Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-06-07

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Delphi Ancient Theater to be restored

[01] Delphi Ancient Theater to be restored

The study, funded by the Diazoma association with 100,000 euros, seeks to secure and restore the geometry of the Koilon, the bowl-shaped seating area, as well as of the remaining terraced seats.

Ancient Greek theaters were very large, open-air structures that took advantage of sloping hillsides for their terraced seating. Because of drama's close connection with religion, theaters were often located in or near sanctuaries. The Theater of Delphi is located in the sanctuary of the Pythian Apollo, set on the slopes of Mt. Parnassos above the northwestern corner of the renowned temple of Pythian Apollo, presenting the seated audience with a spectacular view of the sanctuary below and the valley beyond.amna

It is the largest structure of the sanctuary, although classified among the average-size monuments of its kind, with a total capacity of 5,000 spectators.amna

The Theater was originally built in the 4th century BC of local Parnassos limestone and was subsequently remodeled several times, while the saved part is dated to the 1st century, in the early Roman era.

Its 35 rows can accommodate around five thousand spectators who in ancient times enjoyed plays, poetry readings, and musical events during the various festivals that took place periodically at Delphi. The lower tiers of seats were built during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.amna

The audience sat in the "theatron" or "koilon" (seeing place or auditorium) on circular terraced rows of 'benches", originally wooden and afterwards replaced by stone.

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