Architecture Around the World

Theatre of Dionysus
and
Odeon of Herodus Atticus

Acropolis, Greece

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Theatre of Dionysos

Theatre of Dionysos

Theatre of Dionysos

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

Theatre of Dionysos

Cut into the southern cliff face of the Acropolis, the Theatre of Dionysos is the birthplace of Greek tragedy and was the first theatre built of stone. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes all had their plays performed here, during the dramatic contests of the annual City Dionysia festival, when it was little more than a humble wood-and-earth affair.

The theatre was rebuilt in stone by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos between 342-326 BC, but the ruins that can be seen today are in part those of a much bigger structure, built by the Romans in 4th-c B.C. to replace and enlarge the earlier theater. The new theater seated 17,000 in 64 rows of seats, 20 of which survive. Limestone seats. 67 Pentalic marble thronelike seats in the first row. Most elegant throne belonged to the priest of Dionysos, carved with bunches of grapes, and satyrs. The Romans used it as a gladiatorial arena, and added a marble balustrade with metal railings to protect spectators. In the 1st century AD, the Emperor Nero added the marble mosaic flooring depicting Dionysos's life, and the front row of thrones reserved for dignitaries, still in situ.

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

This small Roman theatre seats 5,000 spectators and is still in use today. Built y the Roman consul Herodes Atticus between AD 161 and 174, in memory of his wife, the shape was hollowed out of the rocks on the southern slope of the Acropolis.

The semicircular orchestra in front of the stage was repaved with alternating blue and white marble slabs in the 1950s. Behind the stage, its distinctive colonnade once contained statues of the nine Muses.

The whole theatre was originally enclosed by a cedarwood roof that gave better acoustics and allowed for all-weather performances. Today it is used for a range of entertainment, including plays and concerts, both classical and popular.

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Photos and their arrangement © 2001 Chuck LaChiusa
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