one of the ancient divisions of the Peloponnese in Greece, was bounded on the N. by Elis and Arcadia, on the E. by Laconia, on the S. by the Messenian Gulf, and W. by the Ionian Sea. The area of the country is estimated by Clinton at 1162 square miles. The principal mountains in Messenia are those in the N., near the sources of the Neda and Pamisos, from which one ridge extends to the W. along the Neda, turns to the S., and terminates at the promontory of Acritas; and another chain of mountains stretches E., and joins the ridge of Taygetus. Its chief rivers are the Pamisos (Pirnazzo) and the Neda (Buzi). The cities worthy of notice were—Messene, Stenyclarus, Ithome, and Ira, all inland; Corone (Petalidi), on the Messenian Gulf; and Methone (Modon), Pylos, and Aulon, all on the Ionian Sea. Messenia is described by ancient writers as having a rich and fertile soil, and a mild and temperate climate; and modern travellers confirm the remark of Pausanias, who calls Messenia the richest country in the Peleponnese. This country is said to have been first inhabited by the Leleges under Polycaon, the son of Lelex, who called it Messenia, after his wife Messene. After more than a century the country came into the possession of Æolians under Perieres, son of Æolus, and the western part was occupied by Neleus, an Æolian from Thessaly. When the Dorians conquered the Peloponnese, Messenia fell to the lot of Creophontes, who established his capital at Stenyclarus, and divided his kingdom into five parts. Soon afterwards, however, the richness and fertility of Messenia excited the cupidity of the Spartans, and after numerous disputes and incursions on both sides an open war at length broke out, which is known in Greek history as the first Messenian war. This war lasted for twenty years (743–723 B.C.), and during its continuance the Messenians under Aristodemus defended themselves against the Spartans in the fortress of Ithome; but this was finally taken by the Spartans, and the Messenians became helots or slaves of the conquerors. After remaining for some time in this condition, they made an effort to regain their independence in 685 B.C.; and thus began the second Messenian war, which lasted till 668 B.C. The leader of the Messenians on this occasion was Aristomenes; and it was in this war that the Spartans received the assistance of Tyrrus from Athens, to animate by his warlike songs the courage of their soldiers. When their country was a second time subdued by the capture of Ira, a large body of Messenians fled from their country, and settled partly at Rhegium in Italy, and partly in various parts of Greece. Others remained at home, and became helots. Another attempt was made by them to regain their freedom in 464 B.C., when Sparta was destroyed by an earthquake. In this third war the fortress of Ithome was again occupied by the Messenians; but after a contest of ten years was surrendered to the Spartans. In 455 B.C. the Messenians were allowed by the Spartans to retire from their fortress, and were settled by the Athenians in Naupactus, a town which the latter had recently obtained from the Locrians. From this place the Messenians were expelled in 404 B.C., at the end of the Peloponnesian war; but they were restored to Messenia by Epaminondas in 389 B.C., where they continued independent until the conquest of Greece by the Romans in 146 B.C.