Theatre of Kalydon

Theatre of Kalydon

Theatre

The theatre is situated near Evinochori, in Aetoloacarnania Prefecture. The earliest use of the site may have been for some mysterious cult; this would explain the square plan of the orchestra. When it was later considered necessary to build a theatre, the rows of seats were extended. All these details remain to be confirmed or disproved by the ongoing excavation in the area of the “so-called theatre or bouleuterion” of ancient Kalydon.

There is full photographic documentation and drawings of the elements of the theatre which have been visible for many years, and of the newer sections brought to light by recent excavations.

– Ευθ. Μαστροκώστας, Καλυδών, ΑΔ 22 (1967), p. 320 – ΚΑΛΥΔΩΝ, The Greek-Danish Excavations, Kalydon, November 2004 (information leaflet) – Søren Dietz, Lazaros Kolonas, Ioannis Moschos, Maria Stavropoulou-Gatsi, Archaeological field work in Ancient Kalydon 2001-2004. First preliminary report in Erik Hallager and Jesper Tae Jensen (eds.), Proceedings of the Danish Institute at Athens, vol. V, Athens 2007, pp. 35-60.

Municipal Department of Evinochori, Messolonghi Municipality.

Two separate phases have been identified in the construction of the seats: the nine lower rows belong to the earlier phase, while the stones of the remainder are a later addition. The construction of the stage building is dated to the Hellenistic period and appears contemporary with the second phase of the seats. It has been argued that the south parodos wall formed part of an earlier building, possibly dating from the Classical period. If this proves to be true, it may be an indication of the dating of the earlier phase of the seats, although this remains to be confirmed by the excavation, which has not yet been completed.

The orchestra is almost square, measuring approximately 16 m. x 14 m., and there is a parodos at the west end of the lowest row of seats. There are over 20 rows of seats, on three sides of the orchestra, consisting of large rectangular blocks. A large part of the stage with the proscenium (logeion) has also come to light to the east of the orchestra. The south wall of the parodos also forms part of the stage. In front of the stage, the discovery of rectangular sockets indicates the existence of doors opening onto the proscenium, on which there must have been 12 columns, only six of which remain. In front of the proscenium a drainage duct leading to a square water cistern has been discovered. Around the stage and the proscenium a large number of roof tiles have come to light, proof that the building was roofed. No staircases providing access to the seats have yet been discovered. Based on the excavation data available to date, we can express the guarded view that the earliest use of the site was for some mysterious cult, which would explain the square plan of the orchestra. This original structure may have had a retaining wall after the eighth row of seats. When it was later considered necessary to build a theatre, the rows of seats were extended. This view is supported by the fact that no other possible theatre sites have been identified within the walls of the ancient city. All these details remain to be confirmed or disproved by the ongoing excavation in the area of the “so-called theatre or bouleuterion” of ancient Kalydon.

Consolidation work is urgently needed, as the seats are extremely unstable.

The monument came to light during work on the construction of the Antirrio-Ioannina National Road, on the east slope of Laphrio or Laphriaion Hill, the site of the temple of Artemis Laphria and Apollo Laphrios. The work was interrupted while the Greek Archaeological Service undertook a rescue excavation, which revealed rows of rectangular blocks with an U-shaped section. In a brief report dated 1967 the monument was identified as a “bouleuterion” (Ευθ. Μαστροκώστας, ΑΔ 22 (1967), 320). The modern excavation of the monument began in 2001 and continued to 2003. It was originally undertaken by the Danish Institute at Athens in collaboration with the Archaeological Society of Athens, and then with the Greek Archaeological Service under the direction of Dr Lazaros Kolonas, Honorary General Director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with Dr Søren Dietz, as the representative of the Danish Institute. Excavations are currently continuing under the Danish Institute in collaboration with the local Ephorate of Antiquities (36th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Messolonghi). The excavation has not been completed to date.

Simple visit

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The monument belongs to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and the archaeological service responsible for Aetoloacarnania Prefecture (36th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Messolonghi), while the publication rights are held in common by Dr S. Dietz, as the representative of the Danish Institute at Athens, and Mrs M. Stavropoulou-Gatsi, as Director of the local Ephorate of Antiquities.

The monument belongs to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and the archaeological service responsible for Aetoloacarnania Prefecture (36th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Messolonghi).

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