A GEK Group

Μεσόγειος Α.Ε.

Communication Sponsors:

SKAI.gr

Official Supporters:

Super Market – Αφοί Παναγιωτόπουλοι

Media & Marketing Supporters:

Active Media

Assisted by :

Lafazanis Winery

Traditional Boat Association of Greece

With the magnificent boats:

RHEA – Topsail Schooner, Belle Lurette & Viking

Τοπικές επιχειρήσεις Πύλου & Γιάλοβας

Production Credits

Audio/Visual Effects :

Galakteros Event Production

Fireworks Special Effects :

Πυροτεχνήματα Nanos Fireworks

Audio/Visual Coverage:

Best Tv Kalamata

Media&Marketing : Indevin creative agency

Art & Concerts events:

Klaudia Delmer & Mottet

Πολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Πύλου Σύλλογος Κυριών Πύλου

Ναυτικος Αθλητικος Συλλογος Πυλου ” Νεστωρ”

Photo&Video Credits : Dm Clauss