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ANCIENT THEATRES - ANCIENT THEATRES' IDENTITY
THEATRE OF
NEA PLEURONA
Information
|
Description
of the
Monument
|
Photo
Gallery
|
Scientific
Report
 |
Nea Pleurona is located approximately 5 km northwest of the town of Messolonghi. The theatre adjoins the west side of the fortifications of Nea Pleurona. This is one of the most interesting theatres in Aetolia, due to both the unique view of the lowland coastal zone west of Messolonghi, and an important structural feature it presents. |
|
|
|
Description of the monument
Nea Pleurona is located approximately 5 km northwest of the town of Messolonghi
and occupies two hills at the southwest end of the Arakynthos range (Zygos). The
locals call the fortifications of Nea Pleurona the “Castle of Kyra (Lady) Rini”.
The theatre adjoins the west side of the fortifications of Nea Pleurona,
approximately halfway along their length and about 130 m. from the main gate.
This is one of the most interesting theatres in Aetolia, due to both the unique
view of the lowland coastal zone west of Messolonghi and an important structural
feature it presents. Specifically, the proscenium (logeion) has been positioned
in front of the wall and in contact with it, the cavea faces west, while the
functionality of the theatre stage is complemented by the adjoining Tower 3 and
the wings of the wall on both sides. From this tower, and presumably the
underground / ground floor area of the proscenium, it was possible to access a
small exit gateway on the north side of the wall.
Tower 3, measuring 6.50 m. x 3.30 m., and preserved to a height of approximately 5.70 m., must have been an ancillary area of the stage and parascenia, perhaps serving as the actors’ dressing rooms. The parodoi of the theatre, 2.40 m. wide, consisted of corridors delimited by the retaining walls of the cavea and the small walls running parallel to the inner side of the fortification wall. The excavation of the north parodos proved that the parodos entrances to the theatre had arched lintels. It also uncovered the supporting bases of the jambs, measuring 0.53 m. x 0.35 m. and 0.48 m. x 0.45 m., parts of the jambs themselves and five arch stones.
The orchestra of the theatre is 11.60 m. in diameter and is made of earth laid on the natural ground, without a surrounding rainwater drainage duct. Rainwater collected in a small duct running from the south end of the orchestra and out through the fortification wall. The cavea is laid out on the hillside. From the structural remains it would seem that, apart from the 15 rows visible today, it had a total of 25 to 30 rows of seats. Some seats are carved out of the bedrock. The cavea contains four staircases, two adjoining the side retaining walls (to north and south) and two central ones dividing it into three cunei.
Although the theatre has not been fully excavated, it appears that above the tenth row of seats there must have been a passageway dividing the lower cavea from the upper, or epitheatre. Traces of the staircase leading to the epitheatre are visible today along the central axis of the theatre, above the tenth row of seats.
In some places the seats are made of rectangular dressed blocks of stone, while in others, particularly the two lowest rows, in the centre of the theatre, they are carved out of the bedrock. At three points along the front of the first row of seats, one in the centre and two towards the central staircases, chisel marks are visible where the seats of honour stood (corresponding to one per cuneus). Shallow cuts are also preserved on the upper surface of the seats, where their marble facings were set; unfortunately no evidence of these survives.
The state of preservation of the ten visible rows of seats is satisfactory. Following interventions in that area, the theatre is not in immediate need of conservation. The remainder of the theatre is in urgent need of reconstruction, the estimated cost of which is €130,000.
The theatre is open to the public and was formerly used for theatrical performances.
L. Kolonas
Archaeologist
Photo
gallery
|
The Theatre of Nea Pleurona before the removal of building material from the orchestra. |
|
The Theatre of Nea Pleurona after the removal of building material from the orchestra. |
|
Aerial photograph of the theatre after cleaning and removal of building material from the seats and orchestra. |
|
General view of the cavea, orchestra and parodoi of the Theatre of Nea Pleurona. |
|
Representation of the stage building of the Theatre of Nea Pleurona according to E. Fiechter. |
|
Plan of the Theatre of Nea Pleurona (drawing by E. Fiechter). |
|
Plan of the Theatre of Nea Pleurona (drawing by E. Fiechter). |
Scientific
report
| Monument Name |
Theatre
of
Nea
Pleurona |
| Category |
Theatre |
| Brief Description |
Nea
Pleurona
is
located
approximately
5 km
northwest
of
the
town
of
Messolonghi.
The
theatre
adjoins
the
west
side
of
the
fortifications
of
Nea
Pleurona.
This
is
one
of
the
most
interesting
theatres
in
Aetolia,
due
to
both
the
unique
view
of
the
lowland
coastal
zone
west
of
Messolonghi,
and
an
important
structural
feature
it
presents. |
| Images - Plans |
There
is
full
photographic
documentation
and
temporary
drawings
based
on
the
plan
by
Ε.
Fiechter. |
| Documentation - Bibliography |
- W.
J.
Woodhouse,
Aetolia.
Its
Topography
and
Antiquities,
Oxford
1897
(repr.
New
York,
1973),
115-124
- R.
Herzog
& E.
Ziebarth,
Das
Theater
von
Neu-Pleuron,
MDAI
(A)
33
(1898),
314-325
- 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
-
Ευθ.
Μαστροκώστας,
Αρχαιότητες
και
μνημεία
Αιτωλοακαρνανίας,
ΑΔ
16
(1960),
p.
195
-
Λάζαρος
Κολώνας,
Νέα
Πλευρώνα,
ΑΔ
48
(1993),
Part
B
1,
Χρονικά,
140
-
Αιτωλοακαρνανία.
Αρχαία
Θέατρα.
Μύθοι
-
Θεοί
-
Ήρωες,
Στ.
Σαλάπας
- Μ.
Μανικάρου
(επιμ.),
Εκδόσεις
Ίφιτος,
Αγρίνιο
1999
- Π.
Μάξιμος,
Αρχαία
ελληνικά
θέατρα.
2.500
χρόνια
φως
και
πνεύμα,
Αθήνα
2000
- 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,
Αθήνα,
2006,
343-345
- Λ.
Κολώνας,
Νέα
Πλευρώνα,
Ministry
of
Culture
-
TDPEAE,
Αθήνα
2008
(archaeological
guidebook) |
| Location |
Nea
Pleurona
is
located
approximately
5 km
northwest
of
the
town
of
Messolonghi
and
occupies
two
hills
at
the
southwest
end
of
the
Arakynthos
range
(Zygos).
The
locals
call
the
fortifications
of
Nea
Pleurona
the
“Castle
of
Kyra
(Lady)
Rini”. |
| Dating |
- |
|
General Description of Monument
|
The
theatre
adjoins
the
west
side
of
the
fortifications
of
Nea
Pleurona,
approximately
halfway
along
their
length
and
about
130
m.
from
the
Main
Gate
A.
This
is
one
of
the
most
interesting
theatres
in
Aetolia,
due
to
both
the
unique
view
of
the
lowland
coastal
zone
west
of
Messolonghi
and
an
important
structural
feature
it
presents.
Specifically,
the
proscenium
(logeion)
has
been
positioned
in
front
of
the
wall
and
in
contact
with
it,
the
cavea
faces
west,
while
the
functionality
of
the
theatre
stage
is
complemented
by
the
adjoining
Tower
3
and
the
wings
of
the
wall
on
both
sides.
From
this
tower,
and
presumably
the
underground
/
ground
floor
area
of
the
proscenium,
it
was
possible
to
access
a
small
exit
gateway
on
the
north
side
of
the
wall.
Tower
3,
measuring
6.50
m. x
3.30
m.,
and
preserved
to a
height
of
approximately
5.70
m.,
must
have
been
an
ancillary
area
of
the
stage
and
parascenia,
perhaps
serving
as
the
actors’
dressing
rooms.
The
parodoi
of
the
theatre,
2.40
m.
wide,
consisted
of
corridors
delimited
by
the
retaining
walls
of
the
cavea
and
the
small
walls
running
parallel
to
the
inner
side
of
the
fortification
wall.
The
excavation
of
the
north
parodos
proved
that
the
parodos
entrances
to
the
theatre
had
arched
lintels.
It
also
uncovered
the
supporting
bases
of
the
jambs,
measuring
0.53
m. x
0.35
m.
and
0.48
m. x
0.45
m.,
parts
of
the
jambs
themselves
and
five
arch
stones.
The
orchestra
of
the
theatre
is
11.60
m.
in
diameter
and
is
made
of
earth
laid
on
the
natural
ground,
without
a
surrounding
rainwater
drainage
duct.
Rainwater
collected
in a
small
duct
running
from
the
south
end
of
the
orchestra
and
out
through
the
fortification
wall.
The
cavea
is
laid
out
on
the
hillside.
From
the
structural
remains
it
would
seem
that,
apart
from
the
15
rows
visible
today,
it
had
a
total
of
25
to
30
rows
of
seats.
Some
seats
are
carved
out
of
the
bedrock.
The
cavea
contains
four
staircases,
two
adjoining
the
side
retaining
walls
(to
north
and
south)
and
two
central
ones
dividing
it
into
three
cunei.
Although
the
theatre
has
not
been
fully
excavated,
it
appears
that
above
the
tenth
row
of
seats
there
must
have
been
a
passageway
dividing
the
lower
cavea
from
the
upper,
or
epitheatre.
Traces
of
the
staircase
leading
to
the
epitheatre
are
visible
today
along
the
central
axis
of
the
theatre,
above
the
tenth
row
of
seats.
In
some
places
the
seats
are
made
of
rectangular
dressed
blocks
of
stone,
while
in
others,
particularly
the
two
lowest
rows,
in
the
centre
of
the
theatre,
they
are
carved
out
of
the
bedrock.
At
three
points
along
the
front
of
the
first
row
of
seats,
one
in
the
centre
and
two
towards
the
central
staircases,
chisel
marks
are
visible
where
the
seats
of
honour
stood
(corresponding
to
one
per
cuneus).
Shallow
cuts
are
also
preserved
on
the
upper
surface
of
the
seats,
where
their
marble
facings
were
set;
unfortunately
no
evidence
of
these
survives.
|
| Current Situation |
The
state
of
preservation
of
the
ten
visible
rows
of
seats
is
satisfactory.
Following
interventions
in
that
area,
the
theatre
is
not
in
immediate
need
of
conservation.
The
remainder
of
the
theatre
is
in
urgent
need
of
reconstruction,
following
a
study
to
be
carried
out
for
this
purpose. |
| Excavations - Interventions |
- Removal to a nearby empty space of all the scattered building material in the orchestra, to be used in future restoration of the theatre. - Clearing of the parodoi through systematic excavation. - Test excavation in the fill of Tower 3 undertaken in 1993 by Prof. S. Gogos and myself. - Identification and cleaning of the theatre drainage duct. - Uncovering of all the retaining walls around the upper cavea, and elements of the cunei from the tenth row upwards. - Restoration of scattered architectural members and raising of the fallen seats in the rows. - An investigation into a study for the restoration of the theatre has been carried out, according to which this will require €130,000. |
| Permitted Uses |
-
Simple
visit
(plays
were
formerly
allowed).
|
|
History of Modern Uses |
A
lime
kiln
was
in
use
in
the
orchestra
in
the
19th
and
perhaps
the
early
20th
century. |
| 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
2008
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. |
| Intellectual Rights |
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). |
| Jurisdiction |
- |
|
Latitude |
38°24'49.89"N |
| Longitude |
21°24'31.13"E |
| Altitude |
- |
