Troezenia-Methana

Troezenia and the Methana peninsula are located in the north-eastern Peloponnese, surrounded by the Saronic Gulf and the Gulf of Epidaurus, while they are about 32 and 28 nautical miles from Piraeus respectively . The impassable mountain masses to the south and west of Troezenia made communication between these areas with the rest of the Peloponnese difficult over time; at the same time, the available sea routes favoured the development of relations with the Argosaronic islands and Attica as early as the Bronze Age .

In the Iron Age, the ancient town of Troezen with Pogon (Vidi), its port, became a considerable naval force from time to time . Its territory included the Methana peninsula and, for a time, Hydra . In the 9th century BC Troezenian seafarers founded Halicarnassus (Bodrum) and Myndos (Gümüslük) in south-western Asia Minor, while around 720 BC they co-founded, with the Achaeans, Sybaris in Magna Graecia and probably founded Poseidonia a century later . During the Persian wars, Troezen’s contribution to the naval war was quite remarkable . The city participated with five ships in the naval battles of Artemisium and Salamis in 480 BC, while the port of Pogon served as the assembly point of the Greek fleet before sailing for Salamis; also, Troezenian warriors distinguished themselves in the naval battle of Mycale, in 479 BC, which neutralized the threat of the Persian fleet in the Aegean .

Over the years, Troezen gradually lost its power and, at about the end of the 4th century BC, Methana became independent . During the Chremonidean War (267-261 BC), the alliance of Athens, Sparta and other cities of southern Greece with Ptolemy II of Egypt was

Panoramic view of the Methana town

confronted with Antigonus Gonatas of Macedon; Ptolemaic forces occupied the Methana peninsula, in order to use it as a military and naval base for the control of the Saronic . The peninsula remained under Ptolemaic rule for more than a century, while its naval base was located very close to the location of modern Methana; remains of the Ptolemaic port fortifications are preserved mainly on the islet of Agii Anargyri .

Following the Roman and Middle Byzantine periods, the Late Middle era was a turbulent period of insecurity, raids and population decline . The few travellers who passed through Troezenia and Methana during the Ottoman period mentioned the insular character of local culture and lifestyle .

After the establishment of the Greek State in 1830, the improvement of coastal shipping strengthened the existing economic and social ties of Troezenia and Methana with the Argosaronic islands and Attica . For example, the journey by sailing ship from Methana to Piraeus took five to eight hours in the 19th century, but only three hours by steamship in the early 20th century; by contrast, a journey by road to Nafplion

required at least a day . At that time, the inhabitants were mostly working in agriculture, fishing, and animal husbandry . Nowadays, Galatas in Troezenia and Methana are safe ports with plenty of traffic,with the journey from Piraeus taking one to two hours, depending on the type of boat and the exact destination . Marine tourism has developed significantly and there are considerable prospects for improvement . In the field of nautical sports, the Marine Club of Methana “Nereis” has demonstrated significant activity in the last two decades . Also, in 2013 and 2014, the 1st and 2nd Maritime Show of Traditional Boats were organized in the port of Methana, where many preserved and seaworthy old boats of various types, typical examples of the Greek traditional shipbuilding, were presented . Moreover, many residents are still engaged in fishing and related cultural events are regularly held, such as the “Fisherman’s Festival” in Vathi, Methana . Methana features three fishing harbors (Kounoupitsa, Vathi, Methana port), while TroezeView of Methana on nia one (Dryopi) . A professional fishing associapostcard dating from tion is active in the area, while 44 fishing boats Interwar period use the Methana port . [DK]