Odeon of Herod Atticus

The Odeon of Herod Atticus is a very impressive structure and partially restored to the point where it still holds some of Athens most prestigious events including music and theatrical presentations.

Built between 167 and 174 AD in memory of his wife Regillia, the theater seats 5,000 spectators and used to be very luxurious. It was originally roofed with cedar wood which was destroyed by fire in antiquity. Never the less it still remains an impressive structure with good acoustics. A small venue, it is an ideal place to see a show or hear a recital. Tickets are dear and because it only seats 5000, sell out quickly. Some productions have free entrance dress or undress rehersal prior to the event. It varies.

The Athens News and International Herald Tribune Kathimerini Edition are what to read in order to keep abreast of cultural events taking place all over Greece in the short term.

The Odeon of Herod Atticus Acropolis South Slope

More recent in construction (161 AD.) than the Theater of Dioysseus and better preserved, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is still in use today but unfortunately only holds 5,000 spectators. Only the lower tier of seats remain.

Like most Greek Odeon's it has superb acoustics. Odeon's are a separate type of construct than theaters in that most had a wooden roof for acoustic purposes. This very roofs susceptibility to fire is what makes them scarce today. This Odeon's ceiling was originally of rare Lebanese cedar wood and particularly expensive.

Herodes Atticos, a philanthropist, was also a famous Greek orator, and very rich and liberal. He donated the theater to the city in memory of his wife Appia Annia Regilla who was Roman and a cult preistess.

The theaters stage is 116' wide and 26' deep. Beneath it was a reservoir as precaution in case of fire. Its floor of wood was accessed by 3 stairways, one of which remains. The stages background was decorated with a colonnade about 5 ' from the back wall which had 3 doors and 8 niches. The niches contained statues, probably those of the Muses.

Above the columns there was another story, a sort of balcony or narrow gallery on which the Gods appeared every time a Tragedy or Satirical drama was presented. At about 16' off the stage are a row of holes in which were placed the beams which supported the roof of ornamented and gilded cedar wood.

The Romans conducted their plays differently from the Greeks in that the actors performed on the very front part of the stage called the 'Proscenium' where as the Greeks played only in the orchestra. During the Roman occupation and since the Romans had somewhat different tastes than the Greeks, gladitorial combats or even sea battles could be performed.

 

Above right, a live performance of an ancient Greek play in the 'Herodiou'. A brilliant one too!

Chapel of Our Lady of the Cavern

Here are two pictures of the Chapel of Our lady of the Cavern on the south slope of the Acropolis and immediately above the Theater of Dionyssios.

Choragic monument in the form of columns are just above and the cave was originally sacred to Dionyssos and later like the Parthenon changed to a Christian shrine. A bit of a climb but very interesting!

Greece Travelers may take a luxury coach tour, rent a car or empower themselves with a private Oracle tour of their own design.

 

2 to three hour Athens tours a specialty.

 

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