Epidauros Theatre

The theater at Epidauros, built against the slopes of Mt Kynortion, is remarkable for its excellent state of preservation and for its fine acoustics. A. von Gerkan's investigations have shown that it does not date from the fourth century B.C., as had been supposed on the basis of Pausanias's account. The lower part, up to the semicircular gangway, with its tiers of seats divided by staircases into twelve wedge-shaped sections, was built in the early third century and the upper part added in the second century, giving the theater a total capacity of 14,000 seats. In the center is the circular orchestra. Of the stage building (skene) only scanty remains survive; on either side were ramps leading up to the roof of the proskenion, which was used as a raised part of the stage. The entrances for the chorus (parodoi), between the stage and the walls of the auditorium, lead into the theater through ceremonial doorways. A festival of drama is held annually (July and August) in the ancient theater, including performances in classical Greek.