During the golden age of Athens,
plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Aristophanes were commissioned for the
Festival of Great Dionysia and were performed here. The theater, on the Acropolis'
southeastern slope, was constructed in stone and marble by between 342 and
326BC. The auditorium could seat 17,000; of an original 64 tiers of seats,
about 20 tiers still survive. Note the 2nd-century reliefs at the rear of the
stage depicting the exploits of the god Dionysos.
Visiting Athens
Athens has a
state of the art air port, with its own museum. There is also a well run bus
and train system and ferries from the Greek islands and Italy.
Athens has a modern metro system
which, along with the buses and trolleys, can speed one through the aggravating
Athenian traffic. Taxi cabs are cheap, but difficult to hail.