THALAMES

History – Monuments

It is a prehestoric settlement with neolithic findings at the location Svina (Platanos in Thalames). Stone spades, tools and pseudomorphic Mycenean urns have been spotted. It be-longed to the Koino of Lakedemonion, that is the Society of Lakedemonii and the Koino of Eleftherolakonon  that is the So-ciety of Eleftherolakones.

It constituted a remarkable center of the Ancient times with temples, bronze statues, a holy spring and an oracle that used dreams to give its prophecies and attracted a multitude of people to it.

The Spartian curators came to this oracle and slept in the temple of Pasifai, who gave them dreams with the most suitable solutions to the matters of the State.

Built-in ancient stones can be still located at the spring at the center of modern Thalames. Next to the spring there is also an inscribed base that belonged to the statue of the Roman Caesar Markus Aurelius Antoninos the venerable.

At the west side of the village there is the Holy Temple of St. Vasileios of the 12th century with many notable wallpaintings. You can also see the Church of St. Ioannis (19th century) with imposing architecture, St. Nikolaos Church , the Metamorphosis

of Sotiros Church along with many other Byzantine and Post-Byzantine which impress visitors.

The house of Levi, the Stavrianeas Tower and the Gennimatas Tower are among the oldest residences that present distinctive cha-racteristics of architectural interest.

Furthermore, there is a private laographic (folklore) Museum in the area.

A few months ago the restoration works of the St. George square finished, while the exterior stone decoration is still pending.

On the 7th issue of October 1999, Maniatiki Allilegii published the com-plaint letter of  the designer architect M.Orfanos conce-rning the omissions – declinations of the approved study.

Now the denouncing writer of the letter becomes justified since even the most ignorant can see for himself the imbalance bet-ween the used materials and the surrounding area. Who is responsible for the deviations and declina-tions?

TranslatorΥs note: Pasifai was believed to be the Goddess of the Moon (Selini).

Population

The Municipality region of Thalames along with the settlement Somatiana belongs to the Municipality of Lefktro. It numbers 196 re-sidents (census of 1991) and the basic occupation of the residents is olivepicking and home livestock breeding. There is also one professional goat livestock unit.

Transport – Roads

Transport in the area takes place with KTEL long-distance buses to and from Kalamata four times a day.

Roads are not at their best condition. Due to the oncoming olivepicking period they ought to be cleaned and laid with gravel. In certain parts bushes and wadding render the pas-sage of pedestrians and machinery unapproachable.

Another serious problem is the provincial road  Kala-mataAreopolis that passes through the center of the village. Its narrowness in connection with its many turnings make it dangerous.

A new tracing of the road is needed even though this does not seem feasible at the moment.

The water system

The water supply comes from the Viros springs. It is so limited though that the residents suffer from serious water shortage during summer months.

The cemetery

The existing cemetery is considered to be too small and its extension is necessary. Its maintenance and cleaning from useless stuff would give the place a different dimension.

The olive-oil cooperative

An olive-oil cooperative has a factory at the municipality region of Nomitsi. It numbers 75-80 farmers and covers the wider area.

The municipality region of Thalames has been characterized as a traditional settlement by the Ministry of Culture and therefore it can be financed for the restoration of squares and other public areas.

The previous local authority assigned the designing of certain proposal drawings to designer offices, such as the joining of St. George square, the tidying up of the Platanos square, the extension and expansion of the cemetery and the surrounding area, the preservation and transformation of the old Elementary school into a museum. (Its present condition is unacceptable since its roof , the doors and the windows need to be replaced).

What does the Municipality intend to do on the matter? Is is it going to make use of these proposals or is it going to miss another opportunity?

Antonis Roumaneas