Held every summer, the event features both acclaimed dramas from the past and contemporary plays that are performed not only in athens but also the ancient theater. Situated across the saronic gulf from athens, the ancient greek city of epidaurus is home to a 15,000 seat theatre that was once used for lavish dramas and banquets. It was built by the architect polykleitos on the side of a mountain and overlooking the sanctuary of asklepius. The history of epidaurus is strongly associated with the healing god asklepios. The great theatre of epidaurus in a canyon, in 340 bc, an argos architect polykleitos the younger, built, according to pausanias, the theatre of epidaurus. The teatre of epidaurus, epidaurus, ancient greece. As early as 1936, plays were being performed at the epidaurus theatre, including those by sophocles and euripides. You are in the city of epidaurus in argolis, the eastern part of the peloponnese in southern greece, with your feet on the ancient theater of epidaurus. Information about the history and ancient sites of epidaurus, greece.
Nowadays, the ancient theatre is beautifully conserved and offers great acoustics. In fact, epidaurus is home to the most popular healing center of antiquity. If you have a car, worth visiting is also the little theatre of ancient epidaurus. His teachings would influence many who followed such as lucretius of rome and his on the nature of things, and. Reputed to be founded by or named for the argolid epidaurus, and to be the birthplace of apollos son asclepius the healer, epidaurus was known for its sanctuary situated about five miles 8 km from the town, as well. The ancient theatre of epidaurus is a theatre in the greek city of epidaurus, located on the. The word comes originally from the greek theatron, meaning roughly, a place to behold. Thats the sentiment that overwhelms you, making you understand why the ancient greeks chose this place for the erection of the ancient. It looks bigger in photos and film but it did not seem to be that big in real life. For those interested in reading up on theatre history, or reading some of the greek literature plays that derived from the classical greek period or thereafter and the heroes that write them, you can find the most famous titles and plots including a familiar tale or two as well as biographies and history books by visiting academic book shops. We greet each other, sit back in the sunshine, reminisce and contemplate the world before us. It belonged to epidaurus, a small citystate of the classical period located on the nearby western coast of the saronic gulf, where the village of palea epidavros old epidaurus. He was a prolific writer, amassing 37 volumes, but unfortunately, only fragments and four letters remain. Inhabited since neolithic times, the first significant settlement was in the mycenaean period.
Yes, the ancient theatre of epidaurus is the most beautiful open. Guidebook, history, pictures of how it was and how it is. Excavations of the sacred precinct reveal that it contained temples to asclepius and artemis, a theatre, stadium, gymnasiums, baths, a tholos, a hospital, and an abaton, an area where patients. Epidaurus was a sanctuary of asclepius, god of healing, son of apollo. The sanctuary of epidaurus is one of the most complete from antiquity with the theatre, the temples of artemis and asklepios, the tholos, the enkoimeterion, the propylaia, the banqueting hall, the baths as well as the sport and hospital facilities and is an eminent example of a hellenic architectural ensemble of the 4th century bc. The discovery of the theatre coincided withor perhaps causeda resurgence of ancient drama. Dont get me wrong it is still a big complex and maybe it was the intimacy of the place and the way the seating is. The masterpieces of greek drama date from the 5th century bc. Ancient theatre of epidaurus news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2017 learn how and when to remove this template message.
The great theatre is only one place of interest at the great site of epidaurus. This structure may have been high enough for a twostory skene. According to ancient greek mythology, epidaurus was the birthplace of asklepios, the healing god, and son of apollo. Probably the most beautiful and best preserved of its kind, the theater of epidaurus was built in the 4th century bc by polykleitos the younger. Due to its excellent acoustics and condition, the ancient theater is still used today, most notably under the framework of the annual epidaurus festival.
From nafplion you need a 45 minutes drive till epidaurus you can also take a taxi from nafplion. It is situated in the eastern peloponnese, 62km south of the corinthian canal and belongs to the prefecture of argolis. Fortifications, a theatre and tholos tombs have been excavated dating as early as the 15th century bce, although it was in the 12th century bce that epidaurus limera, with its harbour. Epidaurus, who gave the land its name, was, the eleans say, a son of pelops but, according to argive opinion and the poem the great eoeae, 52 the father of epidaurus was argus, son of zeus, while the epidaurians maintain that epidaurus was the child of apollo. Last week we looked at the worldfamous ancient theatre of epidaurus, and the marvel of artistic engineering that. Panoramic view of the hellenic theatre at epidaurus. It is still used during the athens summer festival. Extensions were made in the 2nd century bce taking its capacity to 12,000. Even by todays standards, this monument stands out as a unique artistic achievement through its admirable integration into the landscape and above all the perfection of its proportions and incomparable acoustics. Why the epidaurus theatre has such amazing acoustics. History of the ancient theater of epidaurus the asclepeion of epidavros was one of the great national sanctums of antiquity. It was constructed in the late 4th century bc and it was finalized in two stages. Theatre simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The theatre at epidaurus survived many years to reach us today.
Epidaurus was named after the hero epidauros, son of apollo. It belonged to epidavros, a small citystate of the classical times, that was located at the nearest western coast of saronikos bay, where nowadays lies the community of palea epidaurus. It is considered to be the most perfect ancient greek theatre with regard to acoustics and aesthetics. May 30, 2019 the theatre of epidaurus was first built in the 4th century bce and is possibly the best preserved ancient greek theatre. The art of the theater was an important part of ancient greek culture and religion, as religious ceremonies were incorporated with music and dance, and performed in. The acoustics of the epidaurus theatre solent acoustics. Getting to the ancient theatre of epidaurus from athens. The theatre of epidaurus was first built in the 4th century bce and is possibly the best preserved ancient greek theatre. The ancient theatre of epidaurus is regarded as the best preserved ancient theatre in greece in terms of its perfect acoustics and fine structure. Epicurus 341 bce 270 bce was an ancient greek philosopher, the founder of the epicurean school in athens, who taught that pleasure is the principle and end to a happy life.
Ancient site the ancient theatre of epidaurus, peloponnese. To be exact, epidaurus was the most popular health centre of ancient times, called the asclepion. Theatre of epidaurus overview the theatre of epidaurus represents the finest and bestpreserved example of a classical greek theatre. In american english, the word theater can mean either a place where films are shown this. The famous mycenae and the ancient theatre of epidaurus are waiting for us to recount their rich history and to step us back in time on a history tour.
The story of the epidaurus ancient theater greeking. For the historylover in me, going there is like visiting a wise old friend. It combines perfect acoustics, elegance and symmetrical proportions. The sanctuary of asklepios at epidaurus, within which the epidaurus ancient theatre is situated, was one of the most extensive sacred sanctuaries in ancient greece.
The theatre of epidaurus on february 10, 2017 0 comments it was built on the slope of the mountain northeast from the sanctuary of asklepios, god of medicine, and it became famous since that time for being the prettiest of all the greek theatres, known also for its almost perfect acoustics. Today i found out about the amazing acoustics of the ancient epidaurus theatre epidaurus, greece was a small, unassuming city in ancient times, best known for being the supposed birth place of. Music, theatre, and the reading of philosophical texts prepared the soul to achieve the ultimate healing of the. With its supporting territory, it formed the small territory called epidauria. Unlike the theatre in athens, the theatre of epidaurus had no obstructions with other buildings or cliffs. In 1955, the greek government founded the athens and epidaurus festival, which takes place every summer. We recommend booking the great theatre of epidaurus tours ahead of time to secure your spot. A very brief history of epidaurus ancient theater, greece. Book your tickets online for the great theatre of epidaurus, epidavros. While most of the remaining ancient theaters have suffered partial destruction or undergone reconstruction, the epidaurus theater has remained intact down through the centuries because it was safely covered by more than 20 feet 6 m of soil. Useful information about the theatre of epidaurus in epidaurus.
This halfday tour is designed to show you the most beautiful aspects of argolis in the region of peloponnese. Epidaurus is one of the most important ancient sites in greece. In the upper stage of the ancient theater, you gaze at the heady view of the horizon. Epidaurus, in ancient greece, important commercial centre on the eastern coast of the argolid in the northeastern peloponnese. Since 1938, hundreds of theatrical plays have been performed, and in 1954, the famous epidaurus festival, now called the athens epidaurus festival, was launched. There is something comforting about going back to familiar places.
Epidaurus was independent of argos and not included in argolis until the time of the romans. It was built by the architect polykleitos on the side of a mountain and merges perfectly into the surrounding landscape of undulating hills, overlooking the sanctuary of asklepius. This is a superb example of classical theater with an. The great theatre of epidaurus epidavros 2020 what to. See all 161 the great theatre of epidaurus tours on tripadvisor. The ancient theatre of epidaurus is a theatre in the greek city of epidaurus, located on the southeast end of the sanctuary dedicated to the ancient greek god of medicine, asclepius.
An exclusively greek contribution to architectural history is the raked auditorium for watching theatrical performances appropriately, since the greeks are also the inventors of theatre as a literary form. The incredible acoustics of the epidaurus ancient theater have been. Ancient theatre of epidaurus athens luxury taxi transfers. The theatre of epidaurus is a stunningly wellpreserved ancient theater constructed in the 4th century bc. The first play the ancient theatre of epidaurus hosted in modern times, was electra, the famous ancient tragedy written by sophocles. It was built around 34033 bc, so that the patients of the asclepion could watch theatrical performances and was in use until the 3rd century ad. Designed by the architect polykleitos the younger during the fourth century bc, the ancient theatre of epidaurus is one of the bestkept amphitheatres in greece. Fortifications, a theatre and tholos tombs have been excavated dating as early as the 15th century bce. Theatre british english and also american english, or theater mostly american english, has several meanings.
The famous theatre at asclepius of epidaurus, just 7 km from our place, is one of the most important monuments of ancient greece. When you enter the abode of the god which smells of incense, you must be pure and thought is pure when you think with piety this was the inscription that greeted pilgrims who passed through the propylaia, the main gate into the sanctuary of the god asklepios at ancient epidaurus. Located at the port of ancient epidaurus, this 4th century b. The theater of epidaurusintact throughout the centuries. The theatre of epidaurus, this miraculous shelllike structure with its amazing acoustics and harmonious architecture, was a place where visitors could attend performances and escape from their small, debilitating everyday problems.
It was originally built to honor asklepios, but its later additions, such as the twostory skene, suggest that it was used for conventional plays that were imported from athens. Originally the theatre had 34 rows of seats divided into 34 blocks by stairs and walkways. It is well known for having remarkable acoustic properties, allowing voices from the stage to travel clearly to the very top row of seats, without amplification. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund.
The great theatre of epidaurus epidavros 2020 all you. The theatre of epidaurus, ancient greece, epidaurus. The play was performed in 1938, starring katina paxinou and eleni papadaki, two of the most emblematic greek actresses of all time. It is built on the west side of cynortion mountain, near modern lygourio, and belongs to the epidaurus municipality. Epidavros view ancient epidaurus book now sightseeing. The discovery of the epidaurus theater has been important both for archaeology and architecture. The ancient theatre of epidaurus eagles and dragons.
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