Orchestra and Stage

View looking southwest down into the orchestra and stage area. The present form of the orchestra was constructed during the reign of Nero (A.D. 54-68). It is paved with marble slabs and in the center is a rhombus composed of smaller colored slabs.

Inside of the central rhombus is the remnant of an altar (? column base?). This is a reminder that originally the deity Dionysus was worshiped here in the theater. On the left (south) side of the image remnants of the stage and decorative reliefs are visible – Click Here for details.

Throughout its history many functions took place in the theater. Choral productions, plays, readings, presentation ceremonies, military displays, cock-fights, gladiatorial games, mock water battles and at times the assembly of Athens met here rather than at the Pnyx .