Megalopolis (modern Megalopoli, Greece)

Early 4th century BCE

Cavea Width: 131 meters
Orchestra Width: 32 meters

Name: The Greek / Roman theatre at Megalopis

Location: Megalopolis (modern Megalopoli, Arkadia, Greece). Hellenistic/Roman theatre.

One of ancient Greece’s largest theatrical structures; built circa 370 BCE. 131-meter diameter cavea facing north; capacity approximately 20,000 spectators across three distinct tiers (ima, media, and summa cavea), separated by curved walkways. The semi-circular orchestra measures 31.52m wide with a packed earth floor and drainage channel. A unique feature is the skanotheka (35m x 8.3m), a storage facility for theatrical equipment, possibly featuring a railway-like system for moving wheeled scenery. The proscaenium (3.00-3.70m high) was supported by 14 columns, while the adjacent Thersilion’s portico (34.77m long with 14 Doric columns) may have served as the scene building. Today, only the lowest nine rows of seating survive, including honorific front-row seating with continuous backs, along with portions of the support walls and functional drainage system. (Sear, pp. 400-401)

Megalopolis City History: 

Megalopolis was founded ca. 370 BCE by Epaminondas of Thebes as the capital of the Arcadian League and as a buffer city to help contain the Spartans. During the 4th century BCE Megalopolis politically favored Macedonia and suffered numerous Spartan attacks. In the 3rd century, the city joined the Achaean League. In 223 BCE the Spartans (under Cleomenes III) succeeded in taking and destroying Megalopolis. The city was rebuilt and enjoyed some prosperity, but never regained political power, and by the 2nd century CE, it was a minor town much in ruin. It was finally abandoned at the end of the Roman period. (Source: Perseus)

The Megalopolis Theatre, located in ancient Megalopolis (modern-day Megalopoli) in the Arcadia region of Greece. It dates from around 370 BCE, and was built as part of the founding of Megalopolis itself, which was established between 371-368 BCE as the capital of the Arcadian League to serve as a political counterweight to Sparta (Perseus Digital Library; Wikipedia).

The theatre was designed by the renowned architect Polycleitus of Argos and was strategically situated on the left bank of the River Elissonas (Alfeios), approximately 3 kilometers from the modern town of Megalopoli (Dodeka Travel; Discover Peloponnese). Its massive scale reflected the city’s ambition and importance, with an estimated capacity of 17,000-21,000 spectators, making it the largest theatre in ancient Greece according to the 2nd century CE traveler Pausanias, who describes it as “unequalled in size” (2.27.5) and the “largest in Greece” (8.32.1-3) (Britannica; Visit Peloponnese; Sear).

Architectural Features

According to Sear’s detailed study, the Megalopolis Theatre featured an impressive three-tiered seating arrangement:

• Ima cavea (lower tier): Originally approximately 20 rows divided into 9 cunei (wedge-shaped sections) by staircases (width 0.81 m)
• Media cavea (middle tier): 20 rows in 9 cunei, separated from the ima cavea by a praecinctio (walkway)
• Summa cavea (upper tier): 15 rows divided into 16 cunei by 17 staircases, with a steeper slope than the lower sections (Sear, pp. 400-401)

The entire cavea (seating area) had a diameter of approximately 131 meters, built against the north slope of a hill facing north. The front row featured continuous high backs and armrests next to staircases. Gardner estimated the capacity at 19,700 spectators, based on 0.33 m per person on regular seating and 0.41 m for benches, comparable to the marked seating at the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens (Sear, pp. 400-401).

A unique feature of the theatre was its skanotheka, a storage facility for theatrical equipment. According to Sear, it measured 35 m in length and 8.3 m in width internally, built at the same time as the west analemma wall, in the area where the west parodos (entrance passage) should have been. The word “skanotheka” was found on tiles discovered nearby. This structure was probably designed to store scenery or perhaps a mobile proscaenium (stage). A row of stones running the length of the interior was interpreted by Fiechter as a kind of railway line for wheeled stage scenery, though Buckler presented a contrary view (Sear, pp. 400-401; Perseus Digital Library).

The Orchestra and Stage

The orchestra (performance area) had a diameter of 31.52 m, was unpaved, and surrounded by a gutter (diameter at gutter: 30.5 m). The proscaenium (stage front) had a height of 3.00-3.70 m and was supported by 14 columns. It was built after the Thersilion (adjacent building) fell into disuse. There are possible remains of a Roman stage whose front ran directly across the orchestra on the line of the analemmata (retaining walls). Two pedestals, one on each side of the orchestra, would have stood directly in front of this Roman stage (Sear, pp. 400-401).

A distinctive aspect of the Megalopolis Theatre was that the portico of the Thersilion (length 34.77 m), with 14 Doric columns (height of order excluding pediment approximately 9.25 m), stood directly opposite the cavea and may have served as the scene building of the theatre. The columnar porch of the Thersilion, which was a meeting place for the Arcadian League, could possibly have been used as an odeum (smaller roofed theatre), comparable to the Odeum of Pericles at Athens (Sear, pp. 400-401).

Current Condition

Today, only the lowest seats survive from the original structure. The hillside supporting the cavea is not fully excavated. Portions of the analemma remain intact, as well as the still-functioning euripus (drainage channel) and the exposed orchestra floor (Sear, pp. 400-401; Perseus Digital Library).

The theatre and the adjacent archaeological site containing the ancient agora, the Thersileion parliament hall, and other structures continue to be subjects of ongoing archaeological research and restoration efforts, highlighting the historical and cultural significance.

Post-223 BCE Reconstruction

After the Spartan king Cleomenes III captured and burned Megalopolis in 223-222 BCE, the city and its theatre were rebuilt (Perseus Digital Library). This reconstruction represented the first major renovation of the theatre, though details of specific architectural changes during this period are limited in the archaeological record.

Roman Period Modifications

During the Roman period, following the conquest of Greece in 146 BCE, the theatre saw additional modifications:

• The addition of a stone proscenium (stage front) built after the Thersilion fell into disuse, supported by 14 columns with a height of 3.00-3.70 m (Sear, pp. 400-401)
• Construction of a new Roman stage whose front ran directly across the orchestra on the line of the analemmata (retaining walls)
• Installation of two pedestals, one on each side of the orchestra, positioned directly in front of the Roman stage (Sear, pp. 400-401)
• Unlike many Greek theatres converted to Roman use, the basic structure of the cavea appears to have remained largely unchanged, suggesting a more conservative approach to renovation than seen at other sites.

Later Decline

Despite these renovations, the theatre’s fortunes ultimately followed those of Megalopolis itself:

• By the 2nd century CE, during Pausanias’ visit, Megalopolis was described as “a heap of ruins” (Britannica)
• Late Roman period: The city was finally abandoned (Perseus Digital Library)
• Unlike some other ancient theatres that saw continued use or repurposing in Byzantine times, there is no evidence of significant Byzantine-era modifications at the Megalopolis theatre

Excavations:

1890-93: The British School of Archaeology in Athens; Director W. Loring; revealed the proscenium, orchestra, part of the proedria, the analemma walls of the parodoi, the foundations of the skenotheke, and the lower stone seats.
1901: Continued excavations; Director M. Kavallieratos.
1962-63: Cleaning and minor excavations; E. Stikas and C. Christou.
Current: The Ephorate of Antiquities of Arcadia has been managing current excavation and an archaeological restoration study as part of an EU NSRF program (Visit Peloponnese)

A Cultural Grant Agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Public Power Corporation SA (PPC) provided €2,815,354 for the protection and enhancement of archaeological monuments in the Megalopolis area, including the restoration of the ancient theatre (DIAZOMA)

The Municipality of Megalopolis and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed a Programmatic Agreement budgeted at €500,000 for further restoration work (DIAZOMA)

The non-governmental organization “ELIX” has collaborated with the Municipality of Megalopolis to implement voluntary programs aimed at the conservation and restoration of the theatre (DIAZOMA)

UNESCO has included the ancient theatre of Megalopolis in a European funding program for necessary restoration works

Bibliography / Resources:

Britannica. “Megalopolis | Urban Planning, Ancient Ruins & Archaeology.” https://www.britannica.com/place/Megalopolis-Greece

DIAZOMA. “Theater of Megalopolis.” https://diazoma.gr/en/theaters/14561/

“Greek Theatres: Megalopolis.” Unesco, World Heritage Convention. Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO, Ref.: 5869. 16 Jan 2014.  <https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5869/ >Accessed 15 Jun 2024.

Perseus Digital Library. “Megalopolis (Site).” Tufts University. Gregory R. Crane, Editor-In-Chief. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifact?name=Megalopolis&object=Site

Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford University Press, 2006, pp. 400-401.

Visit Peloponnese. “The ancient Theatre of Megalopolis.” https://visitpeloponnese.com/en/prdct/ancient-theatre-megalopolis

Wikipedia. “Megalopolis, Greece.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalopolis,_Greece