Sunday 6 November 2011

Restoration of Thorikon Theatre, Laurion, Attica


The ancient Theatre of Thorikos, at Lavrion, is probably the most ancient surviving theatre in Greece. It is dated between 525 and 480 B.C.

Its most apparent phase dates to 450 B.C., while a third phase, dated to 425 B.C., showed that certain additions were of great importance. It is obvious even today that, being one of the first to be built, it faced a number of problems that seem to have been solved in later theatres.

For example it did not have a drainage pipe for the koilon (called an euripos according to the director of restorations of the Central Archaeological Council, Athanasios Nakasis). During antiquity a hidden supporting wall supported the supporting wall of the koilon. The necessity for this extra support was due to the weight of the earth that was increaced because of inadequate drainage for the oblong orchestra. A second supporting wall was added in the '50ies for the same reason.

The direction of restoration and the 2nd Ephorate of antiquities of Attica decided to solve the problem, using thin metal rods, which will be invisible, as they will be planted in the ground.

They will be 12 cm thick and 38 of them will be placed along 24 meters, so as to carry the weight, offerig a solution to the problem.

Adapted from Ethnos.gr, 06.11.2011