Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
The best preserved ancient Greek theatre, famed for its acoustics, in the Sanctuary of Asklepios.
The theatre stands on the western slope of Mount Kynortion inside the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the great healing centre of the ancient Argolid. It was built in the late 4th century BC and is traditionally attributed to the architect Polykleitos the Younger, then enlarged with an upper tier to about 55 rows of seats holding some 13,000 to 14,000 spectators. Silted over and forgotten for centuries, it was uncovered from 1881 by the archaeologist Panagiotis Kavvadias and survives as the best preserved theatre of the Greek world.
Its limestone auditorium, circular orchestra and ruined stage building are celebrated for acoustics that carry an unamplified voice to the topmost row. Ancient drama returned in 1938 with Sophocles' Electra and, from 1954, the theatre has hosted a summer festival that now forms part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The wider site takes in the temple of Asklepios, the tholos, the stadium and an archaeological museum, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
Highlights
- The best preserved theatre of the ancient Greek world
- Acoustics that carry an unamplified voice to the back row
- Set in the Sanctuary of Asklepios, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Summer ancient drama as part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival
