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ANCIENT THEATRES - ANCIENT THEATRES' IDENTITY
MINOAN
PALACE OF
PHAISTOS
Information
|
Description
of the
monument
|
Photo
gallery
|
Scientific
report
 |
In the Palace of Phaistos, specifically in the West
Court, is a theatre area with basic similarities to that of
Knossos. It was built during the Protopalatial period and
continued in use into Neopalatial times. It consists of 8
wide steps on which spectators sat and watched the events
taking place in the West Court: religious ceremonies, sacred
dances or athletic games. |
|
|
|
Description of the monument
The
archaeological site of Phaistos is located in Phaistos Municipality. A theatral
area with basic similarities to that of Knossos is also found in the Palace of
Phaistos, specifically in the West Court. It was built during the Protopalatial
period and continued in use into Neopalatial times.
Visitors enter the Palace from the area known as the Upper West Court, which was used in both the Old and New Palace. From the east side of the Upper Court an imposing staircase leads to the West Court. A high, well-built wall that served as the retaining wall of the Upper Court (on a higher level than the West Court) was used to configure the theatral area of the Palace, which consists of 8 wide steps. Spectators sat on these steps and watched the events taking place in the West Court: religious ceremonies, sacred dances or athletic games.
This paved court is crossed by two slightly raised processional causeways, one leading to the Propylon of the Palace, and the other angling off it to the west. A great staircase, perhaps the most magnificent of the Minoan period, connects the West Court to the monumental Propylaea of the New Palace.
The theatral area was discovered during the first phase of the excavations by the Italian School of Archaeology in the early 20th century. Test trenches were also opened during the second phase of the School’s excavations in the 1950s and 1960s.
Conservation and consolidation work has been carried out by the Italian School of Archaeology throughout the course of the excavations (the retaining wall of the court was restored in the 1930s), while an extensive conservation programme has been implemented in recent years by the 23rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.
During the Occupation, German archaeologists held a performance of ancient tragedy here - there are even photographs of the event.
The monument is preserved in good condition and is open to the public.
Maria Bredaki
Archaeologist
Photo
gallery
 |
Phaistos - Minoan Theatre |
Scientific
report
| Monument Name |
Minoan
Palace
of
Phaistos |
| Category |
Theatre |
| Brief Description |
In
the
Palace
of
Phaistos,
specifically
in
the
West
Court,
is a
theatral
area
with
basic
similarities
to
that
of
Knossos.
It
was
built
during
the
Protopalatial
period
and
continued
in
use
into
Neopalatial
times.
It
consists
of 8
wide
steps
on
which
spectators
sat
and
watched
the
events
taking
place
in
the
West
Court:
religious
ceremonies,
sacred
dances
or
athletic
games. |
| Images - Plans |
23rd
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities
and
Italian
School
of
Archaeology
at
Athens. |
| Documentation - Bibliography |
1.
L.
Pernier,
Il
Palazzo
Minoico
di
Festos,
I,
Roma
1935.
2. L. Pernier – L. Banti, Il Palazzo Minoico di Festos, II, Roma 1951. 3. Α. Κάντα, Φαιστός, Αγία Τριάδα, Γόρτυνα, Αθήνα 1998, pp. 21-23. |
| Location |
The
archaeological
site
of
Phaistos
is
located
in
Phaistos
Municipality. |
| Dating |
Built
during
the
Protopalatial
period
and
continued
in
use
during
the
Neopalatial
period. |
|
General Description of Monument
|
A
theatre
area
with
basic
similarities
to
that
of
Knossos
is
also
found
in
the
Palace
of
Phaistos,
specifically
in
the
West
Court.
Visitors
enter
the
Palace
from
the
area
known
as
the
Upper
West
Court,
which
was
used
in
both
the
Old
and
New
Palace.
From
the
east
side
of
the
Upper
Court
an
imposing
staircase
leads
to
the
West
Court.
A
high,
well-built
wall
that
served
as
the
retaining
wall
of
the
Upper
Court
(on
a
higher
level
than
the
West
Court)
was
used
to
configure
the
theatre
area
of
the
Palace,
which
consists
of 8
wide
steps.
Spectators
used
these
steps
to
watch
the
events.
The
area
of
the
West
Court
was
used
for
the
performance
of
religious
ceremonies,
sacred
dances,
athletic
games,
etc.
This
paved
court
is
crossed
by
two
slightly
raised
processional
causeways,
one
leading
to
the
Propylon
of
the
Palace,
and
the
other
angling
off
it
to
the
west.
A
great
staircase,
perhaps
the
most
magnificent
of
the
Minoan
period,
connects
the
West
Court
to
the
monumental
Propylaea
of
the
New
Palace. |
| Current Situation |
Good
state
of
preservation. |
| Excavations - Interventions |
The
theatre
area
was
discovered
during
the
first
phase
of
the
excavations
by
the
Italian
School
of
Archaeology
at
Athens
in
the
early
20th
century.
Test
trenches
were
also
opened
during
the
second
phase
of
the
School’s
excavations
in
the
1950s
and
1960s.
Conservation
and
consolidation
work
has
been
carried
out
by
the
Italian
School
of
Archaeology
throughout
the
course
of
the
excavations
(the
retaining
wall
of
the
court
was
restored
in
the
1930s),
while
an
extensive
conservation
programme
has
been
implemented
in
recent
years
by
the
23rd
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities
in
the
framework
of
the
3rd
Community
Support
Fund. |
| Permitted Uses |
Archaeological
site
open
to
the
public. |
|
History of Modern Uses |
During
the
Occupation,
German
archaeologists
held
a
performance
of
ancient
tragedy
here
-
there
are
even
photographs
of
the
event. |
| Further Information |
- |
| Intellectual Rights |
- |
| Jurisdiction |
The
monument
belongs
to
the
jurisdiction
of
the
Ministry
of
Culture
/ 23rd
Ephorate
of
Prehistoric
and
Classical
Antiquities. |
|
Latitude |
- |
| Longitude |
- |
| Altitude |
0 |
| Google Earth |
Link |
