Mathia, Messenia Explained

Mathia
Name Local:Μαθία
Type:community
Coordinates:36.9242°N 21.8872°W
Periph:Peloponnese
Periphunit:Messenia
Municipality:Messini
Municunit:Petalidi
Population As Of:2021
Population:52

Mathia (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Μαθία, before 1927: Δράγκα - Dragka[1]) is a small village located near the top of the Mount Lycodimos. It is part of the municipal unit of Petalidi, in Messenia, Greece, 7 kilometres from the coastline. Under Ottoman occupation, it was referred to as Draga. Pirates had destroyed its original location. In the Greek War of Independence in 1821, the legendary Captain Yannis Makriyannis (Γιάννης Μαακρυγιαννης) aka Iannis Triantaphyllou and his heroic men destroyed the Turkish army. His monument stands in the village's entrance, as a reminder to the new generations.

Notes and References

  1. http://pandektis.ekt.gr/pandektis/handle/10442/168680 Name changes of settlements in Greece