Construction and history of the theater

The Greek Theater in Syracuse was built thanks to the hand of the architect Damocopus, also known as Mirylla, and it's located in the archeological park of Neapolis, on the hill Temenite. Its construction dates back to the V century b.C.: it was then built again in the III century b.C. and also modified during Roman times. At the beginning, the theater didn't have its semicircular shape, but it had the shape of a trapeze.

Between 238 and 215 b.C., the theater was entirely rebuilt with its horseshoe shape, typical of Ellenic culture. Hierone II, in order to exploit the natural potential of the rock in relation to hearing, wanted it to be rebuilt with this shape.

One of the characteristics of Greek theaters is that they offer a beautiful landscape, and the one in Syracuse gives a beautiful view on the harbor and the Ortigia island, the oldest part.

The auditorium

It was designed in this way by Hieron II, and it's one of the biggest in the Greek world, with a diameter of 138,60m, which originally counted 67 steps carved in the rock. On the fence which surrounded the auditorium, there are the names of some gods and of the royal family. On the central axis of the step, there is a tribune dedicated to important figures.

The scenic part

The whole part is disappearing and there are just some traces and signs into the rock. The space that belonged to the orchestra was bordered by a big euripus, over which there were the steps and a hidden passage for the actors.

The theater in the Roman times

The auditorium was turned into the semicircular shapes, typical of Roman theaters; some corridors were added, so that people could access the building and the scene was reconstructed with three niches. A new pit was made for the curtain. In the orchestra area, a new channel was built, strickter and close to the steps of the auditorium. In the late emperial time, new adjustements were made, in order to adapt the orchestra to water games.

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