In this article we will tell you about such an interesting building as the Theater of Dionysus (Athens). It is located in the Acropolis. Not everyone knows what the Acropolis is, so let us first briefly talk about it. After that, we will present you the Dionysus Theater, a photo and a description of which you will find in this article. The building is, as you will see, very interesting. And also we will introduce you to the ancient Greek god himself, to whom such a remarkable construction as the ancient Greek theater of Dionysus is dedicated.
Acropolis
The Acropolis is a fortified and elevated part of the city (not only Athens, but also many other ancient Greek cities), which was also a refuge fortress in case of war. Here, usually there were many temples dedicated to various patron deities. The Acropolis of Athens is a rocky hill 156 meters high, with a gentle top (about 170 meters wide and 300 meters long). It is here, among other architectural monuments, that the theater of Dionysos in Ancient Greece is located. In ancient times, the Acropolis was rightfully considered the center of Athens' spirituality. In the 4th century BC e. it was here that various solemn processions were held in honor of this or that deity, as well as sacrifices were carried out, mandatory at that time, sports were held, scenes from the life of the gods were staged.
God dionysus
Dionysus is also known as the "god with bull horns," because he loved to take the form of this animal. This is the son of Zeus and Semele, the Theban princess. According to legend, Zeus, who appeared in a flash of lightning in front of his beloved, accidentally incinerated her, but managed to snatch the premature Dionysos from the flame and sew it into his thigh. God in due time gave birth to a child, after which he gave it to the nymphs for education. Dionysus, wandering the world, met Ariadne, abandoned by Theseus, and married her. King Thebes Penfeuil tried to imprison him, but Dionysus severely punished him: by his order, the Maenads furiously tore this king to pieces.
The cult of Dionysus
Researchers are inclined to claim that the cult of this god was of eastern origin. It gained distribution in Greece much later than the cult of other gods. With great difficulty, moreover, he established himself here. The name of Dionysus can be found on tablets dating back to about the 14th century BC, but the cult was popularized only in the 7-8th centuries BC. e., when the cult of Dionysus began to gradually supplant the worship of other heroes and gods.
Much later, Dionysus became one of the 12 Olympic gods. He began to be worshiped at Delphi, along with Apollo. Special holidays called Dionysius were dedicated to him in Attica. They included solemn processions, contests of poets, etc. The cult of Dionysus during the Hellenistic period merged with the cult of Sabazius, the Phrygian god, so he received the nickname Sabazius.
Sanctuary of Dionysos in the Acropolis
Pisistratus, who ruled at that time, was an admirer of Dionysus, who was the patron of winemaking, fun, religious ecstasy. This god was also famous as removing the bonds of life, freeing from worries.
In the Acropolis, on the south side, it was built, thanks to the efforts of this ruler. Sanctuary of Dionysus Eleuthera. It contained an ancient statue of this deity, and after a while it was decided to replace the old temple with a new one. In the center of the new Sanctuary now stood a new statue of Dionysos, decorated with gold, made of ivory. By decree of Pisistratus, a dance floor was built near the temple. It was she who became the first "brick" in the building of the theater of Dionysus.
Wooden and stone theater
It was originally built of wood. There were performances on the tragedies of Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Aeschylus. But soon the wooden seats intended for the public were rebuilt. They became stone - more durable and reliable. And this is not surprising. The Greeks were very fond of theatrical performances, which over time became not a part of public festivals and religious ceremonies, but a separate art form, with their own traditions and rules. The Dionysus Theater in Athens (whose photo you see below) is a very impressive building even today.
67 seats
Interesting descriptions of this amazing example of Roman architecture are found in many historical documents. The Theater of Dionysus is one of the oldest on earth. According to historical documents, the first row consisted of 67 chairs, which were made of the rarest and most expensive marble. They were by no means intended for commoners. They were occupied by representatives of the nobility who visited the theater of Dionysus in Greece. On some, which is quite remarkable, even the names of people who ruled during various periods of the history of ancient Greece are carved. Today, at the place where the theater is located, you can see these chairs. True, not all of them have survived.
On a small ledge, in the second row, is the chair of Hadrian, the Roman emperor, who was known as a great lover of theater art, philosophy and poetry. Here, in addition, Nero liked to speak a little later - another Roman emperor who "became famous" for his bad taste throughout the world. It was he who once burned the capital of the Roman Empire.
Features of the Dionysus Theater
According to the assumptions of most archaeologists who participated in the excavations, the theater of Dionysus could accommodate almost 17 thousand people who were eager to see the theatrical action with their own eyes.
This figure is quite insignificant by modern standards, but it was quite impressive for that time and amounted to about half the number of all inhabitants of Athens. The theater of Dionysus, in connection with its large size, did not have ceilings for the roof. Both the audience and the participants were in the open air during the performance. Natural light illuminated what is happening on the stage of such a structure as the Theater of Dionysus (Greece). A photo of him is presented below.
Perestroika Theater
This construction changed its appearance several times. Built in the 5th century BC. e. The theater of Dionysus underwent some changes throughout its existence. As we already said, the wooden chairs, as well as the stage, were replaced after some time with marble ones. In the 1st century AD e., when it was accepted, in addition to theatrical performances, to conduct gladiatorial and circus performances, the first row of this theater was supplemented by a side made of iron rods and marble. This allowed viewers to fearlessly watch predators and bloody battles. In the 2nd century, when Nero, the Roman emperor, came to power, the restoration of the building also touched the orchestra - the middle of the stage where the choir was located. It was made more prominent, in addition, it was decorated with paintings depicting scenes from myths about Dionysus.
Theatrical productions of the ancient Greeks
Speaking of theatrical performances held in ancient times, it should be noted that they were significantly different from modern ones. In ancient Greece, initially the public could follow the actions of only one actor, who “narrated” about the fate of a hero accompanied by a choir. A little later several of them began to take part in the play, but their artistic possibilities were very limited. The reason for this was that each actor had to wear a mask of one of the characters in turn, and all the skill, therefore, was reduced to the ability to skillfully and competently control the body and voice.
How did the ancient Greeks express their opinion about the performance?
The audience of that time was quite peculiar. If today the productions cry out "Bravo!" and applause in case of success, and silence - in case of failure, then in ancient times everything was completely different. They also greeted the performance that they liked: admiring screams and a flurry of applause. But the audience, for some reason not accepting or not understanding the theatrical performance, was by no means silent. They expressed their disapproval with stomp and whistle. An enraged audience, in addition, could throw stones at the actor, demanding to start another performance. The participant in the theatrical action was to give her pleasure, so he began the next performance if he remained alive.
The Theater of Dionysos in Athens reached a high level more than ten centuries after its opening. Shakespearean dramas were staged here in the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as other high-class performances by classicists and Elizabethans imitating the ancients.
The best, from an artistic point of view, of what has been preserved in the ruins of the theater is a sculptural frieze depicting funny satires. He has been here since the reign of Nero.
Restoration of the Theater of Dionysus
Greek authorities today say that more than 6 million euros have already been allocated for the restoration of the building, which were collected not only from funding from the state budget, but also with the help of a commercial organization called Diazoma, famous in Greece for its desire to preserve and protect ancient monuments of architecture and history. By mid-2015, it is planned to complete restoration work. It is planned during this time to also strengthen the walls, add several new tiers of seats, and restore decorative elements. The restoration and restoration of such an important historical object as the Dionysos Theater in Athens was entrusted to Konstantinos Boletis. This Greek architect led the project, a giant in complexity and volume.
Monuments located near the theater
Travelers traveling to Greece will be interested to know that the Theater of Dionysos in Ancient Greece is surrounded by various architectural monuments that have survived to this day. They also belong to the ancient era. This, for example, the temple of the goddess Artemis, who is the patroness of all living things. It is located in a cliff hanging over the theater. Once upon a time there was the chapel of Panagia Spiliotis (i.e., the Cave of Our Lady). Women whose children had been ill for a long time and severely cried out for her help. You can also see columns near the Dionysus Theater, saying that there was a memorial on this site, which was a symbol of the victory of the theater team at one of the festivals of Ancient Greece.
Around the theater of Dionysus are also the ruins of two temples dedicated to this god. They are dated to the 6th and 4th centuries BC. e. The stones belonging to the Periklov Odeon concert hall are on the right. This building dates from 40 years BC. e.