Greece to Restore Theater of Dionysus, The Ancient 'Globe' of Euripides and Sophocles

The outdoor Theater of Dionysus, located on the southern gradients hill of the "highest city" or Acropolis of Athens, has been engaged for a partial restoration project worth 9 million dollars. The Greek authorities are aiming to complete the project by 2015, which includes the addition of several modern tiers and strengthening of walls and pillars using modern building components as well as original limestone fragments. According to chief architect Constantinos Boletis, "The program will have a major impact on the overall aspect of the monument." Read more on interesting facts about the Acropolis of Athens.

Originally made of wood, the theater is said to have hosted the opening executions of tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides and Aristophanes' comedies, as a part of the festival of Dionysia. In fact, what Globe theater was for William Shakespeare, theater of Dionysus was for Sophocles and Euripides. Initially, the stage was only a terrace with the audience sitting on the ground surrounding the performing area back in the 6th century BC. The theater was re-morphed into its stone-version circa 325 BC with the use of marble and lime stone. A small section of the amphitheater which was potent enough to house 14,000 to 17,000 spectators, can still be seen today.

The Theater of Dionysus was a temenos or segment of land dedicated to the Greek God of Wine, Dionysos and God of Fertility, Eros, together called Dionysus Eleuthereus or 'the Liberators'. Little or obscure records of the arena after the Golden Age of Athens remains, till the year 61AD which then has mentions of the large-scale refurbishments of the theater done by Roman emperor Nero of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. Also a seat for the principal assembly or Ecclesia of the Greeks in the ancient era, Boletis adds that though the theater "is of immense historic significance, as it is here that the masterpieces of ancient drama were first performed", plans to host new musicals and plays here were dropped back in the mid-1970s. Any new performances are yet to be planned.

This restoration is being majorly funded by Diazoma nonprofit foundation along with the Greek Culture Ministry. It forms a part of the humongous project undertaken by the two entities to protect and restitute 140 ancient theaters and concert halls around Greece. Here's to the resurrection of ancient glory!