Constructed thoughtfully throughout in the Mediterranean landscape, ancient theaters stand as captivating remnants of Greece’s rich cultural heritage. These theaters, with their unique architecture and aesthetics, once served as gathering places and hubs of artistic excellence but were lost or buried beneath layers of earth for centuries.
Over 100 ancient Greek theaters have been unearthed in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Turkey to date. While some astonish with their sheer size, others still lie in a state of unfortunate ruin.
Here, we present some of the most significant ancient Greek theaters – beyond the famous Epidaurus – that you simply must visit at least once in your lifetime. If fortune favors you, you may even have the opportunity to revel in a theatrical performance.
Theater of Delphi
With a sweeping view that is truly breathtaking, the Theater of Delphi is among the most celebrated monuments in Greece. This grand structure shares the stage with the remnants of the once-legendary oracle that held great sway in the ancient world. The ancient Theater of Delphi had a seating capacity of over 4,000 spectators and was part of a larger sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo. Constructed around the 4th century BC, the theater assumed its current form during the early Roman Empire.
Following the Roman world’s decline, the theater lay abandoned for centuries, becoming one with the earth until French archaeologists initiated excavations in the area, unearthing the theater once again. A significant moment in the theater’s history is the effort by poet Angelos Sikelianos and his first wife, Eva Palmer, to revive the ancient splendor of Delphi by inaugurating the Delphic Festivals in 1928. Although the costly interwar festival was short-lived, it financially strained the couple but managed to bring Delphi back to the world’s attention. Today, the ancient theater serves as the venue for performances and the Delphi Festival every summer.
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