Theatre of Dionysus

In front of you, at the foot of the Acropolis, lies the most influential theatre in history. Here, during the Dionysia festival each spring, Athenians gathered for competitions of tragedy and comedy. Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes that are still staged all over the world premiered on these slopes.

1From wood to stone

In the age of the great tragedians, in the 5th century BC, the seating was largely made of wood or simple benches on the earth. The stone theatre you see came later: the statesman Lycurgus built it around 330 BC, and by most estimates it held some 15,000 to 17,000 people. The Romans transformed it again; under Nero the stage was remodelled, and later it was decorated with reliefs from the life of Dionysus.

2A theatre with reserved seats

Marble thrones survive in the front row, with their occupants' titles carved into them. The one in the middle, the most elaborate, belonged to the priest of Dionysus Eleuthereus: the theatre was also a religious space, and performances began with sacrifices to the god.

Going to the theatre was a civic duty: the city even came to pay the admission for its poorest citizens.

3What to look for

• The shape of the slope, which uses the natural incline of the rock as one great grandstand.
• The Acropolis wall just above: the theatre lay literally at the feet of the gods.
• The Acropolis Museum behind you, across the street.