The Theater of Dionysus

The Theater of Dionysus

The Theater of Dionysus, built into the natural hollow of the south slope of the Acropolis, was the world's first theater built of stone and the birthplace of Greek tragedy. This is where the dramatic contests in the Greater Dionysia were held. Originally a place to honor the god Dionysus in dance and song, in the fifth century the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were performed here. By the middle of the fifth century there was scenery in the background, usually in the form of a building. The theater was built in several phases, each of which corresponded, essentially, to the developments in ancient drama. What remains today dates to the Roman Empire and could seat 17,000 spectators. The classical Greek theater would have had a circular "orchestra" (literally, "dancing space", the flat, paved area in front of the stage where the chorus sang and danced) instead of the semi-circular orchestra which remains today.

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The Theater of Dionysus and surrounding area as seen from the Acropolis.	The Theater of Dionysus as seen from the Acropolis.	The Theater of Dionysus as seen from the walkway to the the cave.

The marble orchestra of the Theater of Dionysus	A portion of the sculptures that decorate the Roman proscenium portraying scenes from the life of Dionysus.	Part of the sculptures from the Roman proscenium in the Theater of Dionysus.

Part of the sculptures from the Roman proscenium in the Theater of Dionysus. The figure of the comic satyr, Seilenos, is in the middle.	The front of the theater consisted of 67 marble thrones with engraved inscriptions which were reserved for dignitaries.	The theatre and Acropolis rock.

The south slope of the Acropolis rock and two large Corinthian columns, all that is left of the choregic Monument of Thrasyllos erected in 320 BCE to celebrate the benefactor's team winning a drama festival, as seen from the Theater of Dionysus.	Below the Monument of Thrasyllos is a cave sacred to the goddess Artemis. This was converted into a chapel in the Byzantine era, dedicated to Panagía Spiliótissa (Our Lady of the Cave) and was the place where mothers brought their sick children.	The interior of the chapel of Panagía Spiliótissa is cut into the Acropolis rock itself.