The Ancient Theatre of Mieza

In 1992, the theatre of Mieza was uncovered at the southwestern edge of the excavated area. Its semicircular cavea (seating area) is laid out on a natural slope, with panoramic views over the plain. The positioning of the scaenae frons (stage background) deep in the horseshoe-shaped orchestra and the co-existence of Hellenistic and Roman structural elements, in conjunction with the pottery, date the theatre to early Roman times.

On 6 December 2008, DIAZOMA Association President Mr Stavros Benos visited the theatre of Mieza for the first time as part of his tour of the ancient theatres of Northern Greece. There, he met with all local bodies and institutions to discuss the theatre’s enhancement and promotion. Since then, significant progress has been made with DIAZOMA’s contribution to the work of the competent state institutions. The cavea has been restored, and the theatre is now a vibrant member of the local community. After its restoration, the ancient theatre of Mieza opened to the public on 7 August 2017.

 

 

More specifically:

The ancient theatre of Mieza

• In 2007, the “Ancient Theatre of Mieza: Research-Preservation-Restoration” project was included in the “Cultural Egnatia” programme of the 3^rd Community Support Framework (CSF) with a budget of € 500,000. The preservation and restoration study was carried out by a research and study group under Mr George Karadedos, Professor emeritus of architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
• The works were carried out between August 2007 and December 2008 by the 17th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. They led to the restoration of the scaenae frons and part of the cavea with new stones as per the study, the aesthetic restoration of part of the new stones and the partial preservation of the ancient stones. New data emerged concerning an earlier phase of the theatre, which dates to the Hellenistic era.
• On 6 December 2008, DIAZOMA Association President Mr Stavros Benos visited the ancient theatre of Mieza as part of his tour of the ancient theatres of Northern Greece. There, he met with local bodies and institutions to discuss the theatre’s enhancement and promotion. (link).
• The DIAZOMA Association has set up a fundraising bank account (“piggy bank”) for the ancient theatre of Mieza. (link)
• The project “Preservation- enhancement of the ancient theatre of Mieza- Phase B” was included in the Operational Programme “Macedonia-Thrace” of the NSRF, with a budget of € 750,000.
• The physical aspects of the project included interventions on the theatre’s ancient stones, their preservation and restoration, and the configuration of parts of the theatre and the surrounding area. More specifically, the following works took place:

SUBPROJECT 1:

1. Final configuration of the orchestra floor with a coating of soil and inert material.
2. Final configuration of the scaenae frons and proscenium floors with a coating of soil and inert material.
3. Cleaning, configuration and coating with soil and inert material of the space behind the scaenae frons.

4.Strengthening parts of the natural rock. Final filling in to recover the volume of the cavea above the surviving tiers of the theatre.

5. Configuration of the spaces north and south of the scaenae frons and final coating of said spaces with soil and inert material.
6. Final extension of the north and south retaining walls.
7. Cleaning, preservation, and filling with mortar of the cavea’s ancient stones.
8. Final sculpting and restoration work on the new stones to ensure they aesthetically resemble the ancient stones.
9. Configuration of a walkway at the top of the cavea providing visitors access and a vantage point to the monument.
10. Conversion of the open drains in the middle and upper parts of the cavea into enclosed storm drains.
11. Construction of copies of the proscenium’s semi-columns.
12. Installation of new information signs with a wealth of material about the restoration and preservation works.
13. Installation of a new fence. Installation of a fence on land parcel no. 26 of the Ano Kopanos farm, which was expropriated as part of the project and where the theatre’s scaenae frons is located.
14. Aerial photography of the ancient theatre before and after completing the preservation and enhancement works.
15. Publication of an information booklet on the Ancient theatre of Mieza, including the restoration and enhancement works.
16. Construction of a lighting network.

 

• Following the completion of works in July 2014, the theatre of Mieza became an archaeological site open to visitors.
• The first round of administrative decisions on the expropriation of private land in the area of the scaenae frons of the ancient theatre of Mieza was completed with the publication of the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision Δ10Δ1119117/3863/0010/2-10-2012 (Government Gazette 321/τ.ΑΑΠ/17-10-2012).
• Its restoration complete, the ancient theatre of Mieza opened to the public on 7 August 2017. In collaboration with the Philippi Festival and the Municipality of Naoussa, Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis, directed by Theodoros Gonis, was presented in the form of a “theatrical analogion”. (link)
• Restoration work on the cavea of the ancient theatre of Mieza has been completed (CURRENT STATE)

• Expropriation of land parcel No. 26 (3,202.20 m²) of the Kopanos Farm, where the theatre’s scaenae frons is located, must be completed. (NEXT STEP).