Ancient Messene / The Theater:

The theater had already been constructed in the 3rd century B.C and it was where according to Plutarch, Philip V of Macedonia presented himself to the Messenians in the company of the Sicyonian general Aratus, leader of the Achaean League. Aratus asked Philip to not invade Messene which had been through a period of political restlessness and a public insurrection. It’s evident then that Messene’s theater was also used for important political gatherings.

Most of ancient greek theaters being constructed during the Classical or Early Hellenistic period have their koilon (the seats) built on the slope of a hill for support. However, the ancient theater of Messene was constructed on an artificial slope, planned within impressive fortified walls.

It is highly likely that Messene’s theater also had a movable wooden stage (pegma) that could be retracted, however in the Roman period a permanent frons scenae was erected. From the numerous plaques erected on the account of freed slaves within the theater, we can deduct that a number of performers such as singers and actors were owned and perfomed as slaves.

Messene’s theater has been restored and today it is used for small theatrical festivals from the region in an effort to utilize the archaeological park for cultural gatherings that promote the care and support of the sites to the local community. You can actually sit at the koilon, however that policy does not apply to all ancient theaters. It’s better to first ask a guard if you can sit at a theater, odeon, or stadium.

Information taken by this publication about the Theaters of Messene by Diazoma, authored by Petros Themelis, director of excavations at Ancient Messene