Theatre of Dionysus

Welcome to the southern slope of the Acropolis, the hallowed ground where the very concept of theater as we understand it today was born. You are standing before the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus, a site that echoes with the…

Step down toward the circular space at the center of the theater, known as the orchestra. In the early days of the fifth century BC, this was the primary performance space where the chorus, a group of twelve to fifteen…

As you move toward the front row of the seating area, you will encounter the most prestigious seats in the house: the prohedria. These sixty-seven carved marble thrones were reserved for high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and…

Behind the orchestra lies the remnants of the skene, the stage building that served as the background for the drama. In the golden age of the fifth century BC, this was a simple wooden structure that functioned as a dressing room…

Take a moment to examine the beautifully carved freeze that adorns the front of the stage platform, known as the 'Pulpitum of Phaedrus.' Although this specific platform was likely restored in the late Roman period, the reliefs…

Look upward toward the sheer cliff face of the Acropolis, above the highest rows of seating. There, you will see the remains of the Monument of Thrasyllos, built around 320 BC. …

As the Roman Empire expanded its influence over Greece, the Theatre of Dionysus underwent a fundamental change in purpose. In the first century AD, particularly during the reign of Nero and later under Hadrian, the theater was…

As you prepare to leave this extraordinary site, take a final look at the weathered limestone and marble that climb the southern slope of the Acropolis. You are standing in a place where the human condition was first…