Some more views to the Hellenistic theater of Dion, 2015.

Not the ancient theater trip back in 2008, but ancient theater nonetheless:

Back in 2008 we also visited the ancient theater of Corinth, the theater of Dionysus in Athens, the ancient theater at Delphi and the ancient theater of Sicyon that is pictured above. I lost the photography from the trip, but I had the chance to visit Sicyon a few years ago. The theater is closed because they are still excavating it, but what catches the eye are the two vomitoria (the tunnel-like entrances), features of roman period theaters.

And here is a view from the theater to the sea. At the left, the dark hill against the lighter mountain of the background is Perachora, where Heraion is.

The ancient theater trip back in 2008:

Propbably the best picture at the Epidaurus I have ever taken. I had so much cool photography from this trip, but most of it is lost now…Also I loved that Konica Minolta…I miss it sometimes…(I accidentally put it in the washing machine… a moment of silence please…And always check the pockets of your trousers before you put them in the washing machine)

And the Epidaurus theater from a previous trip…

But to fully appreciate its size, you have to see it full:

The theater of Epidaurus has its own festival, going there for a night performance is a summer must.

The ancient theater trip back in 2008:

The ancient theater at Oiniades- a community on a hill in Aetoloakarnania. This is another- smaller- theater carved straight into the hill. Greek ancient theaters are exclusively built on hills to make use of the unique acoustics and save on materials- carving the theater straight on the hill takes saving on materials on a whole new level. The most notable feature of this theater is the slightly raised orchestra- a roman addition.

One of the things that bewildered me when I visited was that the theater was at the top of the hill- and it was quite a climb to get there. The bewildering part was that around the hill was a vast plain of farmland, so at the time it seemed odd that the theater was not built at the foot of the hill. But apparently 2500 years ago, the plain around the hill was a vast lake with access to the Ionian Sea, and Oiniades had a port and dry docks, among the best preserved in the world:

 Bottom picture from here: http://www.pentalofo.gr/axiotheata/oiniades.aspx

Oiniades is the hill under the red pin, the farmland around it was a lake, so in the antiquity it was just a small island in a lake.  

The ancient theater trip back in 2008:

Second picture from the Argolikos Archival Library of History and Culture

The ancient theater at Argos is one of the most spectacular ancient theaters. Mostly due to the fact that the seats are carved on the rock of the hill it’s built on…Well, it’s not really built on the hill then, it’s rather carved out of it… It’s also one of the biggest ancient theaters in Greece, with a seating capacity of 20.000 viewers. I know of at least one performance that was staged on the cavea of the theater- with the viewers seated at orchestra- but I can’t find pictures of it…

On another note 2008 was a time when I was obsessed with taking creative pictures of my shadow. To achieve this egg-shaped look, I wore my cardigan on the head with the hem tucked in my pockets…I loved that cardigan. (Follow for more exciting making of material)

The ancient theater trip back in 2008:

This majestic site is the Amphiareion of Oropos. It functioned as an oracle and healing sanctuary. Some support that the presence of theaters in sanctuaries associated with healing (like Epidaurus) may mean that musical performances there were part of the treatment of the patients.

The site has been also used as a filming location for Voulgaris’ Eleutherios Venizelos(link to gifset)

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki:

From the segment about theater in the Roman period.

A funerary altar with some of the original polychromy surviving. It bears a portrait of the tragic actor Marcus Varinius Areskon. He is wearing a military uniform, probably a nod to one of the roles he was appearing as. The female tragic mask to the left probably suggests his aptitude to female roles as well. After his premature death, his parents honoured him with this monument. (175-200 A.D)

Caricature figurine of a female mime, probably representing an aged concubine- a well known type of the Imperial Age.

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

Ancient Messene/ The Theater:

One of the dedicational/votive plaques erected within the theater from the Roman period. The plaque regards the philosopher Tiverius Flavius (Iso)crates and it was probably erected in his honour after his death; it reads: 

Η ΠΟΛΙΣ ΤΙ ΦΛΑΒΙΟΝ (ΙΣΟ)ΚΡΑΤΗ ΗΡΩΑ ΦΙΛΟΣΟΦΟΝ ΝΕΟΝ ΠΛΑΤΩΝΑ ΑΡΕΤΗΣ ΠΑΣΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ

The city (dedicates this to) Τi(berius) Flavius (Iso)crates, hero, philosopher, a new Plato, for all his virtues*

Perhaps today we regard theaters and odeons as places of brief cultural transactions, but in the antiquity they had a serious political and social function. Perhaps this stems directly from the theatrical ceremonies of  Classical Athens, where esteemed citizens were honoured in the presence of almost the entire city, and foreign dignitaries. Other ceremonies included the display of the taxation that other cities paid to Athens, and the display of the orphaned boys the city had raised and equipped with military gear.

*I consulted this publication by Petros Themelis about the theaters of Messene-it’s in greek. Petros Themelis was also the director for the excavations at Ancient Messene.

You can also visit diazoma.gr to learn more about ancient theaters in Greece.