Delos (Modern Delos Island, Greece)

Greek: Δήλος [ˈðilos]; Attic Greek: Δῆλος, Doric Greek: Δᾶλος)

Modern The island of Delos (Greek: Δήλος: Attic Greek: Δῆλος, Doric Greek: Δᾶλος), Greece

Greek Theatre

305-269 BCE

37.39727, 25.26819

6,000 - 6,500

Cavea Width: 65 meters
Orchestra Width: 21 meters

Theatre of Delos Summary

Theatre of Delos; located on Delos (modern Dilos, Greece); cavea width 65 meters; 26 rows in the ima cavea arranged in 7 cunei, separated by a praecinctio from the summa cavea with 18 rows at its widest part; faces west-south-west; estimated seating capacity of 6,500 spectators; orchestra diameter 21.20 meters (19 meters at the surrounding drain); construction began after 314 BCE with the marble ima cavea dated to 305-269 BCE, the praecinctio around 250 BCE, and the summa cavea completed in 246 BCE; preserved in poor condition with scattered architectural elements due to early archaeological practices, though it remains one of the best-preserved examples of Hellenistic theatrical architecture. (Sear 394-395)

Introduction

The Sacred Island of Delos

According to Greek mythology, the god Apollo was born on Delos, a small island in the Cyclades archipelago. This sacred birthplace became an important sanctuary that drew pilgrims from throughout ancient Greece, while simultaneously developing into a thriving Mediterranean trading port.

Located near Mykonos in the central Cyclades, Delos (pronounced /ˈdiːlɒs/; Greek: Δήλος [ˈðilos]) remains one of Greece’s most significant sites of mythological, historical, and archaeological importance. Located at GPS coordinates 37.39727, 25.26819, the theatre is positioned in the old residential district south of the Sanctuary of Apollo (Sear 394).The island preserves remarkable evidence of successive Aegean civilizations spanning from the 3rd millennium BCE through the early Christian era.

The archaeological excavations on Delos rank among the Mediterranean’s most extensive. Ongoing research continues under the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades, with many discovered artifacts now displayed in both the Archaeological Museum of Delos and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

History

Construction of the Theatre at Delos began in the early 3rd century BCE, with the marble ima cavea (lower seating section) dated to 305-269 BCE (Sear 394). This places the theatre’s origins within the early Hellenistic period, a time of cultural flourishing across the Greek world. The theatre underwent phased development, with the praecinctio (horizontal walkway dividing seating sections) constructed around 250 BCE and the summa cavea (upper seating section) completed in 246 BCE (Sear 394).

The evolution of the theatre can be traced through numerous inscriptions, particularly the choregic inscriptions (records of dramatic competitions) from the 3rd to early 2nd century BCE discovered in the prytaneum (council house) (Sear 394). These inscriptions provide valuable information about the cultural events hosted at the theatre and its significance in the civic life of Delos.

Historical sources indicate that the theatre’s scene building and proscaenium (stage front) were built around 290 BCE, with subsequent additions including wooden pinakes (painted panels) for the proscaenium in 282 BCE and wood for the stage in 279 BCE (Sear 394). The doors of the parodoi (side entrances) were added and the proscaenium was lengthened in 274 BCE, while stone for the paraskenia (side wings of the stage building) was acquired in 269 BCE (Sear 394). This detailed chronology, preserved through inscriptions, offers rare insight into the construction process of an ancient Greek theatre.

Theatre Specifications

The following specifications are drawn from Frank Sear’s reference book, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study, Oxford University Press, 2006, except where otherwise noted.

Location

• GPS coordinates: 37.39727, 25.26819
• Orientation: Facing west-south-west
• Position: Located in the old residential district south of the Sanctuary of Apollo
• Topographical details: Built against a natural slope, utilizing the hillside for support of the cavea (seating area)

Cavea

The cavea (seating area) of the Delos Theatre has a diameter of approximately 65 meters and exceeds a semicircle in its layout (Sear 394). The ima cavea (lower seating section) consists of 26 rows arranged in 7 cunei (wedge-shaped sections). A praecinctio (horizontal walkway) with a width of 2.1 meters separates the ima cavea from the summa cavea (upper seating section), which is surrounded by an elliptical outer wall. The summa cavea comprises 18 rows at its widest part and has a steeper slope than the lower section, enhancing visibility for spectators seated in the upper tiers (Sear 394).

Orchestra

The orchestra (circular performance space) has a diameter of 21.20 meters and is surrounded by a drain, giving it an effective diameter of 19 meters at the drain (Sear 394). The prohedria (front row seats reserved for dignitaries) are crafted from marble with a continuous back and arms next to the staircases. A corridor 0.60 meters wide separates these privileged seats from the lowest row of regular seating (Sear 394).

Pulpitum/Stage

The stage (pulpitum) of the Delos Theatre has a length of 20.55 meters and varying widths: 2.67 meters on the east and west sides, and 2.61 meters on the north and south sides (Sear 394). 

Scaenae Frons

The Delos Theatre features a scene building (scaenae frons) with dimensions of 15.35 by 6.68 meters (Sear 394). This relatively modest structure served as the backdrop for performances and housed areas for actors to prepare. The stage building was enhanced by the proscaenium (stage front), which was constructed around 290 BCE, with later modifications and additions continuing through 269 BCE (Sear 394).

Proscaenium

The proscaenium (stage front) stands at a height of 2.53 meters and features 14 white marble pilasters with attached Doric half-columns facing the orchestra (Sear 394). This decorative facade was an important architectural and functional element that helped frame the performance space. The proscaenium includes a single doorway on the orchestra side and another at the back, providing access points for performers (Sear 394). Historical inscriptions indicate that wooden pinakes (painted panels) were added to the proscaenium in 282 BCE, and the structure was lengthened in 274 BCE, demonstrating ongoing refinements to the theatre’s design (Sear 394).

Decoration

While Sear’s account does not provide extensive details about the decorative elements of the Delos Theatre, the mention of white marble pilasters with attached Doric half-columns indicates a level of architectural refinement typical of Hellenistic theatres (Sear 394). The inscriptions referencing pinakes (painted panels) for the proscaenium in 282 BCE suggest that the theatre featured visual decorations that would have enhanced the theatrical experience (Sear 394).

Access Points

Access to the seating was provided through the parodoi (side entrances), which had doors 2.70 meters wide (Sear 394). Ramps at the sides of the cavea gave access to the praecinctio, with another ramped entrance at the top of the cavea opposite the central staircase of the summa cavea (Sear 394). According to Moretti, the north and east access ramps to the cavea were contemporary with the cavea itself, while the south ramp was a later addition, indicating ongoing refinements to circulation patterns within the theatre (Sear 394).

Renovations

The Theatre at Delos underwent several phases of renovation and expansion during the 3rd century BCE. As noted earlier, the theatre was built in stages, with the marble ima cavea (lower seating section) constructed between 305-269 BCE, followed by the addition of the praecinctio (horizontal walkway) around 250 BCE and the completion of the summa cavea (upper seating section) in 246 BCE (Sear 394).

The scene building and proscaenium (stage front) were built around 290 BCE, with subsequent additions including wooden pinakes (painted panels) for the proscaenium in 282 BCE and wood for the stage in 279 BCE (Sear 394). The doors of the parodoi (side entrances) were added and the proscaenium was lengthened in 274 BCE, while stone for the paraskenia (side wings of the stage building) was acquired in 269 BCE (Sear 394).

An inscription (IG xi. 2. 205, line 28) mentions epimeletai (works supervisors) of the theatre for the year 269 BCE, indicating formal oversight of the construction and renovation process (Sear 394). The same three names appear in another inscription (ID 157), suggesting continuity in management of the theatre’s development.

Archaeological Excavations

The Theatre at Delos has been the subject of archaeological investigation since the 19th century. The formal excavation of the Theatre was first undertaken by the École Française d’Athènes (French School at Athens) in 1882, though the results of this work weren’t comprehensively published until 2007 in Exploration Archéologique de Délos XLII, Le Théâtre by Philippe Fraisse and Jean-Charles Moretti (DIAZOMA). Early documentation includes the work of Blouet in Expédition scientifique de Morée (1831-1838), which provided some of the first modern records of the theatre (Sear 395).

More systematic excavations were conducted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with significant contributions by J. Chamonard, whose findings were published in the Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique in 1896 (Sear 395). Wilhelm Dörpfeld, a pioneering figure in the archaeology of Greek theatres, also studied the Delos Theatre, publishing his observations in the same journal in 1896 and later in his comprehensive work on Greek theatres (Sear 395).

The excavation methodology of the early archaeologists has unfortunately created challenges for modern scholars. During the course of the excavations, marble architectural members that obstructed the work were moved to the orchestra or into nearby fields without proper documentation, resulting in hundreds of unidentified building stones from the monument being scattered around the surrounding area (DIAZOMA). This practice, common in early archaeological work but problematic by modern standards, has complicated efforts to fully understand and potentially restore the original structure.

More recent excavations and studies have been conducted by J.-C. Moretti, whose findings were published in the Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique between 1988 and 1990 (Sear 395). These modern excavations, along with the comprehensive 2007 publication, have revealed the theatre’s architectural evolution and have helped to establish its chronology through the discovery and interpretation of inscriptions. The archaeological work at Delos Theatre represents an important contribution to our understanding of Hellenistic theatrical architecture and practice.

Bibliography / Resources:

Print Sources

Chamonard, J. “Le théâtre de Délos.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 20 (1896): 256-318, 390-392.

Dörpfeld, Wilhelm, and Emil Reisch. Das griechische Theater. Athens, 1896.

Fraisse, Philippe, and Jean-Charles Moretti. Le Théâtre, Exploration Archéologique de Délos XLII. Athens: École Française d’Athènes, 2007.

Moretti, Jean-Charles. “Travaux de l’École française en Grèce en 1988-1990.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 112-114 (1988-1990): 779-905.

Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

Vallois, René. “L’architecture hellénique et hellénistique à Délos.” Bibliothèque des Écoles françaises d’Athènes et de Rome 157. Paris, 1953.

Online Sources

“Ancient Theatre of Delos.” ΔΙΑΖΩΜΑ (DIAZOMA). Accessed 20 Mar. 2025, https://diazoma.gr/en/theaters/theatre-of-delos/.

“Delos Archaeological Site.” Ancient-Greece.org. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025, https://ancient-greece.org/archaeology/delos/.

“Delos.” Odysseus, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025, http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2371.