Prestigious Herend Award Bestowed upon Comprehensive Architectural Study of The Theatre at Messene
A groundbreaking monograph by Associate Professor Ryuichi Yoshitake of Kumamoto University’s Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology has been honored with the prestigious Herend Award (地中海学会ヘレンド賞) by the Collegium Mediterranistarum (地中海学会).The book, titled The Theatre at Messene: An Architectural Study and published by the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut), was formally recognized during the award ceremony on June 27, 2026, at the 50th Annual Conference of the Collegium Mediterranistarum in Tokyo.
Dr. Yoshitake’s award-winning publication offers the first comprehensive study of the remarkably well-preserved ruins and architectural fragments of the ancient theatre at Messene. By combining meticulous documentation with detailed architectural reconstruction, the volume traces the monumental evolution of Greek into Roman theatre architecture on the Greek mainland. It highlights the reuse of Hellenistic building materials and explores ephemeral elements such as mobile wooden stages and siege technology-derived mechanisms, shedding new light on ancient engineering and design practices.
The monograph stands as a vital contribution to our understanding of ancient construction processes and urban evolution. For more information about the publication, please visit the iDAI.publications catalog.
About the Herend Award:
Established in 1995 with the generous support of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory and its Japan sole distributor Hoshi Shoji Co., Ltd., the Herend Award is a prestigious distinction granted annually to promising young researchers for exceptional books and scholarly contributions regarding Mediterranean culture. Designed to encourage pioneering academic inquiry across Mediterranean studies, recipients are traditionally awarded an exquisite Herend porcelain decorative plate featuring the "Gardens of the Mediterranean" motif, inscribed with the winner's name in gold.
Image Caption: The Theatre at Messene: An Architectural Study, authored by Kumamoto University Associate Professor Ryuichi Yoshitake, received the 2026 Herend Award from the Collegium Mediterranistarum.
Image Caption: A virtual reconstruction of the Roman scene building at the Theatre of Messene, illustrating architectural features examined in Ryuichi Yoshitake’s award-winning study.