An Early End to Antiquity and the Dawn of a New Era: Ancient Messene in the 4th Century CE

Speaker:
Nikos Tsivikis
Associate Researcher, National Hellenic Research Foundation,
Specialist in Byzantine Material Culture and Urban Transformation

When:
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 18:00

Where:
Deree Faculty Lounge, The American College of Greece

Organized by:
The Institute for Hellenic Culture and the Liberal Arts – The American College of Greece

About the seminar:

The fourth century CE represents a pivotal moment in the history of Roman provincial Greece, marked by profound religious, social, and cultural transformations. This seminar explores the evolving landscape of ancient Messene in southeastern Peloponnese during this critical period, examining the lived realities of a community navigating the transition from classical antiquity to the early Byzantine world.

By drawing on recent archaeological evidence, the seminar investigates the complex dynamic between traditional cult practices, shifting imperial ideologies, and the emerging presence of early Christian communities. At the center of this inquiry lies the catastrophic earthquake of 365 CE, an event that fractured the urban fabric of Messene and accelerated its cultural transformation. Adopting a micro-historical perspective, the material record of Messene provides a valuable lens through which to examine local responses to empire-wide religious shifts and the challenges posed by natural disasters.

About the speaker:

Nikos Tsivikis is an Associate Researcher at the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation. An archaeologist specializing in Byzantine material culture, his research focuses on the evolution of Byzantine cities, urban–rural interactions, and the transition from paganism to Christianity. Dr. Tsivikis has directed and participated in major archaeological excavations and research initiatives, including the investigation of early Christian monuments at Messene in the southeastern Peloponnese, the international excavation project at Amorium in central Anatolia, and the recently completed project Byzantine Agricultural Landscapes across the Aegean (BALAA) at the Institute for Mediterranean Studies/FORTH (2021–2024). He has also held fellowships and research appointments at several leading institutions, including the Leibniz Institute for Archaeology in Mainz, Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His forthcoming publications include monographs on Byzantine Messene and on provincial capitals of the Middle Byzantine period.