Theatre of Dionysus
A theatre of ancient Greek drama where the plays of the great dramatists(Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Menandrus) were first presented.It lies at the foot of the Acropolis,to the south,next to the "Sanctuary of Dionysus". Originally the theatre had wooden seats which were replaced by seats of stone in 342-326 B.C.,much in the form we see today.It could accommodate some 20,000 spectators in 78 rows of seats.The first row consists of 67 marble "thrones",where the high officials sat (priests, leading citizens, notables).
The orchestra,the open semicircle between the stage and the audience,was rebuilt by the Romans.They organized gladiatoral performances as well as mock naval battles in this theatre.
