Morgantina (Modern Serra Orlando, Sicily, Italy)

325 BCE

Cavea Width: 58 meters
Orchestra Width: 14 meters

Morgantina (modern Serra Orlando, Sicily, Italy). Cavea width: 57.5 meters; orchestra width: 14.4 meters; capacity: ?3000-3500; earliest date: trapezoidal theatre,c.325 BCE; semicircular cavea,c.300–275 BCE; alterations to stage and extension of scene building cannot be dated; Morgantina destroyed 211 BCE. Excavations and reconstructions 1963-67, 2003-2006 CE.

The Theater at Morgantina (Serra Orlando)

 “On a windy Saturday morning, we visited the site of the Ancient Greek settlement of Morgantina in Sicily. The site contained many differences to most of the other Greek sites that we had visited, most noticeably its lack of a temple, a stereotypical building in the Ancient Greek World. However these differences went beyond just the superficial. Hidden away in the centre of Sicily, through a small town and down a cobbled back road, Morgantina was not the kind of place you would expect to find a very impressive site. However, there I was standing on a windswept hill overlooking the spectacular remains of the city, and provided an inspirational view. The beauty of Morgantina continued to be present inside the site, and was also far more appreciated when we were sheltered from the wind too. Looking out from a Greek town over the beautiful rolling hills and farms of central Sicily, you can easily imagine why ancient peoples would have settled this area. Furthermore, the city of Morgantina had a long settlement history, mainly as a Sicel site with many Greek elements – the Sicels were a native population of Sicily.”
— Author: Goodwin, Andrew. “Morgantina: A Very Different Site.” Australian National University. 5/24/2019.. https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/classical-studies/blog/morgantina-very-different-site, Accessed 5/10/2004.

Location and History:

The ancient theatre at Morgantina (modern Serra Orlando) represents one of the most significant Hellenistic architectural structures in central Sicily. Located approximately sixty kilometers inland from the Ionian coast in the province of Enna, this east-northeast facing theatre was constructed during a period of prosperity when Morgantina was an outpost of the Hellenistic kingdom of Syracuse under King Hieron II (Goodwin).

History of City

Morgantina was originally settled around 1000 BCE as an Iron Age settlement on the hill known as Cittadella (Wikipedia). According to ancient sources, it was founded by a pre-Roman Italian group called the Morgetes of Rhegium led by King Morges (Wikipedia). The city experienced significant phases of development, with Greek influence becoming pronounced from the 6th century BCE onwards.

In 459 BCE, the Sicel leader Ducetius captured Morgantina in an attempt to free central Sicily from Greek control, after which the Serra Orlando plateau became the primary settlement location (Princeton). When Dionysius I of Syracuse captured the city in 396 BCE, Morgantina entered the Syracusan sphere of influence and enjoyed its greatest prosperity during the 3rd century BCE under King Hieron II (Princeton).

The Theatre

The Morgantina theatre was constructed circa 250 BCE over the site of an earlier (c.325 BCE) and smaller, trapezoidal theatre. This construction occurred during the city’s most prosperous period under Syracusan influence. Following Morgantina’s unfortunate alliance with Carthage during the Second Punic War, the city was sacked by Roman forces in 211 BCE and began a slow decline, eventually being abandoned by the first century CE (Princeton). The theatre, like the rest of the city, fell into disrepair after the Roman conquest.

Cavea (seating area)

• Diameter and estimated capacity: Maximum diameter of 57.7 meters. The seating capacity would be approximately 3,000-3,500 spectators (a conservative estimate based on the comparative dimensions and seating arrangements of other Sicilian theatres of the same period).
• Seating divisions: The lower seating section (ima cavea) composed of sixteen rows of seats, divided horizontally into six wedge-shaped sections (kerkides) separated by seven rows of steps (klimakes)
• Construction materials and techniques: Roughly squared blocks of local limestone over earthen fill
• Support structures and access: Limestone retaining walls (analemmata) supported the earthen fill; above the ima cavea was an earthen embankment with no stone seating except for four straight seats behind the fourth kerkis

Orchestra (performance space between audience and stage)

• Dimensions, shape, and materials: 14.40 meters in diameter, paved in beaten earth
• Special features and modifications: A water conduit ran across the orchestra to supply a fountain built against the north analemma, as well as fountains south and east of the theatre; no drainage channel (euripus) around the perimeter

Pulpitum (stage)

• Dimensions and construction details: Only foundations survive; 16.9-meter-long scene house foundation
• Four unfluted columns once served as stage support

Scaenae Frons (decorative scene house front)

• Architectural order and design: Limited evidence available; foundation shows evidence of a central stage door (regia)
• Doorways and stories: Evidence of a central stage door (regia)

Current Status

Preservation Condition: The Morgantina theatre, like many ancient structures, has suffered deterioration over time. The collapse of the northern analemma in antiquity and the need for extensive restoration work in recent decades indicate the challenges of preserving such structures. 

Conservation Efforts

Recent conservation efforts have focused on:

• Structural stabilization of the cavea and analemmata
• Improving drainage to prevent water damage
• Restoration of seating areas to reveal the original design while ensuring visitor safety

The opening of the regional museum in Aidone in 1980 in a former 17th-century Capuchin monastery, operated by the Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. di Enna, has provided a secure location for displaying artifacts from Morgantina, contributing to the overall conservation strategy for the site.

The archaeological site is protected under Italian cultural heritage laws and is managed as part of the Parco Archeologico Regionale di Morgantina in cooperation with the Soprintendenza ai Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Enna.

Ancient Modifications

• Original Structure: c.325 BCE – smaller, trapezoidal theatre
• Major Renovation: c.250 BCE – reconstructed into traditional semicircular Greek design
  • Occurred during Morgantina’s prosperity under Syracuse/King Hieron II
• Structural Issues: Northern analemma collapsed in antiquity
  • Ancient engineers attempted reinforcement with internal buttresses (ultimately unsuccessful)

Excavation History and Preservation

• Early Explorations (1884-1912):
  • Limited excavations by Luigi Pappalardo and Paolo Orsi
• Systematic Excavations (1955-1979):
  • Princeton University (1955-1967): Directors Sjöqvist and Stillwell
  • Illinois-Princeton (1968-1972): Director Allen
  • Documentation work (1978-1979): Director Childs
• Current Archaeological Leadership (1980-present):
  • Malcolm Bell III (University of Virginia): Serra Orlando/theatre area
  • Carla Antonaccio (Duke University): Cittadella area
  • Alex Walthall (University of Texas): Contrada Agnese Project
• Theatre Restoration Campaigns:
  • Princeton period (1963-1967): Northern analemma and four seating sections
  • Sposito project (2003-2006): Southern analemma, drainage improvements, and cavea restoration

Bibliography / Resources:

“American Journal of Archaeology” (AJA) 61 (1957) 152-153; 62 (1958) 162; 64 (1960) 129-130; 65 (1961) 279; 66 (1962) 137-138; 71 (1967) 245-246; 74 (1970) 359-366; 86 (1982) 584-585.

Bell, Malcolm III. “The Terracottas.” In Morgantina Studies, vol. 1. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1983.

Goodwin, Andrew. “Morgantina: A Very Different Site.” Australian National University. May 24, 2019. https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/classical-studies/blog/morgantina-very-different-site, Accessed May 10, 2024.

KOKALOS 10-11 (1964-65) 579-588; 21 (1975) 226-230.

Mitens, Karina. “Teatri greci e teatri ispirati all’architettura greca in Sicilia e nell’Italia meridionale, c. 350-50 a. C.” In Analecta Romana Instituti Danici, suppl. XIII, 1987.

“Princeton Archaeological Expedition to Morgantina 1955–1963 and 1966–1967.” Princeton University. 2024. https://researchphotographs.princeton.edu/morgantina/, Accessed May 15, 2024.

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

Sposito, Alberto et al. Morgantina e Solunto: analisi e problemi conservativi. Dipartimento DPCE, Palermo, 2001.

Sposito, Alberto et al. Morgantina: Architettura e Città Ellenistiche. Alloro, Palermo, 1995.

Sposito, Alberto and Vanna Lisa Ruggirello. “The Hellenistic Theatre in Morgantina.” Journal Architettura di Pietra. Oct 11, 2008. https://www.architetturadipietra.it/wp/?p=1946, Accessed May 29, 2024.

Walthall, D. Alex et al. “Preliminary Report on the 2016 Field Season of the American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (CAP).” FOLD&R Italy 450 (2019).

Wikipedia contributors. “Morgantina.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. April 11, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgantina, Accessed May 12, 2024.