Messara

Messara was a Greek region and city on the island of Krete in the 5th century BCE.
Named after the illuvial plain ruling the southern swathes of the region, Messara was the site of some of the most important cities of the Minoan civilization. Gortyn, which at the time of the Peloponnesian War was still a thriving city, served as the capital of the Greek islands, while Knossos, the ancient capital of the Minoans, laid in ruins. Heraklion, once a harbor of Knossos, was still a bustling port-town by the time of the Peloponnesian War, as was Kydonia. Meanwhile, the Phaistos Village on the southern reaches of the region was struggling under the attack of bandits and Followers of Ares, as well as the Cult of Kosmos.Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
==History==
===Mythology===
In Greek mythology, the baby Zeus was hidden on Messara to protect him from Kronos, his Titan father who had devoured Zeus' siblings. Because Zeus grew up with the entire region to himself, it later earned the epithet of "Zeus' Playground".
The myths surrounding the Minotaur were also born in Messara. By the time of the Peloponnesian War, stories about King Minos, his wife Pasiphae, the Kretan Bull, and the labyrinth said to lie under the ruined Knossos were common tales. After Theseus slew the Minotaur, the region earned another epithet, "Triumph of Theseus".
===Ancient history===
The Minoans made their home within the region in ancient past, building their mightiest city, Knossos, atop an even older place.
===5th century BCE===
In the 5th century BCE, Messara had become its own state, with a banner of its own. Though neighbor of Pephka, the two were largely amicable towards each other.
During the Peloponnesian War, Messara was ruled by an ally of the Cult of Kosmos. The man was proud of both his alliance as well as the fact that his son Melanthos was a rising member in the Cult's branch that called themselves the "Gods of the Aegean Sea".Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – The Gods of the Aegean Sea However, the man's rule came to an end following a plot by the Gortyn statesman Ptolemaios, who hired the visiting misthios Kassandra to weaken the leader and ultimately kill him.Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Gortyn Out of Hand
==Geography==
Like Pephka, Messaran landscape was ruled by dust and struggling vegetation, with occasional spots of tough greenery, and rocky cliffs cracked by the blazing sun.
Separated into five regions of Fertile Battleground, Little Egypt, Minos' Legacy, Octopus Bay, and Zeus' Playground, Messara was the largest plain on the island of Krete.Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Messara: "Messaran Banner"
==Culture and economy==
The banner of Messara reflected, like a number of other things in the region, their history. Featuring a stylized map of the fabled labyrinth designed by Daidalos, the image also adorned Messaran coins.
==Behind the scenes==
The emblem of Messara, the stylized map of the labyrinth, also featured on the finery of the pirate ship Iapetos in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey.
Ubisoft seems to have had trouble with the similarity between 'Messara' and 'Messenia'. All images of the Minotaur for example are tagged to be in Messenia instead of Messara in the Photo Mode. The Bandit Lord Helmet's description also confuses the two, claiming that Captain Diokles "won't be terrorizing Messenia anymore."
==Gallery==
ACOD Messara Symbol.PNG|The symbol of Messara
ACOd-Krete-Messara.jpg|Messara part of Krete
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Odyssey 
*Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece
==References==
Category:Greece
Category:Regions of Greece
Category:Former kingdoms