Greek Theatre of Syracuse
Aerial photo of the theatre
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| Location | Syracuse, Sicily, Italy |
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| Coordinates | 37°4′33″N 15°16′30″E / 37.07583°N 15.27500°ECoordinates: 37°4′33″N 15°16′30″E / 37.07583°N 15.27500°E |
| Type | Greek theatre |
| History | |
| Builder | Damocopos |
| Founded | 5th century BC |
| Site notes | |
| Management | Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. di Siracusa |
| Website | Area archeologica della Neapolis, Orecchio di Dionisio e Teatro Greco (in Italian) |
| Official name | Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 2005 (25th session) |
| Reference no. | 1200 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
The Greek theatre of Syracuse lies on the south slopes of the Temenite hill, overlooking the modern city of Syracuse in southeastern Sicily. It was first built in the 5th century BC, rebuilt in the 3rd century BC and renovated again in the Roman period. Today, it is a part of the Unesco World Heritage Site of "Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica".
Despite its abandoned state, it remains one of the most beautiful locations in the world, offering the most grandiose and picturesque spectacle that there is.
The existence of a theatre at Syracuse is attested by the end of the fifth century BC by the mime author, Sophron, who names the architect as Damokopos, called "Myrilla" because he made heavy use of perfume ("myrrha") at the inauguration. It has not been proven, however, that the passage records this monument and some think that it refers to another theatre in another location. However it is certain that a theatre was used in Syracuse from the early classical period and in it, it seems, the theatrical activities of the playwrights Epicharmus, Phormis and Deinolocus took place. At Syracuse, Aeschylus put on "The Aitnans" (a tragedy written to celebrate the re-foundation of Catania with the name Aitna, or of a centre with the name of Aitna where the Catanian exiles had found refuge after the destruction of Chalcidean Katane at the hands of Hieron I), probably in 456 BC. Also The Persians, which had already been performed at Athens in 472 BC, may have been performed at Syracuse. This latter work survives to this day, while the former has been lost. At the end of the fifth century or the beginning of the fourth, the plays of Dionysius I were probably performed here, along with those of the playwrights hosted at his court, such as Antiphon.
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