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ANCIENT THEATRES - ANCIENT THEATRES' IDENTITY
THEATRE OF
OENIADES
Information
|
Description
of the
Monument
|
Photo
Gallery
|
Scientific
Report
 |
The Theatre of ancient Oeniadae is located at the Trikardos site, in the Municipal Department of Katochi, Holy Town of Messolonghi Municipality, Aetoloacarnania Prefecture. Two building phases have been identified in the Theatre of Oeniades, mainly corresponding to restructuring of the stage building and, to a lesser extent, other interventions in the rest of the theatre. |
|
|
|
Description of the monument
The Theatre of
ancient Oeniadae is located at the Trikardos site, in the Municipal Department
of Katochi, Holy Town of Messolonghi Municipality, Aetoloacarnania Prefecture.
Two building phases have been identified in the Theatre of Oeniades, mainly
corresponding to restructuring of the stage building and, to a lesser extent,
other interventions in the rest of the theatre.
Phase Ι: In the mid-4th c. BC, the theatre functioned with the aid of a single-storey rectangular stage building with five large openings in its façade, formed by four pillars bearing Doric capitals with abacus and echinus. The openings between the pillars were filled with paintings used as scenic backdrops for the performances.
Phase ΙΙ (first half of the 3rd c. BC): To the façade of the original stage was added a proscenium (logeion), which now became the main structural element. Two small parascenia were also built east and west of the stage, framing the protruding proscenium. Adjoining the front of the pillars supporting the flat proscenium roof were semi-columns with Ionic capitals. The original rectangular stage building was raised to form a second storey. On the upper band of the architrave of the entablature appears the choregic inscription (ΤΗ)Ν ΟΡΧΗΣΤ(ΡΑΝ) [(TE)N ORCHEST(RAN)], referring to the construction of the orchestra. At the same time as the interventions to the façade were carried out, the older orchestra was also modified with the addition of a stone surround and the construction of a rainwater drainage duct in the space between the cavea and the surround.
The cavea of the theatre, carved out of the grey local limestone, is larger than a semicircle and consists of 28 rows of seats, of which only 19 remain. The southwest end of the cavea is formed of an artificial earthen bank on which were set rows of stone seats, some of which are preserved, with inscriptions, in the lower part of the cuneus. The spectators reached their seats via nine staircases which divided the cavea into 11 cunei, without a passageway. The southeast and northwest ends of the cavea were completed by retaining walls, one built of polygonal masonry and the other of irregular coursed masonry.
Of the other architectural elements of the theatre, the orchestra is preserved, 16.14 m. in diameter, with a hard floor of beaten earth and encircled by a surround 0.46 m. wide, which is preserved in excellent condition. Between the orchestra and the first row of seats runs a drainage duct covered with slabs, which formed a sort of carved passageway around the orchestra providing access to the cavea seats.
The stage building is preserved in poor condition; only the foundations of the proscenium survive, to a total length of 21.89 m., and those of the parascenia, each measuring 5 m. x 5.62 m.
The Theatre of Oeniades, like other ancient theatres, presents certain unique features, such as the fact that the axes of the cavea and staircases do not meet in the centre of the orchestra, and that the outer wall of the stage building is not parallel to the ancient road past the area. Of the cavea, only 19 rows of seats survive.
The first systematic excavation of the Theatre of Oeniades was undertaken by American archaeologist Benjamin Powell, in the second half of December 1900. The excavation work revealed the stage, the orchestra and about half of the cavea. In May of the following year (1901), the stone slabs carved with emancipatory inscriptions in the southwest part of the cavea came to light.
Afterwards the site remained filled in until 1987, when the 6th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Patras, through its director Dr Lazaros Kolonas, undertook to uncover it fully. During the course of this period of work, the theatre was methodically cleared, the slope of the infill on the west side of the cavea was largely restored, and six slabs covering the drainage duct around the orchestra were revealed. The new systematic excavation, study and publication of the Theatre of Oeniades became possible once the relevant application by the Institut für Klassische Archäologie of the University of Vienna had been approved by the Central Archaeological Council of the Ministry of Culture. The research programme was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) of the Austrian Ministry of Culture. The work on the archaeological site, carried out by myself and Prof. Savvas Gogos, began in 1991, continued in 1992 and was substantially completed in 1993. The excavation of the theatre had to be undertaken virtually from scratch, since only a few sections of the cunei remained visible. Apart from the careful cleaning of the architectural elements and the drawing of the cavea, the orchestra with the rainwater drainage duct and the stage of the theatre, this work comprised section drawings of all the basic parts of the stage building, and drawings (plans, elevations and sections) of architectural members, mainly from the epistyle of the proscenium, found in various parts of the theatre area. Drawings were also made of the retaining walls of the cavea and the elevations of the walls of the stage building. Finally, test trenches were opened in selected spots of the stage area, the drainage duct and the cavea, with the object of collecting supplementary pottery dating information.
The theatre is open to the public, and concerts and plays are held every summer as part of the Oeniades Festival, subject to approval by the Central Archaeological Council.
L. Kolonas
Archaeologist
Photo
gallery
 |
View of the theatre from the SW βefore work began (1987) |
 |
View of the theatre from the SW before work began (1987) |
 |
View of Trikardos Hill, with the theatre and the buildings of the Agora of τhe ancient city of Oeniades |
 |
Aerial photograph of the Theatre of Οeniades |
 |
General view of the orchestra of the Theatre of Oeniades from τhe north |
 |
Reconstruction (Building Phase I) of the Theatre of Oeniades by Savvas Gogos, in 3D computer modelling by Ioanna Anagnostopoulou |
 |
Reconstruction of the stage (Building Phase II) of the Theatre of Oeniades by Savvas Gogos, in 3D computer modelling by Ioanna Anagnostopoulou |
 |
Drawing of the stage according to H. Wirsing (1924). Published by E. Fiechter |
 |
Drawing of the theatre (scale 1:100) |
Scientific
report
| Monument Name |
Theatre
of
Oeniades |
| Category |
Theatre |
| Brief Description |
The
ancient
Theatre
of
Mytilene,
built
on
the
western
edge
of
the
ancient
city,
on
the
hill
of
Agia
Kyriaki,
is
considered
one
of
the
greatest
works
of
architecture
of
the
ancient
world. |
| Images - Plans |
The
theatre
of
ancient
Oeniadae
is
located
at
the
Trikardos
site,
in
the
Municipal
Department
of
Katochi,
Holy
Town
of
Messolonghi
Municipality,
Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture.
Two
building
phases
have
been
identified
in
the
Theatre
of
Oeniades,
mainly
corresponding
to
restructuring
of
the
stage
building
and,
to a
lesser
extent,
other
interventions
in
the
rest
of
the
theatre. |
| Documentation - Bibliography |
- B.
Powell,
Oeniadae
II.
The
Theatre,
AJA
8
(1904),
174-201
- E.
Fiechter,
Die
Theater
von
Oiniadai
und
Neu
Pleuron,
Antike
griechische
Theaterbauten
II,
Stuttgart
1931
- A.
v.
Gerkan,
Rez.
Zu
Friechter,
Antike
Theaterbauten,
Oiniadai,
Neu
Pleuron,
Gnomon
IX
(1933),
145ff
-
Σ.
Γώγος
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Περί
του
θεάτρου
των
Οινιαδών,
Αρχαιογνωσία
9
(1995-96),
Athens
1998,
305-311
-
Αιτωλοακαρνανία.
Αρχαία
Θέατρα.
Μύθοι
-
Θεοί
-
Ήρωες,
Στ.
Σαλάπας
- Μ.
Μανικάρου
(eds),
Εκδόσεις
Ίφιτος,
Agrinio
1999
- Π.
Μάξιμος,
Αρχαία
ελληνικά
θέατρα.
2.500
χρόνια
φως
και
πνεύμα,
Athens
2000
- Σ.
Γώγος,
Το
θέατρο
των
Οινιαδών
και
η
συμβολή
του
στην
έρευνα
του
αρχαίου
ελληνικού
θεάτρου,
Πρακτικά
του
Β΄
Διεθνούς
Ιστορικού
και
Αρχαιολογικού
Συνεδρίου
Αιτωλοακαρνανίας,
Αγρίνιο
29-31
Μαρτίου
2002,
Vol.
I,
Agrinio
2004,
259-265
- Σ.
Γώγος,
Το
αρχαίο
θέατρο
των
Οινιαδών,
Εκδ.
Μίλητος,
Αθήνα
2004
- Λ.
Κολώνας,
Οινιάδες.
Θέατρο
και
νεώσοικοι.
Οι
πρόσφατες
ανασκαφές,
Πρακτικά
Α΄
Αρχαιολογικής
Συνόδου
Νότιας
και
Δυτικής
Ελλάδος
(Πάτρα,
9-12
Ιουνίου
1996),
ΥΠΠΟ-ΤΑΠΑ,
Athens
2006,
483-492
- Λ.
Κολώνας,
Το
έργο
της
Επιτροπής
Προστασίας,
Έρευνας
και
Ανάδειξης
τριών
Αρχαίων
Πόλεων
του
Ν.
Αιτωλοακαρνανίας:
«Πάλαιρος,
Οινιάδες,
Πλευρώνα»,
in
Έργο
των
Επιστημονικών
Επιτροπών
Αναστήλωσης,
Συντήρησης
και
Ανάδειξης
Μνημείων
του
TDPEAE,
Athens
2006,
341-343
- Λ.
Κολώνας,
Αρχαίοι
Οινιάδες,
Ministry
of
Culture
-
TDPEAE,
Athens
2008
(archaeological
guidebook). |
| Location |
Trikardos
site,
modern-day
Municipal
Department
of
Katochi,
Holy
Town
of
Messolonghi
Municipality,
Messolonghi
Province,
Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture. |
| Dating |
Two
building
phases
have
been
identified
in
the
Theatre
of
Oeniades,
mainly
corresponding
to
restructuring
of
the
stage
building
and,
to a
lesser
extent,
other
interventions
in
the
rest
of
the
theatre.
Phase
Ι:
In
the
mid-4th
c.
BC,
the
theatre
functioned
with
the
aid
of a
single-storey
rectangular
stage
building
with
five
large
openings
in
its
façade,
formed
by
four
pillars
bearing
Doric
capitals
with
abacus
and
echinus.
The
openings
between
the
pillars
were
filled
with
paintings
used
as
scenic
backdrops
for
the
performances.
Phase
ΙΙ
(first
half
of
the
3rd
c.
BC):
To
the
façade
of
the
original
stage
was
added
a
proscenium
(logeion),
which
now
became
the
main
structural
element.
Two
small
parascenia
were
also
built
east
and
west
of
the
stage,
framing
the
protruding
proscenium.
Adjoining
the
front
of
the
pillars
supporting
the
flat
proscenium
roof
were
semi-columns
with
Ionic
capitals.
The
original
rectangular
stage
building
was
raised
to
form
a
second
storey.
On
the
upper
band
of
the
architrave
of
the
entablature
appears
the
choregic
inscription
(ΤΗ)Ν
ΟΡΧΗΣΤ(ΡΑΝ)
[(TE)N
ORCHEST(RAN)],
referring
to
the
construction
of
the
orchestra.
At
the
same
time
as
the
interventions
to
the
façade
were
carried
out,
the
older
orchestra
was
also
modified
with
the
addition
of a
stone
surround
and
the
construction
of a
rainwater
drainage
duct
in
the
space
between
the
cavea
and
the
surround. |
|
General Description of Monument
|
The
cavea
of
the
theatre,
carved
out
of
the
grey
local
limestone,
is
larger
than
a
semicircle
and
consists
of
28
rows
of
seats,
of
which
only
19
remain.
The
southwest
end
of
the
cavea
is
formed
of
an
artificial
earthen
bank
on
which
were
set
rows
of
stone
seats,
some
of
which
are
preserved,
with
inscriptions,
in
the
lower
part
of
the
cuneus.
The
spectators
reached
their
seats
via
nine
staircases
which
divided
the
cavea
into
11
cunei,
without
a
passageway.
The
southeast
and
northwest
ends
of
the
cavea
were
completed
by
retaining
walls,
one
built
of
polygonal
masonry
and
the
other
of
irregular
coursed
masonry.
Of
the
other
architectural
elements
of
the
theatre,
the
orchestra
is
preserved,
16.14
m.
in
diameter,
with
a
hard
floor
of
beaten
earth
and
encircled
by a
surround
0.46
m.
wide,
which
is
preserved
in
excellent
condition.
Between
the
orchestra
and
the
first
row
of
seats
runs
a
drainage
duct
covered
with
slabs,
which
formed
a
sort
of
carved
passageway
around
the
orchestra
providing
access
to
the
cavea
seats.
The
stage
building
is
preserved
in
poor
condition;
only
the
foundations
of
the
proscenium
survive,
to a
total
length
of
21.89
m.,
and
those
of
the
parascenia,
each
measuring
5 m.
x
5,62
m.
The
Theatre
of
Oeniades,
like
other
ancient
theatres,
presents
certain
unique
features,
such
as
the
fact
that
the
axes
of
the
cavea
and
staircases
do
not
meet
in
the
centre
of
the
orchestra,
and
that
the
outer
wall
of
the
stage
building
is
not
parallel
to
the
ancient
road
past
the
area. |
| Current Situation |
Of
the
cavea,
only
19
rows
of
seats
survive. |
| Excavations - Interventions |
The first systematic excavation of the Theatre of Oeniades was undertaken by American archaeologist Benjamin Powell, in the second half of December 1900. The excavation work revealed the stage, the orchestra and about half of the cavea. In May of the following year (1901), the stone slabs carved with emancipatory inscriptions in the southwest part of the cavea came to light. The basic and probably the most important contribution of the first archaeological excavation at the turn of the 20th century was the recording, description and photographing of the state of the theatre at the time, which have helped us to identify and complete as far as possible all those architectural elements which have either not survived or are no longer in their original positions. Afterwards the site remained filled in until 1987, when the 6th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Patras, through its director Dr Lazaros Kolonas, undertook to uncover it fully. During the course of this period of work, the theatre was methodically cleared, the slope of the infill on the west side of the cavea was largely restored, and six slabs covering the drainage duct around the orchestra were revealed. The new systematic excavation, study and publication of the Theatre of Oeniades became possible once the relevant application by the Institut für Klassische Archäologie of the University of Vienna had been approved by the Central Archaeological Council of the Ministry of Culture. The research programme was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) of the Austrian Ministry of Culture. The work on the archaeological site, carried out by myself and Prof. Savvas Gogos, began in 1991, continued in 1992 and was substantially completed in 1993. The excavation of the theatre had to be undertaken virtually from scratch, since only a few sections of the cunei remained visible. Apart from the careful cleaning of the architectural elements and the drawing of the cavea, the orchestra with the rainwater drainage duct and the stage of the theatre, this work comprised section drawings of all the basic parts of the stage building, and drawings (plans, elevations and sections) of architectural members, mainly from the epistyle of the proscenium, found in various parts of the theatre area. Drawings were also made of the retaining walls of the cavea and the elevations of the walls of the stage building. Finally, test trenches were opened in selected spots of the stage area, the drainage duct and the cavea, with the object of collecting supplementary pottery dating information. In 2002 the Scientific Committee of the “Protection, Research and Promotion of Three Ancient Cities of Aetoloacarnania Prefecture: Pleurona - Oeniades - Palairos” project of the Credit Management Fund for Archaeological Works (TDPEAE) was established. It carried out consolidation and reconstruction work on various parts of the monument (seats, retaining walls, etc.) between 2002 and 2006. |
| Permitted Uses |
Simple
visit
-
Concerts
and
plays
are
held
here
every
summer
as
part
of
the
Oeniades
Festival,
subject
to
approval
by
the
Central
Archaeological
Council. |
|
History of Modern Uses |
Following
B.
Powell’s
excavation,
the
site
was
almost
filled
in
and
the
stage
building
and
cavea
were
used
as
stables
for
various
animals. |
| Further Information |
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).
The
publication
rights
following
the
protection,
research
and
promotion
works
managed
from
2002
to
2006
by
the
Scientific
Committee
of
the
“Protection,
Research
and
Promotion
of
Three
Ancient
Cities
of
Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture:
Pleurona
-
Oeniades
-
Palairos”
project
of
the
Credit
Management
Fund
for
Archaeological
Works
(TDPEAE),
are
held
by
Dr
Lazaros
Kolonas,
Honorary
General
Director
of
Antiquities
and
Cultural
Heritage
of
the
Ministry
of
Culture,
and
by
the
researcher
of
the
theatre,
Prof.
Savvas
Gogos. |
| Intellectual Rights |
- |
| Jurisdiction |
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). |
|
Latitude |
38°24'33.90"N |
| Longitude |
21°11'55.36"E |
| Altitude |
0 |
| Google Earth |
38.409768,21.198839 |
