Ancient theatre of epidaurus athens luxury taxi transfers. For the historylover in me, going there is like visiting a wise old friend. Epidaurus, who gave the land its name, was, the eleans say, a son of pelops but, according to argive opinion and the poem the great eoeae, 52 the father of epidaurus was argus, son of zeus, while the epidaurians maintain that epidaurus was the child of apollo. Designed by the architect polykleitos the younger during the fourth century bc, the ancient theatre of epidaurus is one of the bestkept amphitheatres in greece. Epidaurus is one of the most important ancient sites in greece. With its supporting territory, it formed the small territory called epidauria.
In the upper stage of the ancient theater, you gaze at the heady view of the horizon. We recommend booking the great theatre of epidaurus tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Guidebook, history, pictures of how it was and how it is. The famous theatre at asclepius of epidaurus, just 7 km from our place, is one of the most important monuments of ancient greece.
He was a prolific writer, amassing 37 volumes, but unfortunately, only fragments and four letters remain. Epidaurus, in ancient greece, important commercial centre on the eastern coast of the argolid in the northeastern peloponnese. Dont get me wrong it is still a big complex and maybe it was the intimacy of the place and the way the seating is. It is well known for having remarkable acoustic properties, allowing voices from the stage to travel clearly to the very top row of seats, without amplification. The incredible acoustics of the epidaurus ancient theater have been. May 30, 2019 the theatre of epidaurus was first built in the 4th century bce and is possibly the best preserved ancient greek theatre. In american english, the word theater can mean either a place where films are shown this. Music, theatre, and the reading of philosophical texts prepared the soul to achieve the ultimate healing of the. Theatre simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Why the epidaurus theatre has such amazing acoustics.
The acoustics of the epidaurus theatre solent acoustics. The theatre of epidaurus is a stunningly wellpreserved ancient theater constructed in the 4th century bc. It is still used during the athens summer festival. This is a superb example of classical theater with an. When you enter the abode of the god which smells of incense, you must be pure and thought is pure when you think with piety this was the inscription that greeted pilgrims who passed through the propylaia, the main gate into the sanctuary of the god asklepios at ancient epidaurus. Probably the most beautiful and best preserved of its kind, the theater of epidaurus was built in the 4th century bc by polykleitos the younger. To be exact, epidaurus was the most popular health centre of ancient times, called the asclepion. There is something comforting about going back to familiar places. According to ancient greek mythology, epidaurus was the birthplace of asklepios, the healing god, and son of apollo. Epicurus 341 bce 270 bce was an ancient greek philosopher, the founder of the epicurean school in athens, who taught that pleasure is the principle and end to a happy life. Thats the sentiment that overwhelms you, making you understand why the ancient greeks chose this place for the erection of the ancient.
The great theatre of epidaurus epidavros 2020 all you. The theatre of epidaurus on february 10, 2017 0 comments it was built on the slope of the mountain northeast from the sanctuary of asklepios, god of medicine, and it became famous since that time for being the prettiest of all the greek theatres, known also for its almost perfect acoustics. Useful information about the theatre of epidaurus in epidaurus. See all 161 the great theatre of epidaurus tours on tripadvisor.
While most of the remaining ancient theaters have suffered partial destruction or undergone reconstruction, the epidaurus theater has remained intact down through the centuries because it was safely covered by more than 20 feet 6 m of soil. This halfday tour is designed to show you the most beautiful aspects of argolis in the region of peloponnese. The ancient theatre of epidaurus eagles and dragons. The theatre of epidaurus was first built in the 4th century bce and is possibly the best preserved ancient greek theatre. His teachings would influence many who followed such as lucretius of rome and his on the nature of things, and. Situated across the saronic gulf from athens, the ancient greek city of epidaurus is home to a 15,000 seat theatre that was once used for lavish dramas and banquets. For those interested in reading up on theatre history, or reading some of the greek literature plays that derived from the classical greek period or thereafter and the heroes that write them, you can find the most famous titles and plots including a familiar tale or two as well as biographies and history books by visiting academic book shops. It was built by the architect polykleitos on the side of a mountain and overlooking the sanctuary of asklepius. The discovery of the theatre coincided withor perhaps causeda resurgence of ancient drama. It belonged to epidavros, a small citystate of the classical times, that was located at the nearest western coast of saronikos bay, where nowadays lies the community of palea epidaurus. The great theatre of epidaurus epidavros 2020 what to. As early as 1936, plays were being performed at the epidaurus theatre, including those by sophocles and euripides.
The history of epidaurus is strongly associated with the healing god asklepios. Ancient theatre of epidaurus news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2017 learn how and when to remove this template message. History of the ancient theater of epidaurus the asclepeion of epidavros was one of the great national sanctums of antiquity. Extensions were made in the 2nd century bce taking its capacity to 12,000. The word comes originally from the greek theatron, meaning roughly, a place to behold. Getting to the ancient theatre of epidaurus from athens. In fact, epidaurus is home to the most popular healing center of antiquity. In 1955, the greek government founded the athens and epidaurus festival, which takes place every summer.
Epidaurus was a sanctuary of asclepius, god of healing, son of apollo. The ancient theatre of epidaurus is regarded as the best preserved ancient theatre in greece in terms of its perfect acoustics and fine structure. It is built on the west side of cynortion mountain, near modern lygourio, and belongs to the epidaurus municipality. Since 1938, hundreds of theatrical plays have been performed, and in 1954, the famous epidaurus festival, now called the athens epidaurus festival, was launched. It is situated in the eastern peloponnese, 62km south of the corinthian canal and belongs to the prefecture of argolis. It was originally built to honor asklepios, but its later additions, such as the twostory skene, suggest that it was used for conventional plays that were imported from athens.
This structure may have been high enough for a twostory skene. Inhabited since neolithic times, the first significant settlement was in the mycenaean period. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. The masterpieces of greek drama date from the 5th century bc. Today i found out about the amazing acoustics of the ancient epidaurus theatre epidaurus, greece was a small, unassuming city in ancient times, best known for being the supposed birth place of. Located at the port of ancient epidaurus, this 4th century b. The sanctuary of asklepios at epidaurus, within which the epidaurus ancient theatre is situated, was one of the most extensive sacred sanctuaries in ancient greece. Yes, the ancient theatre of epidaurus is the most beautiful open. Ancient site the ancient theatre of epidaurus, peloponnese.
It was built by the architect polykleitos on the side of a mountain and merges perfectly into the surrounding landscape of undulating hills, overlooking the sanctuary of asklepius. Epidaurus was independent of argos and not included in argolis until the time of the romans. Fortifications, a theatre and tholos tombs have been excavated dating as early as the 15th century bce. Unlike the theatre in athens, the theatre of epidaurus had no obstructions with other buildings or cliffs. The play was performed in 1938, starring katina paxinou and eleni papadaki, two of the most emblematic greek actresses of all time. It combines perfect acoustics, elegance and symmetrical proportions. Originally the theatre had 34 rows of seats divided into 34 blocks by stairs and walkways. The great theatre is only one place of interest at the great site of epidaurus. Held every summer, the event features both acclaimed dramas from the past and contemporary plays that are performed not only in athens but also the ancient theater. Excavations of the sacred precinct reveal that it contained temples to asclepius and artemis, a theatre, stadium, gymnasiums, baths, a tholos, a hospital, and an abaton, an area where patients. A short video about the theatre at epidaurus, including the famous coin test. Theatre of epidaurus overview the theatre of epidaurus represents the finest and bestpreserved example of a classical greek theatre.
The theatre of epidaurus, this miraculous shelllike structure with its amazing acoustics and harmonious architecture, was a place where visitors could attend performances and escape from their small, debilitating everyday problems. Book your tickets online for the great theatre of epidaurus, epidavros. We greet each other, sit back in the sunshine, reminisce and contemplate the world before us. You are in the city of epidaurus in argolis, the eastern part of the peloponnese in southern greece, with your feet on the ancient theater of epidaurus. Fortifications, a theatre and tholos tombs have been excavated dating as early as the 15th century bce, although it was in the 12th century bce that epidaurus limera, with its harbour. The ancient theatre of epidaurus is a theatre in the greek city of epidaurus, located on the. It is considered to be the most perfect ancient greek theatre with regard to acoustics and aesthetics. Information about the history and ancient sites of epidaurus, greece.
If you have a car, worth visiting is also the little theatre of ancient epidaurus. Reputed to be founded by or named for the argolid epidaurus, and to be the birthplace of apollos son asclepius the healer, epidaurus was known for its sanctuary situated about five miles 8 km from the town, as well. Epidavros view ancient epidaurus book now sightseeing. The theatre of epidaurus, ancient greece, epidaurus.
The teatre of epidaurus, epidaurus, ancient greece. The great theatre of epidaurus in a canyon, in 340 bc, an argos architect polykleitos the younger, built, according to pausanias, the theatre of epidaurus. A very brief history of epidaurus ancient theater, greece. The famous mycenae and the ancient theatre of epidaurus are waiting for us to recount their rich history and to step us back in time on a history tour. Panoramic view of the hellenic theatre at epidaurus. Epidaurus was named after the hero epidauros, son of apollo. The ancient theatre of epidaurus is a theatre in the greek city of epidaurus, located on the southeast end of the sanctuary dedicated to the ancient greek god of medicine, asclepius. Even by todays standards, this monument stands out as a unique artistic achievement through its admirable integration into the landscape and above all the perfection of its proportions and incomparable acoustics. It looks bigger in photos and film but it did not seem to be that big in real life. The story of the epidaurus ancient theater greeking.
Nowadays, the ancient theatre is beautifully conserved and offers great acoustics. The discovery of the epidaurus theater has been important both for archaeology and architecture. The first play the ancient theatre of epidaurus hosted in modern times, was electra, the famous ancient tragedy written by sophocles. Theatre british english and also american english, or theater mostly american english, has several meanings. From nafplion you need a 45 minutes drive till epidaurus you can also take a taxi from nafplion. It belonged to epidaurus, a small citystate of the classical period located on the nearby western coast of the saronic gulf, where the village of palea epidavros old epidaurus. It was constructed in the late 4th century bc and it was finalized in two stages. An exclusively greek contribution to architectural history is the raked auditorium for watching theatrical performances appropriately, since the greeks are also the inventors of theatre as a literary form. The sanctuary of epidaurus is one of the most complete from antiquity with the theatre, the temples of artemis and asklepios, the tholos, the enkoimeterion, the propylaia, the banqueting hall, the baths as well as the sport and hospital facilities and is an eminent example of a hellenic architectural ensemble of the 4th century bc.
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