521-534

Restoration of the ancient theatre at Mieza

• Καραδέδος, Γεώργιος
• Θεοχαρίδου, Καλλιόπη
• Αλλαμανή-Σουρή, Βικτώρια
• Μισαηλίδου-Δεσποτίδου, Βασιλική

East of Naoussa, on the site where the available data locate ancient Mieza, a theatre was found by chance in 1992. The excavations between 1993 and 1995 uncovered the orchestra, the skene building, and the surviving tiers of seats in the cavea. It is a small provincial theatre, which, despite its simple construction, was found to be based on a very interesting system of geometrical proportions. The data so far suggest that the first phase of the theatre may be dated to the early Roman period, because the features connected with Greek theatres predominate. At some later phase, after the retaining walls of the parodoi had collapsed, the area of the cavea was reduced, producing its present asymmetrical shape. The type of building material and its present condition make it essential to conduct conservation and restoration work on the monument, while its surviving elements, though inadequate, make it possible to produce a graphic representation of its original form and are sufficient for it to be re-used as a theatre. The interventions relating to the conservation and restoration of the theatre were planned in accordance with the current debate on the conservation of archaeological monuments as reflected in international conventions. More specifically, the intervention principles are: i) respect for the authenticity of the monument; ii) respect for the historical phases; iii) limitation of the restorations to what is absolutely essential to achieve an instructive and aesthetically acceptable presentation of the monument; iv) distinguishing the restorations from the authentic elements in such a way as not to mar the aesthetics of the monument. The basic principle behind the proposal for re-use is that the monument’s new function be served as well as possible without affecting its historical and artistic dimension. At the same time, the proposal has been designed in such a way as to involve the least possible disturbance of the archaeological site. In the cavea, the poros of the surviving seats needs to be conserved, and the proposed restorations are confined to the lower part, up to the seventh tier. From the eighth tier of seats upwards, it is proposed that new wooden seasonal seats be used, supported by a folding metal structure. At the end of the season, the seats can be removed, leaving behind only the metal bars at ground level, which, being hidden in the grass, will not make their presence felt. The new installations and the buildings for the actors’ dressing-rooms, the box office, and the refreshment room, which are all essential for the theatre to function, are small-scale, low, light, reversible structures, located in unobtrusive places where they will not affect the theatre’s function as a monument.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

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