Messara: Difference between revisions
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{{ | [[File:ACOd-banner-Messara.jpg|thumb|150px|The banner of Messara]] | ||
'''Messara''' was a [[Greece|Greek]] region and city{{fact}} on the island of [[Krete]] in the 5th century BCE. | |||
'''Messara''' | |||
== | Named after the illuvial plain ruling the southern swathes of the region, Messara was the site of some of the most important cities of the [[Minoan civilization]]. [[Gortyn]], which at the time of the Peloponnesian War was still a thriving city, served as the capital of the Greek islands, while [[Knossos Palace|Knossos]], the ancient capital of the Minoans, laid in ruins.<ref name="Arid Islands: Messara">{{Ubisoft|url=game/en-us/odyssey/map/arid-islands|text=Assassin's Creed Odyssey Location: Arid Islands|subdomain=assassinscreed|archivedate=20180617164651}}</ref> | ||
== | [[Heraklion]], once a harbor of Knossos, was still a bustling port-town by the time of the Peloponnesian War, as was [[Kydonia]]. Meanwhile, the [[Phaistos Village]] on the southern reaches of the region was struggling under the attack of [[bandit]]s and [[Followers of Ares]], as well as the [[Cult of Kosmos]].<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> | ||
==History== | |||
===Mythology=== | |||
In [[Greek mythology]], the infant [[Jupiter|Zeus]] was hidden on Messara to protect him from [[Kronos]], his [[Titan]] father who had devoured Zeus' siblings. Because Zeus grew up with the entire region to himself, it later earned the epithet of "Zeus' Playground".<ref name="Arid Islands: Messara" /> | |||
The myths surrounding the [[Minotaur]] were also born in Messara. By the time of the [[Peloponnesian War]], stories about King [[Minos]], his wife [[Pasiphae]], the [[Kretan Bull]], and the [[Labyrinth of Lost Souls|labyrinth]] said to lie under the ruined Knossos were common tales. After [[Theseus]] slew the Minotaur, the region earned another epithet, "Triumph of Theseus".<ref name="ACOd" /> | |||
===Ancient history=== | |||
The Minoans made their home within the region in the distant past, building their mightiest city, Knossos, atop an even [[Isu|older]] place.<ref name="ACOd" /> | |||
===5th century BCE=== | |||
In the 5th century BCE, Messara had become its own state, with a banner of its own. Though a neighbor of [[Pephka]], the two were largely amicable towards each other.<ref name="ACOd" /> | |||
During the Peloponnesian War, Messara was [[Nation Leader|ruled]] by an ally of the [[Cult of Kosmos]]. The man was proud of both his alliance as well as the fact that his son [[Melanthos]] was a rising member in the Cult's branch that called themselves the "[[Gods of the Aegean Sea]]".<ref name="Gods of the Aegean Sea">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[The Gods of the Aegean Sea]]</ref> However, the man's rule came to an end following a plot by the Gortyn statesman [[Ptolemaios]], who hired the visiting ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] to weaken the leader and ultimately kill him.<ref name="Gortyn Out of Hand">''Assassin's Creed: Odyssey'' – [[Gortyn Out of Hand]]</ref> | |||
==Geography== | |||
Like Pephka, Messaran landscape was ruled by dust and struggling vegetation, with occasional spots of tough greenery, and rocky cliffs cracked by the blazing [[sun]].<ref name="ACOd" /> | |||
Separated into five regions of [[Fertile Battleground]], [[Little Egypt]], [[Minos' Legacy]], [[Octopus Bay]], and [[Zeus' Playground]], Messara was the largest plain on the island of Krete.<ref name="Messaran Banner">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' – Messara: "Messaran Banner"</ref> | |||
==Culture and economy== | |||
The banner of Messara reflected, like a number of other things in the region, their history. Featuring a stylized map of the fabled labyrinth designed by [[Daidalos]], the image also adorned Messaran [[coin]]s.<ref name="Messaran Banner" /> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | |||
The emblem of Messara, the stylized map of the labyrinth, also featured on the [[Adrestia#Ship designs|finery]] of the [[Piracy|pirate]] ship ''[[Iapetos (ship)|Iapetos]]'' in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''. | |||
In developing ''Odyssey'', [[Ubisoft]] seemingly had trouble distinguishing between 'Messara' and '[[Messenia]]'. All images of the Minotaur, for example, are tagged to be in Messenia instead of Messara in the [[Photo Mode]]. The [[Bandit Lord Helmet]]'s description also confuses the two, claiming that Captain [[Diokles (bandit)|Diokles]] "won't be terrorizing Messenia anymore." | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery position="center" widths="180" captionalign="center"> | |||
ACOD Messara Symbol.PNG|The symbol of Messara | |||
ACOd-Krete-Messara.jpg|Messara part of Krete | |||
</gallery> | |||
==Appearances== | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' {{1st}} | |||
*''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece]]'' | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{ACOD}} | {{ACOD}} | ||
[[Category:Greece]] | [[Category:Greece]] | ||
[[Category:Regions of Greece]] | |||
[[Category:Former kingdoms]] | |||
Latest revision as of 16:05, 6 May 2026
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Ezio, my friend! How may I be of service? This article has a lot of room for expansion. Please improve it with additional information in accordance with the Manual of Style |
Messara was a Greek region and city [citation needed] on the island of Krete in the 5th century BCE.
Named after the illuvial plain ruling the southern swathes of the region, Messara was the site of some of the most important cities of the Minoan civilization. Gortyn, which at the time of the Peloponnesian War was still a thriving city, served as the capital of the Greek islands, while Knossos, the ancient capital of the Minoans, laid in ruins.[1]
Heraklion, once a harbor of Knossos, was still a bustling port-town by the time of the Peloponnesian War, as was Kydonia. Meanwhile, the Phaistos Village on the southern reaches of the region was struggling under the attack of bandits and Followers of Ares, as well as the Cult of Kosmos.[2]
History[edit | edit source]
Mythology[edit | edit source]
In Greek mythology, the infant Zeus was hidden on Messara to protect him from Kronos, his Titan father who had devoured Zeus' siblings. Because Zeus grew up with the entire region to himself, it later earned the epithet of "Zeus' Playground".[1]
The myths surrounding the Minotaur were also born in Messara. By the time of the Peloponnesian War, stories about King Minos, his wife Pasiphae, the Kretan Bull, and the labyrinth said to lie under the ruined Knossos were common tales. After Theseus slew the Minotaur, the region earned another epithet, "Triumph of Theseus".[2]
Ancient history[edit | edit source]
The Minoans made their home within the region in the distant past, building their mightiest city, Knossos, atop an even older place.[2]
5th century BCE[edit | edit source]
In the 5th century BCE, Messara had become its own state, with a banner of its own. Though a neighbor of Pephka, the two were largely amicable towards each other.[2]
During the Peloponnesian War, Messara was ruled by an ally of the Cult of Kosmos. The man was proud of both his alliance as well as the fact that his son Melanthos was a rising member in the Cult's branch that called themselves the "Gods of the Aegean Sea".[3] However, the man's rule came to an end following a plot by the Gortyn statesman Ptolemaios, who hired the visiting misthios Kassandra to weaken the leader and ultimately kill him.[4]
Geography[edit | edit source]
Like Pephka, Messaran landscape was ruled by dust and struggling vegetation, with occasional spots of tough greenery, and rocky cliffs cracked by the blazing sun.[2]
Separated into five regions of Fertile Battleground, Little Egypt, Minos' Legacy, Octopus Bay, and Zeus' Playground, Messara was the largest plain on the island of Krete.[5]
Culture and economy[edit | edit source]
The banner of Messara reflected, like a number of other things in the region, their history. Featuring a stylized map of the fabled labyrinth designed by Daidalos, the image also adorned Messaran coins.[5]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
The emblem of Messara, the stylized map of the labyrinth, also featured on the finery of the pirate ship Iapetos in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.
In developing Odyssey, Ubisoft seemingly had trouble distinguishing between 'Messara' and 'Messenia'. All images of the Minotaur, for example, are tagged to be in Messenia instead of Messara in the Photo Mode. The Bandit Lord Helmet's description also confuses the two, claiming that Captain Diokles "won't be terrorizing Messenia anymore."
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
The symbol of Messara -
Messara part of Krete
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
- Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Assassin's Creed Odyssey Location: Arid Islands on Ubisoft's official website (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Gods of the Aegean Sea
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Gortyn Out of Hand
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Messara: "Messaran Banner"