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ANCIENT THEATRES - ANCIENT THEATRES' IDENTITY
ODEION (ECCLESIASTERION)
OF MESSENE
Information
|
Description
of the
Monument
|
Photo
Gallery
|
Scientific
Report
 |
The Ecclesiasterion (Odeion) is a theatrical
structure with an upper and lower cavea, a semicircular
orchestra, a stage and a proscenium. The first phase of its
construction is dated to the late 3rd c. BC,
while extensive repairs were carried out to the proscenium
walls and the orchestra in the 1st and 3rd
c. AD. |
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Description of the Monument
The
Ecclesiasterion (Odeion) of Ancient Messene is located near the village of
Mavromati, in Messene Municipality, Messenia Prefecture. It forms part of the
architectural complex of the Asklepieion and the first phase of its construction
is dated to the late 3rd c. BC. The repairs to the proscenium walls
and the orchestra ,carried out in the 1st and 3rd c. AD,
are evident.
Plan of the Ecclesiasterion (Odeion) of Ancient Messene
The Ecclesiasterion (Odeion) is a theatrical structure with an upper and lower cavea, inscribed in a rectangular shell in the form of a high, strong buttress (retaining wall). The north and east outer sides of the retaining wall are built of bossed, pseudoisodomic (irregular coursed) masonry. In the northwest corner of the retaining wall is a covered staircase leading to the upper passageway.
The Odeion has a semicircular orchestra, a stage and a proscenium. On either side of the proscenium are small storerooms for the stage sets used in performances. (Photograph).
The lower cavea is divided into three cunei with 11 rows of seats in each. The upper cavea was also divided into three cunei. On the side of the road to the east there are two entrances leading to the interior of the cavea, while an entrance on the west side leads from the orchestra to the peristyle stoa of the Asklepieion.
At the east end of the orchestra is set the large base of a bronze equestrian statue which depicted the benefactor of Ancient Messene, Claudius Saithidas.
In modern times, prior to 1986, the Odeion was used for theatrical performances. In 2002 it was used in a pilot study for the presentation of ancient Greek musical themes. Following the recent consolidation, reconstruction and conservation work (2000-2004), the Odeion is preserved in excellent condition, is open to the public and can be used for events appropriate to its size and character.
Petros
Themelis
Archaeologist
Photo
Gallery
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View of Ecclesiasterion |
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Plan of the Ecclesiasterion (Odeion) of Ancient Messene |
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Scientific
report
| Monument Name |
Ecclesiasterion
(or
Odeion)
of
Ancient
Messene |
| Category |
Odeion |
| Brief Description |
Theatrical
structure
with
a
cavea
(upper
and
lower),
inscribed
in a
rectangular
shell
in
the
form
of a
high,
strong
retaining
wall. |
| Images - Plans |
There
is
full
photographic
documentation
and
drawings
of
the
monument
in
whole
and
in
part,
held
in
the
archive
of
the
Society
of
Messenian
Archaeological
Studies
(33
Psaromilingou
St.,
105
53
Athens,
tel.
no.
210.3251481). |
| Documentation - Bibliography |
Π. Θέμελης, Αρχαία Μεσσήνη, Ο Χώρος και τα Μνημεία, Αθήνα 1998, pp. 22-25 Π. Μπίρταχας, Το Πρόπυλο και το Εκκλησιαστήριο της Αρχαίας Μεσσήνης, Αθήνα 2008. |
| Location |
Mavromati
(now
Ancient
Messene),
Messene
Municipality,
Messenia
Prefecture. |
| Dating |
The
monument
forms
part
of
the
architectural
complex
of
the
Asklepieion
and
the
first
phase
of
its
construction
is
dated
to
the
late
3rd
c.
BC.
The
repairs
to
the
proscenium
walls
and
the
orchestra
carried
out
in
the
1st
and
3rd
c.
AD
are
evident. |
|
General Description of Monument
|
Theatrical
structure
with
a
cavea
(upper
and
lower),
inscribed
in a
rectangular
shell
in
the
form
of a
high,
strong
retaining
wall.
The
north
and
east
outer
sides
of
the
retaining
wall
are
built
of
bossed,
pseudoisodomic
(irregular
coursed)
masonry.
The
west
side
of
the
retaining
wall
adjoins
the
east
stoa
of
the
Asklepieion.
A
covered
outer
staircase
in
the
northwest
corner
of
the
retaining
wall
leads
to
the
upper
passageway.
The
orchestra
is
semicircular
with
a
diameter
of
9.70
m.
The
stage
is
21
m.
wide.
There
is a
proscenium
with
six
semi-columns
and
storerooms
for
stage
sets
on
either
side.
The
lower
cavea
is
divided
into
three
cunei
with
11
rows
of
seats
in
each.
The
upper
cavea,
which
has
not
been
restored,
was
also
tripartite.
A
large
number
of
stone
seats
from
the
upper
cavea
remain,
but
the
retaining
walls
of
the
cavea
need
to
be
restored
to a
great
height,
potentially
affecting
the
aesthetic
result
and
stability
of
the
monument.
Two
entrances
on
the
side
of
the
road
on
the
east
side
lead
to
the
interior
of
the
lower
cavea.
An
entrance
on
the
west
side
leads
from
the
orchestra
to
the
east
stoa
of
the
Asklepieion.
At
the
east
end
of
the
orchestra
is
set
the
large
base
of a
bronze
equestrian
statue
which
depicted
the
benefactor
of
the
city
Claudius
Saithidas,
dating
to
the
2nd
c.
AD. |
| Current Situation |
The
state
of
preservation
is
excellent
following
the
recent
conservation,
restoration
and
reconstruction
work
(2000-2004). |
| Excavations - Interventions |
The
monument
was
first
excavated
in
1895
by
the
young
archaeologist
Themistocles
Sofoulis
(later
a
Samos
statesman
and
Prime
Minister
of
Greece).
It
was
investigated
in
1909
and
1925
by
Prof.
Georgios
Oikonomos
and
later
by
Anastasios
Orlandos,
member
of
the
Academy
of
Athens,
between
1956
and
1974,
with
funding
from
the
Archaeological
Society
at
Athens.
In
1993-1998
the
area
north
and
east
of
the
Ecclesiasterion
was
excavated
by
Prof.
Petros
Themelis,
a
Fellow
of
the
Archaeological
Society
at
Athens
and
its
representative
in
Ancient
Messene.
Between
1997
and
2001
restoration-reconstruction
work
was
carried
out
in
the
lower
cavea,
the
proscenium
and
the
orchestra,
according
to a
study
prepared
by
architect
Panagiotis
Birtachas
as
part
of a
2nd
Community
Support
Fund
programme.
In
2005,
in
the
framework
of
the
3rd
CSF,
the
surfaces
were
conserved
and
cleaned
with
biocides,
and
the
paved
floor
of
the
Roman
orchestra
was
restored.
Public
information
signs
were
set
up
between
the
semi-columns
of
the
proscenium,
and
the
outer
area
of
the
access
routes
to
the
cavea
and
the
orchestra
was
laid
out. |
| Permitted Uses |
Following
the
recent
consolidation,
reconstruction
and
conservation
work,
the
Ecclesiasterion
can
be
used
for
events
appropriate
to
the
size
and
character
of
the
monument.
The
establishment
and
repetition
of
such
events
at
regular
intervals,
and
their
adoption
by
the
local
community
and
authorities,
will
contribute
to
public
awareness
of
the
need
for
the
lasting
protection
of
this
important
monument. |
|
History of Modern Uses |
The
monument
had
been
used
prior
to
1986
and
before
the
consolidation
interventions
for
theatrical
performances
by
local
theatrical
groups,
details
of
which
have
not
been
recorded.
In
May
2002
it
was
used
in a
pilot
study
for
the
presentation
of
ancient
Greek
musical
themes
with
choral
accompaniment
by
the
Department
of
Music
Studies
of
the
Aristotle
University
of
Thessaloniki,
in
the
framework
of
the
Council
of
Europe
MINOTEC
Programme,
concerning
ancient
places
of
performance
and
their
conditions
of
use. |
| Further Information |
Following
the
layout
work,
access
to
the
monument
is
unimpeded
and
safe.
There
is a
water
supply
nearby.
An
electrical
lighting
study
has
been
partially
realised.
In
October
2008
the
theatre
was
used
for
the
first,
celebratory
General
Meeting
of
the
founding
members
of
the
DIAZOMA
Association,
chaired
by
the
Association
president
Stavros
Benos,
and
for
a
concert
by
the
New
Greek
Quartet
held
on
the
same
evening
and
organised
by
the
Society
of
Messenian
Archaeological
Studies
in
collaboration
with
Messenia
Prefecture
(Nomarch
Dimitris
Drakos)
and
the
38th
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities
(Director
Xeni
Arapogianni). |
| Intellectual Rights |
The
intellectual
rights
for
the
study
and
publication
of
the
monument
are
held
by
the
Archaeological
Society
at
Athens
and
executed
through
its
representative
Prof.
Petros
Themelis. |
| Jurisdiction |
The
monument
belongs
to
the
jurisdiction
of
the
Ministry
of
Culture,
specifically
the
38th
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities,
based
in
the
Benakeion
Archaeological
Museum
of
Kalamata,
which
is
responsible
for
Messenia
Prefecture. |
|
Latitude |
21o56'46'' |
| Longitude |
37o06'09'' |
| Altitude |
310
m |
| Google Earth |
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