Ancient Theatre of Sikyon, Corinth - 2014

Ancient Theatre of Sikyon, Corinth. Konstantinos Kissas (LZ’ EPKA) reports on the archaeological cleanings and the trial trenches done on the ancient theatre of Sikyon. These actions were done under the Programmatic Contract of Development (2014-2016), in which the theatre participated. The main aim was the ascertainment of the buildings’ maintenance level, as well as the understanding of its initial geometry. 

Excavation processes were held in various parts of the theatre, and the results were as follows; in the axis of each ladder of the koilon, there exists a stone uniting it with the evripos (channel for the removal of water, separating the orchestra from the koilon, and thus, protecting it from flood). This stone is located in the stone-built sidewalls of the channel.

The arch of the pipe, towards the orchestra, was held in place with Z-shaped conjunctions. It was decorated with a decorative strip. 

In the first layer of the koilon, a guide for the placement of the thrones and the steps of the staircases was found. In some parts of it, traces of seats in semi-circular placement were located. 

From the various data that the excavation provided, it was made clear that the lower part of the koilon had 21 rows of seats. It was conducted that the lower part of the koilon had a pipeline alongside the walls forming it and a stone-paved corridor between seats. Furthermore, it was deducted that between the lower and the upper part of the koilon, the middle part had 13 rows of seats. Finally, the final and upper part of the koilon was supported by the natural geomorphology of the hill and it had 28 rows of seats, with somewhat smaller width of seats.

[Entry created by E. Kourti]