Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

142  SICIL Y AREA B Y AREA

Syracuse: The Greek Theatre

This is one of the most important examples
of ancient theatre architecture anywhere, and
for centuries it was the centre of Syracusan life.
The Greek theatre was a much more complex
construction than today’s ruins might indicate;
in 1520–31, Emperor Charles V had much of
the stone transported to build the walls around
Ortygia (see pp146–7). Designed in the 5th
century BC by the Greek architect Damacopos,
the theatre was enlarged in the 3rd and 2nd Votive Niches
centuries BC by Hieron II. From the 5th century To the west of the grotto, near the ancient
BC onwards, the great Greek playwrights, colonnade, the wall is punctuated by a series
including Aeschylus, who premiered some of of rectangular niches that might have housed
his tragedies here, wrote and staged their works votive paintings or tablets in honour of
Syracusan heroes.
in this magnificent setting.

Grotta del Museion
This cave, hewn out
of the rock wall
above the theatre,
has a rectangular
basin where the
aqueduct flowed.

0 metres 10
0 yards 10

Classical Greek Theatre
Every year, the theatre hosts a summer
programme of Classical theatre.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p204 and pp214–16

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