Ancient Acropolis theatre to be restored
The Theatre of Dionysos is to undergo a multi-million pound restoration
An ancient theatre beneath the Acropolis, believed to be the birthplace of modern drama, is to recover some of its former glory thanks to a £5.4 million restoration project.
The Theatre of Dionysos in Athens will be rebuilt by extending and modernising surviving stone seats, although no new performances are planned to take place there.
Masterpieces of ancient drama by playwrights such as Euripides and Sophocles were performed at the open air theatre more than 2,500 years ago.
Dionysos, son of Zeus, was the Greek god of wine, madness and vegetation - not least the theatre - and was usually accompanied by a troop of female devotees and nymphs.
The theatre was last rebuilt in limestone and marble during the fourth century BC, when it frequently seated up to 15,000 spectators
It is hoped the multi-million pound project will be completed by 2015.
Architect Constantinos Boletis described the building, which stands on the southern side of the Acropolis Hill, as being "of immense historic significance".
"The programme will have a major impact on the overall aspect of the monument," said Mr Boletis.
However he added that plans to host new musical and theatrical performances at the venue were "abandoned in the mid 1970s".
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