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ROMAN THEATRES
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
WHERE: ATHENS, GREECE
Situated on the stony southwest slope of the Acropolis, this awe-inspiring openair theatre is notable for once having a roof made from Lebanese cedar wood. This particular feature helped to enhance the acoustics in a venue custom-built for musical performances, vocal recitals and poetry competitions. Precious goldenhued Pentelic marble was chosen for the cascading seats of the semicircular cavea( seating sections), while a checkerboard marble stage floor further aided in channelling sound to the back of the auditorium’ s 35 rows.
The Odeon was built by Roman senator and Athenian rhetorician Herodes Atticus in 161 CE— it’ s one of several buildings created in tribute to his late wife, Appia Annia Regilla. The original theatre was destroyed during the Sack of Athens, within a century of its opening night.
In the 1950s, the cavea and arched threestory facade were completely reconstructed( the timber roof was never reinstalled, however). Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti and Nana Mouskouri are among the stars who have since graced the stage. Every summer, it’ s one of the venues of the Athens Epidaurus Festival— a three-month cultural event with music and theatre that takes place across the Greek capital. image: AWL IMAGES
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