Dionysus Theatre
& Atticus Odeon

candid Greece tips

 

Why the
Dionysus Theatre
and Atticus Odeon
in Athens are special

Works of the ancient Greek playwrights Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophocles premiered in the Dionysus Theatre located on the southern slope of the Acropolis. And, concerts were held in the younger and smaller Atticus Odeon, just 250 meters (300 yards) away.

Dionysus Theatre
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History in brief

There was a theatre on the site as far back as 500 BC, but the stone amphitheatre we see today was constructed by the Greeks in 326 BC and, later, enhanced by the Romans. It fell into disuse in the 4th century AD and was excavated in the 19th century.

Seating capacity

The Dionysus Theatre had a seating capacity of at least 15,000 people.

Name

The theatre was named in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and fertility.

Atticus Odeon
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History in brief

This renowned Greek theatre was built in 168 BC and had a capacity of 5,000. The Atticus Odeon was restored in the mid 1900s and today stages theatre, dance and concert events.

Current condition

As the above animated photos demonstrate, the Atticus Odeon is in a far better state of restoration than the Dionysus Theatre.

  

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