The village of Polichni is built at an altitude of 75 meters and is 37 km from Kalamata and just 7 km from Meligalas. The village is of great archaeological interest since the centre of ancient Andania, home of Aristomenis is located at this place.
In 1858, in the centre of the village two large, inscribed plaques of the 1st century which mention the laws that governed the ritual part of the "Karnassian" Mysteries were found. These plates contain 27 paragraphs-articles in each of which orders and services are given to each person responsible for their duties during the ceremonies that, in total, lasted nine days. Today, the slabs are built into the entrance door of the church of Saints Constantine and Helen in the neighbouring village of Constantine. Traveller Pausanias informs us that in the area of ancient Andania, (where the famous Mysteries were performed), there was a spring and a statue dedicated to Agni, the daughter of goddess Demeter.
To the west of modern Divari (of the water reservoir located in the village centre), the Archaeological Service carried out a surface survey and exploratory excavations, which revealed meagre remains of an almost, damaged, aqueduct of the Late Roman times. On a farm, west of Divari, an excavation was carried out, which brought to light part of a large complex. Rather, the complex was a villa of the Late Roman times paved with a mosaic that had depictions in square frames in the middle. The best-preserved representation depicts a horse. At this point, we must emphasize that throughout the village there are scattered architectural members coming from monumental buildings of the period.
Finally, a little further north from the village of Polichni, built on a hill, the visitor can see the Frankish Castle of Archangelos, which "embraces" the Monastery of the Great Brigadiers in a unique way.
