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ANCIENT THEATRES - ANCIENT THEATRES' IDENTITY
THEATRE OF
STRATOS
Information
|
Description
of the
Monument
|
Photo
Gallery
|
Scientific
Report
 |
The Theatre of Stratos, in Agrinio Municipality (old village of Sorovigli), Aetoloacarnania Prefecture, is the largest of the five theatres uncovered in the prefecture to date. The excavation of the visible foundations of the stage building has revealed three building phases, dated to the 4th, 3rd and 2nd centuries BC respectively. |
|
|
|
Description of the monument
The theatre is
located in Agrinio Municipality (old village of Sorovigli), Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture. The excavation of the visible foundations of the stage building has
revealed three building phases, dated to the 4th, 3rd and
2nd centuries BC respectively.
PHASE Ι: In the 4th c. BC a simple single-storey building was constructed, opening onto the orchestra, which is in the form of a stoa. The building is rectangular in plan and measures 18 m. x 9 m. The entrance was in the south wall. The roof was gabled and supported by six internal columns, of which the two endmost adjoined the east and west side walls of the building. Set in the open façade were five pillars, forming six openings between the outer walls, in which large paintings were placed as scenic backdrops to the performances. In this phase the stage was on the same level as the orchestra.
PHASE ΙΙ: In the 3rd c. BC the stage building became two-storey and the action on stage, apart from the orchestra, probably unfolded on the upper storey as well. The ground-floor façade opening onto the orchestra was blocked, and the roof was now supported by a new colonnade of pillars, in front of which performances were held. Large paintings were placed in the openings of the pillar colonnade, as with the corresponding openings of the original façade. The inner colonnade was replaced by a wall and two rectangular spaces were formed, with a corridor between them. In this phase, as in Phase I, performances were held in the orchestra due to the small size of the stage. The columns of the façade were replaced by five octagonal pillars for the better roofing of the upper storey.
PHASE ΙΙΙ: In the 2nd c. BC two ramps were constructed, leading from the east and west parodoi of the theatre to the performance area, i.e. the proscenium (logeion) on the upper storey, while the stage building also acquired parascenia. At the same time, the façade of the old ground-floor stage was restructured with 12 Doric semi-columns. During this phase, theatrical performances were held exclusively on the upper storey, while the whole stage building was almost touching the orchestra. To this phase are also dated the seats of honour (proedriae) set on the floor of the orchestra, and the large rectangular base of a votive altar between the orchestra and the west parodos.
The Theatre of Stratos is the largest of the five uncovered in Aetoloacarnania Prefecture to date. It is not in a very good state of preservation. Of the parts which have come to light, the best-preserved are the cunei with their seats in the northeast section of the cavea, the lowest rows of seats in the north cunei, the first row of seats of honour, known as “proedriae”, the orchestra and the drainage duct. Of the stage building, the proscenium and the parascenium only the foundations remain.
The theatre is mostly built of grey-green local sandstone (cavea, stage), while the lower sections of the cavea, the base of the orchestra surround and the drainage duct are made of white limestone from Lepenou. The cavea is divided into 11 cunei by 12 staircases, while there is no passageway. At least 33 rows of seats are preserved. The capacity of the theatre is estimated at approximately 6,000 spectators. The upper seats of the cavea are of local grey-green sandstone, while the lower sections are of white limestone from Lepenou. In the first row of seats are preserved 11 “seats of honour” (proedriae), one to each cuneus. These are made of single limestone blocks. The passageway between the proedriae and the orchestra, paved with slabs of white limestone from Lepenou, is also partially preserved.
The orchestra is approximately 15.50 m. in diameter. It has a surround of white limestone 0.30 m. wide. The drainage duct running around the north half of the orchestra is also preserved in good condition, with cover slabs approximately every 2 m. Just before the east parodos it sinks underground and continues in a north-south direction under the stage and the proscenium. On the floor of the orchestra, in the east and north sections, were found fragments of the backs of two further seats of honour, while there may have been a third in the west section. These white limestone “proediae” belong to the last phase of use of the theatre, dated to the 2nd c. BC. To the same phase belongs the large rectangular base of a votive altar between the orchestra and the west parodos.
The excavation of the visible foundations of the stage building has revealed three building phases, dated to the 4th, 3rd and 2nd centuries BC respectively. Due to the building material used, all the structural and functional elements of the theatre are in need of immediate consolidation and reconstruction work.
The ancient theatre of Stratos is built on a low hillside overlooking the River Acheloos and its valley. It is set within the fortification walls of the ancient city, east of the wall and very close to the agora. The site of the theatre was first identified by W. M. Leake in 1805, while L. Heuzey positioned it correctly on the topographical map of the ancient city in 1856. It was not included in the general topographical map of the city in the publication of the work of the École Française d’Athènes in 1892, as it was not visible. The site of the theatre was identified once more by F. Noack, four years later. The modern excavations were carried out from 1990 to 1996 under the direction of Dr Lazaros Kolonas, Honorary General Director of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, with the participation of Dr Ε.-L. Schwandner, as the representative of the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut of Berlin.
The only use permitted today is the simple visit.
L. Kolonas
Archaeologist
Photo
gallery
 |
Aerial photograph of the archaeological site of ancient Stratos, with the modern village of Stratos, the Temple of Stratian Zeus, the Theatre and the Agora of the ancient city |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the theatre from the SW. |
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Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the theatre from the west. |
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Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra and seats from the NW. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the theatre from the west. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra and seats from the NW. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra and parodoi from the north. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra and parodoi from the north. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra and parodoi from the north. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra from the west. |
 |
Ancient Theatre of Stratos. View of the orchestra from the east. |
 |
Ancient Stratos. Aerial photograph of the Theatre and Agora (taken by Agrinio Flying Club) |
 |
Ancient Stratos. Plan of the theatre and the Agora buildings |
 |
Ancient Stratos. Plans and reconstructions of the theatre: a) Building Phase I (4th c. BC), b) Building Phase II (3rd c. BC), c) Building Phase III (3rd-2nd c. BC) |
 |
Theatre of ancient Stratos. Reconstruction of Building Phase I (4th c. BC) |
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Theatre of ancient Stratos. Reconstruction of Building Phase III (3rd-2nd c. BC). |
Scientific
report
| Monument Name |
Theatre
of
Stratos |
| Category |
Theatre |
| Brief Description |
The
Theatre
of
Stratos,
in
Agrinio
Municipality
(old
village
of
Sorovigli),
Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture,
is
the
largest
of
the
five
theatres
uncovered
in
the
prefecture
to
date.
The
excavation
of
the
visible
foundations
of
the
stage
building
has
revealed
three
building
phases,
dated
to
the
4th,
3rd
and
2nd
centuries
BC
respectively. |
| Images - Plans |
- |
| Documentation - Bibliography |
- W.
M.
Leake,
Travels
in
Northern
Greece,
vol.
4,
London
1835
- L.
Heuzey,
Le
mont
Olympe
et
l’Acarnanie,
Paris
1860
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Στράτος,
ΑΔ
45
(1990),
140
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Στράτος,
ΑΔ
46
(1991),
163
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Στράτος,
ΑΔ
47
(1992),
147
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
AA
1992,
pp.
669-670
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
AA
1993,
pp.
678
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Στράτος,
ΑΔ
49
(1994),
242
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
AA
1994,
pp.
678
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
STRATOS
AM
ACHELOOS,
η
πόλις
φάντασμα;,
Φηγός,
Ιωάννινα
1994,
459-465
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Στράτος,
ΑΔ
50
(1995),
240
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
AA
1995,
pp.
783
-
Λ.
Κολώνας,
Στράτος,
ΑΔ
51
(1996),
241
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
Akarnanien,
die
unbekannte
Landschaft
Griechenlands.
Feldforschungen
in
Stratos
und
Palairos,
Νürnberger
Blätter
zur
Archäologie,
Heft
17,
2000/2001,
pp.
8-22
-
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
Die
Ausgrabung
in
der
antiken
Stadt
Stratos
(Aitoloakarnania)
und
der
Survey
des
Staatsgebietes
“Stratike”,
Πρακτικά
Α΄
Αρχαιολογικής
Συνόδου
Νότιας
και
Δυτικής
Ελλάδος,
Πάτρα
9-12
Ιουνίου
1996,
Athens
2006,
531-540. |
| Location |
Municipal
Department
of
Stratos,
Agrinio
Municipality,
Valtos
Province,
Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture
(old
village
of
Sorovigli). |
| Dating |
The excavation of the visible foundations of the stage building has revealed three building phases, dated to the 4th, 3rd and 2nd centuries BC respectively. PHASE Ι: In the 4th c. BC a simple single-storey building was constructed, opening onto the orchestra, which is in the form of a stoa. The building is rectangular in plan and measures 18 m. x 9 m. The entrance was in the south wall. The roof was gabled and supported by six internal columns, of which the two endmost adjoined the east and west side walls of the building. Set in the open façade were five pillars, forming six openings between the outer walls, in which large paintings were placed as scenic backdrops to the performances. In this phase the stage was on the same level as the orchestra. PHASE ΙΙ: In the 3rd c. BC the stage building became two-storey and the action on stage, apart from the orchestra, probably unfolded on the upper storey as well. The ground-floor façade opening onto the orchestra was blocked, and the roof was now supported by a new colonnade of pillars, in front of which performances were held. Large paintings were placed in the openings of the pillar colonnade, as with the corresponding openings of the original façade. The inner colonnade was replaced by a wall and two rectangular spaces were formed, with a corridor between them. In this phase, as in Phase I, performances were held in the orchestra due to the small size of the stage. The columns of the façade were replaced by five octagonal pillars for the better roofing of the upper storey. PHASE ΙΙΙ: In the 2nd c. BC two ramps were constructed, leading from the east and west parodoi of the theatre to the performance area, i.e. the proscenium (logeion) on the upper storey, while the stage building also acquired parascenia. At the same time, the façade of the old ground-floor stage was restructured with 12 Doric semi-columns. During this phase, theatrical performances were held exclusively on the upper storey, while the whole stage building was almost touching the orchestra. To this phase are also dated the seats of honour (proedriae) set on the floor of the orchestra, and the large rectangular base of the votive altar between the orchestra and the west parodos. |
|
General Description of Monument
|
The
Theatre
of
Stratos
is
the
largest
of
the
five
uncovered
in
Aetoloacarnania
Prefecture
to
date.
It
is
not
in a
very
good
state
of
preservation.
Of
the
parts
which
have
come
to
light,
the
best-preserved
are
the
cunei
with
their
seats
in
the
northeast
section
of
the
cavea,
the
lowest
rows
of
seats
in
the
north
cunei,
the
first
row
of
seats
of
honour,
known
as “proedriae”,
the
orchestra
and
the
drainage
duct.
Of
the
stage
building,
the
proscenium
and
the
parascenium
only
the
foundations
remain.
The
construction
of
the
theatre
is
dated
to
the
4th
c.
BC.
Restructuring
and
repairs,
mainly
to
the
stage
building,
were
undertaken
in
the
3rd
and
2nd
c.
BC.
The
theatre
is
mostly
built
of
grey-green
local
sandstone
(cavea,
stage),
while
the
lower
sections
of
the
cavea,
the
base
of
the
orchestra
surround
and
the
drainage
duct
are
made
of
white
limestone
from
Lepenou.
Cavea:
The
cavea
is
divided
into
11
cunei
by
12
staircases,
while
there
is
no
passageway.
At
least
33
rows
of
seats
are
preserved.
The
capacity
of
the
theatre
is
estimated
at
approximately
6,000
spectators.
The
upper
seats
of
the
cavea
are
of
local
grey-green
sandstone,
while
the
lower
sections
are
of
white
limestone
from
Lepenou.
In
the
first
row
of
seats
are
preserved
11
“seats
of
honour”
(proedriae),
one
to
each
cuneus.
These
are
made
of
single
limestone
blocks.
The
passageway
between
the
proedriae
and
the
orchestra,
paved
with
slabs
of
white
limestone
from
Lepenou,
is
also
partially
preserved.
Orchestra:
The
orchestra
is
approximately
15.50
m.
in
diameter.
It
has
a
surround
of
white
limestone
0.30
m.
wide.
The
drainage
duct
running
around
the
north
half
of
the
orchestra
is
also
preserved
in
good
condition,
with
cover
slabs
approximately
every
2 m.
Just
before
the
east
parodos
it
sinks
underground
and
continues
in a
north-south
direction
under
the
stage
and
the
proscenium.
On
the
floor
of
the
orchestra,
in
the
east
and
north
sections,
were
found
fragments
of
the
backs
of
two
further
seats
of
honour,
while
there
may
have
been
a
third
in
the
west
section.
These
white
limestone
“proediae”
belong
to
the
last
phase
of
use
of
the
theatre,
dated
to
the
2nd
c.
BC.
To
the
same
phase
belongs
the
large
rectangular
base
of a
votive
altar
between
the
orchestra
and
the
west
parodos.
Stage
building:
The
excavation
of
the
visible
foundations
of
the
stage
building
has
revealed
three
building
phases,
dated
to
the
4th,
3rd
and
2nd
centuries
BC
respectively. |
| Current Situation |
Due
to
the
building
material
used,
all
the
structural
and
functional
elements
of
the
theatre
are
in
need
of
immediate
consolidation
and
reconstruction
work. |
| Excavations - Interventions |
The
ancient
theatre
of
Stratos
is
built
on a
low
hillside
overlooking
the
River
Acheloos
and
its
valley.
It
is
set
within
the
fortification
walls
of
the
ancient
city,
east
of
the
wall
and
very
close
to
the
agora.
The
site
of
the
theatre
was
first
identified
by
W.
M.
Leake
in
1805,
while
L.
Heuzey
positioned
it
correctly
on
the
topographical
map
of
the
ancient
city
in
1856.
It
was
not
included
in
the
general
topographical
map
of
the
city
in
the
publication
of
the
work
of
the
École
Française
d’Athènes
in
1892,
as
it
was
not
visible.
The
site
of
the
theatre
was
identified
once
more
by
F.
Noack,
four
years
later.
The
modern
excavations
were
carried
out
from
1990
to
1996
under
the
direction
of
Dr
Lazaros
Kolonas,
Honorary
General
Director
of
Antiquities
and
Cultural
Heritage
of
the
Ministry
of
Culture,
with
the
participation
of
Dr
Ε.-L.
Schwandner,
as
the
representative
of
the
Deutsches
Archäologisches
Institut
of
Berlin. |
| Permitted Uses |
Simple
visit |
|
History of Modern Uses |
- |
| 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),
while
the
publication
rights
are
held
in
common
by
Dr
E.-L.
Schwandner,
as
the
representative
of
the
Deutsches
Archäologisches
Institut,
and
Dr
L.
Kolonas,
Honorary
General
Director
of
Antiquities
and
Cultural
Heritage
of
the
Ministry
of
Culture |
| 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°40'18.31"N |
| Longitude |
21°19'10.21"E |
| Altitude |
0 |
| Google Earth |
38.671736,21.31949 |
