In the light of the ancient theater of Lefkada – see photos

Ancient Lefkada, which was founded before the late 7th century. B.C. One of the Corinthians at the northern end of the island, there was a powerful city-state, which thanks to its strategic location, on the sea roads, the sailors to the north and the West, as well as its port, has experienced great economic and cultural boom.

Even with the famous German archaeologist, W. Dörpfeld, who in the late 1880s and for many years later excavated at various points. Lefkada the island was in the prestige of Homeric Ithaca.

The rescue excavations of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Aitoloakarnania and Lefkada have revealed extensive archaeological residues, such as parts of the walls, residential tissue, cemeteries and port.

In today’s announcement, the Ministry of Culture, which provides important information on the identification and systematic excavation of the ancient theater of Lefkada.

In light the ancient theater of Lefkada

As the Ministry notes, the only systematic excavation on the island, after the great excavations of Darpfeld, has been held in recent years, with the aim of bringing to light its most emblematic monument, the theater.

Its position is approximately 3km south of the modern city of Lefkadain the slide of the middle hill of Koulmos, on a slope overgrown with olive trees and panoramic views of the channel and the coastal plain, spread by the ancient city.

As for the dating of the monument, it seems that its construction began in the 4th century. B.C. Like other public buildings, when the city has experienced great economic prosperity and flowering. Construction details, however, suggest that it has received interventions later.

Few evidence was known until 2015 for the theater and came from the trial sections, which had been made in 1901 by E. Kruger, the Darpfeld associate, who over time were well -groomed by olive groves and rough warehouses.

In 1997, the then competent IB Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities re -identified the position of the theater and in 2015 coordinated efforts began to systematically excavate it, which eventually succeeded.

In the first trial sections they were identified Endons, the orchestra and retaining wall of the stage.

The systematic excavation began in 2017 (owned by Mikronis) and by 2023 the archaeological excavation revealed the large, impressive theater.

The excavation was particularly difficult and demanding, as many and large olive trees had to be removed, extensive excavations, newer constructions were degraded and many architectural members move.

Research has revealed for the most part The hollow, the orchestra and the Euripos, the lane, the retaining walls of the hollow, as well as most of the stage.

The theater has a ND/ND oriented and is separated by 13 scales (0.72-0.78m wide) into 12 stands.

The state of conservation of the monument, especially in the upper part of the hollow, is not good, as a result of human activity either in antiquity or in modern times and the cultivation of the property.

To the lower part of the hollowthe docks and the presidency are kept in better conditionmainly in the central area, as well as the limestone plates of their coverage, scales and corridor plates.

The main theater has 21 rows of seats, and over the 21st row there was probably a seagull. The theater capacity in 24 rows was about 3,500 spectators, While in its full development with the Trial, it is estimated that it would accommodate about 10,000 to 11,000 spectators.

The presidencies consisting of two seats together, totaling 2.60m, were also identified.

The orchestra, partly carved on the natural rock, is a complete cycle with an outer diameter of 16.65m. And it is surrounded by a stone frame, consisting of three rows of stones in height, which on the base of their appearance have a wave and tape in the upper section.

One of the most interesting elements of the survey – according to the Ministry of Culture – is finding parts of three stone thrones, elaborately decorated With lion, dolphins, birds, siren, etc., intended for prominent faces, priests or city officials and later the Akarnanian public.

The theater in the Roman times followed the fate of the rest of the city, which gradually declined and with the founding of Nicopolis by Octavian August 31 BC, much of the Lefkadians necessarily settled the new city.

It was probably abandoned after the end of antiquity and much of its material was detached for newer constructions, some of which were built on the hollow. Although wounded by time, but mainly from human interventions, the theater is fully and harmoniously integrated into the geomorphology of the hill, with panoramic views of the wider area, is undoubtedly the The most important and most imposing monument that has come to light in ancient Lefkada.

The upper part of the hollow and part of the scene will be investigated after the expropriations by the Ministry of Culture, which were scheduled for the visit of Lina Mendoni’s Minister of Culture in Lefkada in 2020. In the context of the Planning Agreement, the study has already been drawn up by The monument continues to be fully mature, as a project, to join a co -financed program. For the implementation of the excavation, thanks are expressed by the Ministry of Culture to the Regional Governors Spyridon Galiatsatos, Rodi Kratsa Tsagaropoulou, and Ioannis Trepeklis, as well as to the mayors of Konstantinos Drakontaida, Charalambos Kalo and Xenophon Verginos