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ANCIENT THEATRES - ANCIENT THEATRES' IDENTITY
ANCIENT
THEATRE OF
MIEZA
Information
|
Description
of the
Monument
|
Photo
Gallery
|
Scientific
Report
 |
The theatre is located in the archaeological site of
Mieza, in Naoussa Municipality, Naoussa Prefecture.
It is a theatral structure with mixed elements of Greek and
Roman theatres, consisting of an orchestra of beaten earth (conistra),
a cavea laid out on the slope of a hill with tiers of poros
stone seats, and a stone stage building. |
|
|
|
Description of the Monument
The theatre is located in the archaeological site of Mieza, in Naoussa
Municipality, Naoussa Prefecture.
It is a theatral structure with mixed elements of Greek and Roman theatres, consisting of an orchestra of beaten earth (conistra), a cavea laid out on the slope of a hill with tiers of poros stone seats, and a stone stage building.
As the study of the excavation material has not yet been completed, the dating of the theatre is based on its structural, typological and morphological features, which are a mixture of elements of both Greek and Roman theatres.
Characteristic features of Hellenistic theatres are:
a) the proscenium with semi-columns attached to pillars instead of a raised podium,
b) the uncovered parodoi,
c) the lack of an axial staircase in the cavea,
d) the construction of the cavea on a hillside rather than a built substructure,
e) the lack of a raised podium in the cavea.
Characteristic features of Roman theatres are:
a) the mixed layout using rectangles and equilateral triangles,
b) the retaining walls running parallel to the stage building,
c) the shape of
the orchestra, delimited by a semicircle and the tangents at its ends,
d) the excavation finds, chiefly the pottery.
Based on these data, the theatre of Mieza belongs to the Roman period, but the
predominance of Hellenistic elements is an indication of early date, placing it
in an era when the type of the Roman theatre had not yet become fixed.
A later phase in the cavea of the theatre, with new, vestigial oblique walls built after the collapse of the retaining walls along the parodoi, cannot be dated precisely.
General Description of Monument
This is a provincial theatre without particularly elaborate structures, oriented east with a view of the plain.
The orchestra forms a regular semicircle, extending along the tangents at its ends towards the stage building. It is 22 metres in diameter with a floor of beaten earth. There is no perimetric drainage duct. The rainwater was and still is drained through a hole in the bedrock, approximately in the centre of the orchestra.
The cavea is set on a natural slope, partly carved out of the bedrock and partly on fill. Four staircases divide it into five cunei. The tiers of seats and the staircases are made of soft local poros stone. Ashlars are preserved in situ up to the 7th tier. There is evidence of at least 19 tiers, but there must have been many more.
The retaining
walls of the original phase of the cavea, parallel to the stage building, must
have collapsed at some point, probably due to the pressure of the fill they
supported. After their collapse they were abolished and replaced by the
vestigial oblique retaining walls visible today, which were set on the natural
bedrock in such a way as to minimise the fill behind them and eliminate any
danger of collapse.
The stage building is made of ashlars of soft local poros stone. Despite its
poor state of preservation, we can distinguish the proscenium, the main stage
building, with two parascenia adjoining its ends, and a larger building adjacent
to it. Although this last structure belongs to the same building phase as the
others, it is unclear whether it formed a functional part of the theatre or was
used independently from its east side.
The stage building and parascenia were two storeys high, but there is no
information on the position of the staircase leading to the upper storey of the
stage building and the proscenium (logeion).
Two of the eight semi-columns attached to pillars of the logeion are preserved. They framed five doorways and four partitions made of poros stone slabs. The position of the other six semi-columns has been carved with a sharp instrument into the stylobate of the proscenium.
The geometric
layout of the theatre of Mieza is interesting, as it constitutes a unique
combination of Vitruvius’s references to the layout of Greek and Roman theatres.
The graphic representation of the theatre is based on its surviving elements,
combined with the symmetry of theatres in general, its geometric layout and
comparison with other, similar theatres.
The monument was in a very poor state of preservation. However, it will be in very good condition when the conservation and restoration work, begun in 2007 and interrupted in 2009 due to lack of funds, is completed.
The theatre of Mieza is currently a monument of the archaeological site open to the public and will continue to function as such.
Once the conservation and restoration work is complete, it will be able to host controlled events with a limited number of spectators.
G. KaradedosArchaeologist, Architect
Photo
gallery
 |
Map of the wider area of the Mieza archaeological site. |
 |
General view of the theatre. |
 |
View of the central part of the cavea. |
 |
Current state of preservation. Ground plan. |
 |
Geometric layout. Ground plan. |
 |
Graphic representation. Ground plan. |
 |
Graphic representation. Projection. |
 |
Approved restoration proposal. Ground plan. |
 |
Approved restoration proposal. Axial section. |
Scientific
report
| Monument Name |
Ancient
Theatre
of
Mieza |
| Category |
Theatre |
| Brief Description |
A
theatral
structure
with
mixed
elements
of
Greek
and
Roman
theatres,
consisting
of
an
orchestra
of
beaten
earth
(conistra),
a
cavea
laid
out
on
the
slope
of a
hill
with
tiers
of
poros
stone
seats,
and
a
stone
stage
building. |
| Images - Plans |
There
is
photographic
documentation
in
the
archives
of
the
17th
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities,
and
full
drawings
and
plans
(topographical
plan,
ground
plan,
elevations,
sections,
details)
prepared
as
part
of
the
“Conservation
and
Restoration
of
the
Ancient
Theatre
of
Mieza”
research
programme
of
the
Research
Committee
of
the
Aristotle
University
of
Thessaloniki
(AUTH),
under
the
scientific
direction
of
AUTH
Associate
Professor
G.
Karadedos.
Reconstructions
of
the
theatre
are
found
in
the
Department
of
Architecture
of
the
AUTH
Polytechnic
School. |
| Documentation - Bibliography |
Β.
Αλαμανή
–
Β
.Μισαηλίδου
«Το
θέατρο
της
Μίεζας»,
Α.Ε.Μ.Θ.
7,
1993,
p.
86-96.
Β.
Αλαμανή
– Α.
Κουκουβού,
«Μίεζα
1995:
ανασκαφικές
έρευνες»,
Α.Ε.Μ.Θ.
9,
1995,
p.
88-94.
Γ.
Καραδέδος,
Κ.
Θεοχαρίδου,
Β.
Αλαμανή,
Β.
Μισαηλίδου,
«Αποκατάσταση
του
αρχαίου
θεάτρου
της
Μίεζας»,
Α.Ε.Μ.Θ.
13,
1999,
p.
521-534 |
| Location |
Archaeological
site
of
Mieza
(next
to a
public
building
complex,
probably
the
agora),
Naoussa
Municipality,
Naoussa
Prefecture. |
| Dating |
As
the
study
of
the
excavation
material
has
not
yet
been
completed,
the
dating
of
the
theatre
is
based
on
its
structural,
typological
and
morphological
features,
which
are
a
mixture
of
elements
of
both
Greek
and
Roman
theatres.
Characteristic
features
of
Hellenistic
theatres
are:
a)
the
proscenium
with
semi-columns
attached
to
pillars
instead
of a
raised
podium;
b)
the
uncovered
parodoi;
c)
the
lack
of
an
axial
staircase
in
the
cavea;
d)
the
construction
of
the
cavea
on a
hillside
rather
than
a
built
substructure;
e)
the
lack
of a
raised
podium
in
the
cavea.
Characteristic
features
of
Roman
theatres
are:
a)
the
mixed
layout
using
rectangles
and
equilateral
triangles;
b)
the
retaining
walls
running
parallel
to
the
stage
building;
c)
the
shape
of
the
orchestra,
delimited
by a
semicircle
and
the
tangents
at
its
ends;
d)
the
excavation
finds,
chiefly
the
pottery.
Based
on
these
data,
the
theatre
of
Mieza
belongs
to
the
Roman
period,
but
the
predominance
of
Hellenistic
elements
is
an
indication
of
early
date,
placing
it
in
an
era
when
the
type
of
the
Roman
theatre
had
not
yet
become
fixed.
A
later
phase
in
the
cavea
of
the
theatre,
with
new,
vestigial
oblique
walls
built
after
the
collapse
of
the
retaining
walls
along
the
parodoi,
cannot
be
dated
precisely. |
|
General Description of Monument
|
This
is a
provincial
theatre
without
particularly
elaborate
structures,
oriented
east
with
a
view
of
the
plain.
The
orchestra
forms
a
regular
semicircle,
extending
along
the
tangents
at
its
ends
towards
the
stage
building.
It
is
22
metres
in
diameter
with
a
floor
of
beaten
earth.
There
is
no
perimetric
drainage
duct.
The
rainwater
was
and
still
is
drained
through
a
hole
in
the
bedrock,
approximately
in
the
centre
of
the
orchestra.
The
cavea
is
set
on a
natural
slope,
partly
carved
out
of
the
bedrock
and
partly
on
fill.
Four
staircases
divide
it
into
five
cunei.
The
tiers
of
seats
and
the
staircases
are
made
of
soft
local
poros
stone.
Ashlars
are
preserved
in
situ
up
to
the
7th
tier.
There
is
evidence
of
at
least
19
tiers,
but
there
must
have
been
many
more.
The
retaining
walls
of
the
original
phase
of
the
cavea,
parallel
to
the
stage
building,
must
have
collapsed
at
some
point,
probably
due
to
the
pressure
of
the
fill
they
supported.
After
their
collapse
they
were
abolished
and
replaced
by
the
vestigial
oblique
retaining
walls
visible
today,
which
were
set
on
the
natural
bedrock
in
such
a
way
as
to
minimise
the
fill
behind
them
and
eliminate
any
danger
of
collapse.
The
stage
building
is
made
of
ashlars
of
soft
local
poros
stone.
Despite
its
poor
state
of
preservation,
we
can
distinguish
the
proscenium,
the
main
stage
building,
with
two
parascenia
adjoining
its
ends,
and
a
larger
building
adjacent
to
it.
Although
this
last
structure
belongs
to
the
same
building
phase
as
the
others,
it
is
unclear
whether
it
formed
a
functional
part
of
the
theatre
or
was
used
independently
from
its
east
side.
The
stage
building
and
parascenia
were
two
storeys
high,
but
there
is
no
information
on
the
position
of
the
staircase
leading
to
the
upper
storey
of
the
stage
building
and
the
proscenium
(logeion).
Two
of
the
eight
semi-columns
attached
to
pillars
of
the
logeion
are
preserved.
They
framed
five
doorways
and
four
partitions
made
of
poros
stone
slabs.
The
position
of
the
other
six
semi-columns
has
been
carved
with
a
sharp
instrument
into
the
stylobate
of
the
proscenium.
The
geometric
layout
of
the
theatre
of
Mieza
is
interesting,
as
it
constitutes
a
unique
combination
of
Vitruvius’s
references
to
the
layout
of
Greek
and
Roman
theatres.
The
graphic
representation
of
the
theatre
is
based
on
its
surviving
elements,
combined
with
the
symmetry
of
theatres
in
general,
its
geometric
layout
and
comparison
with
other,
similar
theatres. |
| Current Situation |
The
monument,
as
mentioned
above,
was
in a
very
poor
state
of
preservation.
However,
it
will
be
in
very
good
condition
when
the
conservation
and
restoration
work,
begun
in
2007
and
interrupted
in
2009
due
to
lack
of
funds,
is
completed. |
| Excavations - Interventions |
The
theatre
of
ancient
Mieza
was
discovered
in
1992
during
the
course
of
laying
a
drainage
duct
to
supply
water
to
the
neighbouring
village
of
Kopanos.
It
was
excavated
in
1993-1995
by
the
archaeologists
of
the
17th
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities
V.
Alamani,
V.
Misailidou
and
A.
Koukouvou.
In
1998-1999
a
conservation,
restoration
and
re-operation
study
was
prepared
by a
research
team
as
part
of
the
“Research
and
Restoration
of
the
Ancient
Theatre
of
Mieza”
research
programme
(code
no.
7119)
of
the
Research
Committee
of
the
Aristotle
University
of
Thessaloniki
(AUTH),
under
the
technical
direction
of
Associate
Professor
G.
Karadedos.
The
team
consisted
of
architect-restorer
K.
Theocharidou,
architect
V.
Papageorgiou,
the
topographers,
members
of
the
AUTH
teaching
and
research
staff,
P.
Patias,
K.
Tokmakidis
and
O.
Georgoula,
and
topographer
I.
Gatzios.
The
study
was
not
approved
by
the
Central
Archaeological
Council
(KAS),
due
to
the
proposal
for
re-operation,
as
it
was
considered
that
the
monument’s
state
of
preservation
did
not
permit
its
re-operation.
In
2005
a
new,
definitive
study
was
prepared
by
Associate
Professor
G.
Karadedos,
only
for
the
conservation
and
restoration
of
the
theatre,
which
included
reports
on
the
pathology
and
method
of
conservation
of
the
poros
stone
and
the
surviving
plasters,
by
Lithics
Centre
chemist
K.
Kouzeli
and
civil
engineer
and
AUTH
professor
I.
Papayianni.
The
study
was
approved
by
the
KAS
and
began
to
be
implemented
in
2007,
with
funding
from
the
“Cultural
Egnatia”
programme.
The
programme
was
directed
by
the
director
of
the
17th
Ephorate
M.
Akamati,
and
supervised
by
AUTH
Associate
Professor
G.
Karadedos,
architect-restorer
S.
Rafailidou,
and
17th
Ephorate
archaeologist
N.
Poulakakis.
During
the
course
of
the
work,
test
trenches
were
also
dug
in
the
cavea
and
along
the
parodoi,
on
the
site
of
the
removed
retaining
walls
of
the
cavea.
The
study
provides
for
the
restoration
of
the
earth
floor
of
the
orchestra
and
parodoi,
the
conservation-restoration
of
the
stage
building
and
proscenium,
with
small-scale
rebuilding
of
walls,
and
the
conservation-restoration
of
the
seven
front
rows
of
seats
in
the
cavea.
From
the
eighth
row
to
the
19th,
whose
existence
has
been
established
by
excavation,
the
bulk
of
the
cavea
is
restored
with
earth.
The
study
also
provides
for
the
small-scale
rebuilding
of
the
oblique
retaining
walls
of
the
later
phase,
and
the
marking
of
the
position
of
the
retaining
walls
of
the
first
phase
with
one
or
two
rows
of
ashlars,
in
order
to
allow
the
floors
of
the
parodoi
to
be
restored.
Finally,
rainwater
drainage
will
be
provided.
In
2009,
shortly
before
completion,
the
conservation
work
was
interrupted
due
to
lack
of
funds.
The
project
awaits
additional
funding
by
the
National
Strategic
Reference
Framework. |
| Permitted Uses |
The
theatre
of
Mieza
is
currently
a
monument
of
the
archaeological
site
open
to
the
public
and
will
continue
to
function
as
such.
Once
the
conservation
and
restoration
work
is
complete,
it
will
be
able
to
host
controlled
events
with
a
limited
number
of
spectators.
At
the
moment,
however,
no
permission
to
do
so
has
been
issued
by
the
Ministry
of
Culture
and
the
Central
Archaeological
Council. |
|
History of Modern Uses |
No
modern
use
has
been
made
of
the
theatre
of
Mieza
to
date,
apart
from
that
of a
monument
open
to
the
public. |
| Further Information |
- |
| Intellectual Rights |
The
monument
belongs
to
the
jurisdiction
of
the
Ministry
of
Culture,
specifically
the
17th
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities,
based
in
Edessa.
The
intellectual
rights
for
the
study
and
publication
of
the
theatre
are
owned
by
the
17th
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities
and
the
Aristotle
University
of
Thessaloniki,
for
the
studies
and
work
carried
out
in
the
context
of
the
“Research
and
Restoration
of
the
Ancient
Theatre
of
Mieza”
research
programme. |
| Jurisdiction |
- |
|
Latitude |
- |
| Longitude |
- |
| Altitude |
- |
| Google Earth |
40.644104,22.122474 |
