Andania is a rural lowland settlement of rich historical importance for the wider region, as it was the first capital of the Messenians, founded by the mythical king Polykaonas.During the descent of the Dorians to the Peloponnese around the 12th century BC, the region of Andania continued to be the epicentre of Messinia and was chosen by the Heraclid king Cresphontes as the seat of his palace. Until the Second Messenian War (685 – 668 BC), the city flourished and had great religious significance since the Andanian Mysteries, which Pausanias considered second in order of modesty after the Eleusinian Mysteries, were celebrated there.
It was also the birthplace of the legendary Aristomenes, the second greatest hero of antiquity after Achilles, according to Sarantos Kargakos. Aristomenes led the revolt against the Spartans and organised unprecedented for the time raids on Lacedaemon. But when the war took a negative turn for the Messenians, Aristomenes decided to abandon the physically unfortified position of Andania and shut himself up in the castle of Eira, above present-day Kakaletris. After 11 years of siege the castle was captured and Messinia was conquered, which remained enslaved to the Spartans until the battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, while at the end of the 2nd century AD Pausanias finds only ruins of the city.
