241-256

Roman theatre in Thessaloniki

• Βελένης, Γεώργιος Μ.
• Αδάμ - Βελένη, Πολυξένη

Parts of curved walls, belonging to a huge edifice, probably the biggest after the Hippodrome of Thessaloniki and earlier than that, were discovered during the excavation of two building-grounds in Apellou street, in the area of the Galerius’ palace. The edifice was used for performances —a theatre—, more than 100 m. wide, whose length is still unknown. It could be an amphitheatre, or a semi-circular theatre, or most probably, the theatre-stadium recorded in Byzantine written sources referring to Thessaloniki. If this edifice is the latter, the length will be a «stadium» plus the auditorium, about 250 m.; it started not far from the church of Hagia Sophia to the east. Its use dates from the reign of the Flavii until the 4th century A.D. Pillars and columns were added around the auditorium in the period of the Tetrarchy. The discovery of such a big and significant edifice posed certain problems concerning the history and topography of Thessaloniki; namely the size of the group of Galerius’ buildings, the axes of the city, the problems of the interpretation of the late Byzantine sources, and finally, the event which is represented in the so-called «historical» wall painting of St. Demetrius should be reconsidered. Furthermore, the contest of Nestorand Lyaios, the arrest and death of St. Demetrius and the topographic problems concerning the Megalophoros and the Chalceutiki Stoa are related to this building. These problems and questions are only presented in this paper; they will be thoroughly discussed in a future publication.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Ιστορία, Αρχαία

Θεσσαλονίκη, συνέδρια , θέατρα

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