Ancient Sites in the Surrounding Area
Archaeological landmarks around Megalopoli fall into two distinct categories: the Archaeological Museum is in the city center, while ancient sites are in the surrounding area. Ancient Lycosura is said to be 12 km from Megalopoli. This distinction is useful for planning a trip: the museum is a central point of reference, while the archaeological sites are destinations in the surrounding area. Megalopoli therefore offers a clearly defined cultural focus, divided between the museum and ancient sites.
The archaeological site of ancient Lycosura includes a temple and an enclosure. Its features include the large, two-tiered Megarion, an altar where official ceremonies were held. There is also a large stoa and the remains of baths. Other altars are dedicated to Despoina, Demeter, and the Great Mother. The ceremonial association belongs to the Megarion, while the three other altars are named separately. The surviving ruins of Lycosura date from the 2nd century BC, providing a historical context for the site.
Another archaeological site in the surrounding area is ancient Megali Poli. It includes the Thersilion bouleuterion and the remains of the ancient agora, with sanctuaries of Zeus and Soter. The Philippeios Stoa and the Stoa Myropolis are also mentioned. By comparison, the temple, enclosure, and Megarion are the main features described at Lycosura, while the bouleuterion and agora stand out at Megali Poli. The ancient theater of Megalopoli is another archaeological landmark in the surrounding area; it was considered the largest theater in the ancient Greek world.
The Archaeological Museum in the City Center
The Archaeological Museum of Megalopoli was founded in 1987 and is housed in a building in the city center. Its collection includes architectural fragments and pottery sherds from the archaeological site of Megalopoli, as well as objects from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The museum therefore brings together material directly related to the archaeological site and objects from two historical periods. Unlike the ruins in the surrounding area, the collection is the main point of reference here.
Distinguishing Between Sites and Dates
The names of the stoas also help distinguish between the sites: a large stoa is mentioned at Lycosura, while the Philippeios Stoa and the Stoa Myropolis are at the site of ancient Megali Poli. The dates also refer to different things: the 2nd century BC dates the surviving ruins of Lycosura, 1987 marks the founding of the museum, and the Hellenistic and Roman periods provide the historical context for objects in the museum collection. The theater, meanwhile, is described in terms of its historical standing: it was considered the largest theater in the ancient Greek world.
If you are planning to visit the museum or the ancient sites, check current access arrangements in advance.
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