Plaka: Athens: South Acropolis

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South of the Acropolis

In the metaphorical shadow of the Acropolis and the Agora are a line of interesting ruins to the south of the famous hill.

Odeion of Herodes Atticus

Remember, "Yanni, Live at the Acropolis?" In the second century AD, the Roman Odeion of Herodes Atticus was built. Restored, it is now in use for theater productions of ancient and modern works.

(Click for larger images)
The site is not open for viewing, other than for performances. If you are in Athens during the summer, consider an open air evening at the theater.

We think of ruins as being classical, but Athens has some significant Roman-era ruins as well, as this shows.

Theater of Dionysos

This should be more famous than the Globe theater in Britain, this should be the first pilgrimage site for all who are drawn to drama. It's the Theater of Dionysos, to the east of the Odeion.

Here is where the plays of Aeschylus, Sophlocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first performed during the classical period. (The theater was extensively rebuilt in Hellenistic times by Lykourgous, nothing much is left of the classical construction) It had seats for 17,000. In the first row are 67 more elaborate seats for officials.

In the first century CE, it was rebuilt again by the Romans.

Other events, not just plays, were set in the theater.

Church of Panayia Khrisospiliotissa

Ah, but as you are looking around the Theater you spy a small opening high above you, just below the wall of the Acropolis itself. You climb up a bit, and it resolves itself into a gate in the wall. Intrigued you climb closer...
.. and peer inside to see an amazing little chapel... click for a bigger view.

This is the church of Panayia Khrisospiliotissa (our lady of the golden cave). This Christian church is on the site of classical temple, the ruins of which were destroyed by Turkish artillery fire in modern times.

Other ruins

Between the Odion and the Theatre was the long Stoa of Eumenes and dates from 2nd cent. BCE.

Close to the Theater on the West was an Asklepieion. Dating from 418BCE on a site sacred to a water god. A large Byzantine church was built on the same site in the 5th Cent. CE.

Just to the east of the Teheater was the Odeion of Perikles. Dating from the 5th cent. BCE, it was burned in 86 BCE during the sack of Athens.

On the slope above the Theature, near the church were the Choregic Monts. These were destroyed in 1827 by Turkish artillery.

Odeion of Herodes Atticus
	Remember, "Yanni, Live at the Acropolis?" In the second century AD, the Roman Odeion of Herodes Atticus was built. Restored, it is now in use for theater productions of ancient and modern works.
(Click for larger images)		The site is not open for viewing, other than for performances. If you are in Athens during the summer, consider an open air evening at the theater.

Theater of Dionysos
This should be more famous than the Globe theater in Britain, this should be the first pilgrimage site for all who are drawn to drama. It's the Theater of Dionysos, to the east of the Odeion.
Here is where the plays of Aeschylus, Sophlocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first performed during the classical period. (The theater was extensively rebuilt in Hellenistic times by Lykourgous, nothing much is left of the classical construction) It had seats for 17,000. In the first row are 67 more elaborate seats for officials.
In the first century CE, it was rebuilt again by the Romans. Other events, not just plays, were set in the theater.

Church of Panayia Khrisospiliotissa

Ah, but as you are looking around the Theater you spy a small opening high above you, just below the wall of the Acropolis itself. You climb up a bit, and it resolves itself into a gate in the wall. Intrigued you climb closer...		.. and peer inside to see an amazing little chapel... click for a bigger view.
This is the church of Panayia Khrisospiliotissa (our lady of the golden cave). This Christian church is on the site of classical temple, the ruins of which were destroyed by Turkish artillery fire in modern times.