Argos Theater

[1] The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea.

Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections.

(Psychogiou) British archaeologist Richard Allan Tomlinson describes the positions of the steps as not conforming to any regular plan, and the blocks are consequently of varying sizes.

[2] A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Actually more like a tunnel, the stairway lead underground from the backstage to the orchestra pit and is presumed to be used to "sudden appear" among the actors in play.

The Argos Theater was composed on a hillside giving a view of the Caicus River behind the performers.

[4] The theater features a bisellium, a seated area designed to occupy honorary leaders.

The mythological history of the city became a high interest for people to travel to visit Argos.

Greek men were known to be competitive and prideful people and were always up for a challenge to prove who is the strongest and fastest.

[8] The music competitions were typically held during the Nemean games, and would feature musicians or singers for a change of entertainment.

The purpose of the festivals was to bring citizens together at the Argos Theater to celebrate Greek life and to worship their Gods.

The Assembly wanted to give people the opportunity to speak their mind, so freedom of speech was vital for the group of participants.

[9] Deciding through the democratic system, the assembly would tackle issues such as war, ways to manage their military, or to elect someone as an official political figure.

[6] With an excavation that began in 1892, two theaters were unearthed about 100 meters from Argos, in the city's ancient agora.

A larger Hellenistic theater, dated to the late 4th century (Tomlinson), was found just to the North and excavated.