|
Source:
2 moons in Thasos
Ancient Theatre
The ancient theatre of Thassos is built inside a natural cavity
of the hill and leaning against the wall; according to
Hippocrates, it must have been built here as early as the 5th
century B.C.
The beginning of the
3rd century B.C. saw the building of the scene (stage) with a
marble front. The proscenio (forestage) was dedicated by the
Thassian Lysistratos, son of Kodes, to Dionysus. A whole pillar
and various other sections of the forestage are saved to this
day. Back then, the theatre was used for theatrical and musical
performances.
Later on, in the Roman era, the orchestra pit and the edolia
(rows of seats) were renovated.
On several seats one can still see inscribed names, which
indicates that people used to reserve their seats.
After the 1st century A.D., the theatre was used for "hunts" and
gladiatorial combats.
Among the usual combats, there were also combats between pairs of
riders. The orchestra pit was turned into an arena and, in mid-f
century A.D., Eragoras, son of Eufrillos, raised a parapet of
railings, the bottom of which was embedded into marble slabs, to
protect the audience from wild beasts. On one of those slabs, one
can still see the carved name of a benefactress, Espani, who
later on commanded in her last will and testament that hippodrome
festivities be celebrated in her memory every year in
Thessaloniki.
Right around that time, the forestage also hosted figures of the
highly esteemed ancient gods: Dionysus treating his panther to
the last drops of wine from a kantharus (small vessel similar to
modern glasses), the Riding Hero, Aries in his helmet and chest
armor (the first figure is currently on display in the Museum of
Thassos and the last one in the Museum of Constantinople). The
kionostichia (row of pillars) hosted, on its edges, a figure of
Nemesis (created at the expense of gladiator Evimeros, son of
Dionysius), as well as some other figures, again depicting
Nemesis, created at the expense of other gladiators (two of these
are currently on display in the Museum of Constantinople).
Source: 2 moons in Thasos |
[