Odeon of Herodes Atticus, A timeless venue for unforgettable performances

Dionysios Areopagitou

Only open during concerts and theatrical performances

4.3

Introduction

The Theatre of Herodes Atticus is located next to the entrance of the Acropolis in Athens, built in 161 AD. At that time, this semi-circular music theater was built by a philosopher, Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes, to commemorate his wife, and later donated to the Athens city government. This is one of the oldest theaters in the world, and one of the most outstanding ancient buildings. The theater has three levels and 32 rows of seats, accommodating up to 6,000 spectators. It is a semi-circular outdoor theater with a diameter of 38 meters and a width of 35 meters on the audience side. In ancient times, music concerts and theatrical performances were held here during festivals. Today, in the summer, many concerts and performances are still held here. Visitors can only enter when there are events, and specific times can be found on the official website. However, the Theatre of Herodes Atticus has also experienced several ups and downs and disasters. In 267 AD, it was invaded by outsiders and later destroyed by a fire that burned down the original fir roof. In subsequent restorations, the damaged roof was not repaired again. Nevertheless, it is still one of Athens' most famous tourist attractions, attracting countless tourists to experience the charm of ancient culture.