As a matter of course, we expect about every Greek city to have a theater. This is, however, not the case on the Greek islands – until now.
The Ionian
In the 7th century BC, many Corinthians set off to establish new colonies, such as Syracuse in Sicily, and some settled in Lefkada. This island is best known for its white cliffs, where the poetess Sappho jumped to her death in despair rather than facing an impossible love.
Thanks to its strategic position along busy maritime routes,
the city-state reached high cultural and economic prosperity. Archaeological research exposed sections
of the city wall, residential structures, the harbor, and, more recently, remains
of a theater on the northeastern slope of Koulmos Hill.
Excavations started seriously in 2017, and soon the entire theater was exposed. It was established that it was built in the 4th century BC and consisted of 21 rows of seats arranged around the orchestra. Originally, it could seat 3,500 spectators, but later extensions created space for over 10,000 visitors as more seats were added above an inserted diazoma.
The latest excavation gave a good insight into the preserved sections of retaining walls (north and south), the seating area, the orchestra, and the stage itself. Many decorative elements have been revealed, as well as three beautifully carved thrones decorated with lion legs, dolphins, birds, sirens, and more. These were intended for priests or other city officials.
The fate of the theater was closely tied to that of Lefkada, which gradually declined in Roman times. As the city was abandoned at the end of antiquity, the theater’s stones were reused for later constructions elsewhere.
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