Herodio Theater
The giant bowl of the Herodio Theater unfolded at the southern wall of the Acropolis. And although his stage is on a sinful earth, the sounds fly up the steps of the amphitheater to the height of the Parthenon, hurrying to please the Gods on the Sacred Rock. The unique acoustics of the theater silence the proud muses and playful nymphs on the surrounding hills in the thickets of pine and olive groves.
Who is this Herod Atticus? Why is the odeon, a place for singing and dancing competitions, named after him? To our ears, the name Herod is by no means associated with art. But Herods are different. Herod (Herod) Atticus had a brilliant literary, oratorical and political career. Among his students are two Roman emperors. But he left his name in history as a patron of the arts. It was with his money and his efforts that architectural masterpieces were built that still amaze humanity with their uniqueness: stadiums in Athens and Delphi, a fountain in Olympia, a theater in Corinth, a water pipe in Alexandria, baths in Thermopylae. And of course, the Herodio Theater at the foot of the Acropolis.
Actually, logically, the theater should have been named after Regilla's deceased wife - it was planned to give musical performances dedicated to her memory in this temple of art.
The theater itself is built in the Greek theatrical traditions, but the high facade, covered with arches and niches, is typical of Rome. The theater was covered with an expensive cedar wood roof. The stage is a colored tile. The amphitheater itself can accommodate more than five thousand spectators. The unique acoustics were achieved thanks to clever architectural techniques: the bowl-shaped arrangement of the back rows and the resonating empty spaces behind them.
But all this splendor did not serve Athens for long. The Herodio Theater was burned down by the Heruli tribe who captured Athens and stood in ruins for centuries. It was excavated in the middle of the 19th century, but it was restored only in the 50s of the 20th century and has been pleasing the audience with performances and acoustics ever since. At first, the troupe of the National Theater staged ancient tragedies there, but later an annual music festival began to be held in Herodio, which grew to the size of an international cultural phenomenon. It is considered prestigious to perform on this ancient stage under the starry sky.
Athenians love their Herodio Theater, cherish and take care of it. The rules for visiting the theater are written right on the entrance tickets:
- It is forbidden to bring food and drinks to the theater, except for water;
- You can not smoke and be late;
- It is forbidden to bring children under 6 years of age;
- Women are not allowed to enter in heels;
Many people bring with them cushions for long sitting on the marble slabs of this wonderful theater, where art comes into contact with centuries-old history. Оформлення спадщини, виїзд за кордон або працевлаштування часто вимагають наявності оригіналів документів, що підтверджують родинні зв'язки. Якщо ж свідоцтво про народження або шлюб було втрачено, не варто панікувати — існує проста процедура відновлення. Так як отримати дублікат свідоцтва про народження видаються на підставі актових записів, що зберігаються в архівах органів реєстрації. Отримати їх можуть як безпосередньо самі громадяни, так і їхні батьки або уповноважені представники за наявності довіреності. Термін виготовлення дубліката залежить від місця подання заяви та може становити від 2 до 5 робочих днів.