Epidaurus, Theater

We drove through Nafplio, and on through a slight rain shower to the Theater at Epidaurus, said to be the most outstanding in the ancient world. Built in the 300’s AD, it will hold 14,000 spectators. It was restored in 1954, and is now used each summer. Among others, Maria Callas has preformed here. There are some school children on the stage, singing (or at least making noise) for other students in the seats. The acoustics are excellent.

Here, as at some other theaters, behind the seats is a place for the feet of the person in the seat above. The first row or two of seats at the bottom rows must have had seat-backs at one time, probably for the upper class, and most likely the local bureaucrats. We visited the nearby museum to see a selection of items from the nearby ruins.