The Ithomaia () was the main annual festival of the

Messenians Messenia () was an ancient district of the southwestern Peloponnese, more or less overlapping the modern Messenia region of Greece. To the north it had a border with Elis along the Neda river. From there the border with Arcadia ran along the to ...

in antiquity.

Description

It was a festival dedicated to Zeus Ithomatas, whose sanctuary was located at the peak of Mount Ithome in

Messenia Messenia or Messinia ( ; ) is a regional unit (''perifereiaki enotita'') in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, in Greece. Until the implementation of the Kallikratis plan on 1 January 2011, Messenia was a prefecture (''nomos' ...

. There was also an oracle there, the base of whose tripod is embedded in the southeastern corner of the Church of the Panagia of Voulkaniotissa, located in the upper monastery of Voulkano, also known as the summit monastery or the katholikon of Voulkano, which was built in the 7th century. The Ithomaia festival included athletic competitions, musical contests, theatrical performances, and various cultural and artistic events. The entire ceremony centered around the chryselephantine statue of Zeus Ithomatas, where the Nine Muses would bathe it in the klepsydra fountain, which still flows with water today. The legendary lyre player

Thamyris In Greek mythology, Thamyris (Ancient Greek: Θάμυρις, ''Thámuris'') was a Thrace, Thracian singer. He is notable in Greek mythology for reportedly being a lover of Hyacinth (mythology), Hyacinth and thus to have been the first male to hav ...

also participated in the Ithomaia. He sought to compete against the Nine Muses in singing, but in their arrogance, they blinded him. As he returned to his homeland in

Thrace Thrace (, ; ; ; ) is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe roughly corresponding to the province of Thrace in the Roman Empire. Bounded by the Balkan Mountains to the north, the Aegean Sea to the south, and the Black Se ...

, while crossing the river in the region, he threw his

lyre The lyre () (from Greek λύρα and Latin ''lyra)'' is a string instrument, stringed musical instrument that is classified by Hornbostel–Sachs as a member of the History of lute-family instruments, lute family of instruments. In organology, a ...

into it, and thus the river was named Valyra. In later times, this name was given to the town of Valyra, through which the river flows.Stephanus of Byzantium, section § I329.1 After the destruction of Ancient

Messene Messene (Greek language, Greek: Μεσσήνη 𐀕𐀼𐀙 ''Messini''), officially Ancient Messene, is a local community within the regional unit (''perifereiaki enotita'') of Messenia in the region (''perifereia'') of Peloponnese (region), P ...

by Alaric, the Ithomaia festival of antiquity came to an end.

References

Bibliography

* * {{improve categories, date=October 2024 Festivals in ancient Greece Festivals of Zeus Ancient Messenia