Our Journey: The Ancient Theatre of Zea

The Ancient Theatre of Zea is located in the Bay of Zea (Pasalimani) and directly neighbors the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. Based on an inscribed column that has been discovered, the theatre is dated to the 2^nd century BC. It appears to have been modeled after the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens. The monument follows the characteristic three-part layout of a Hellenistic theatre, namely a seating area (koilon), a performance space (orchestra), and a stage building (skene). Today, what is mainly visible is the base (hewn stones on which the seats were placed).

DIAZOMA’s journey in the Ancient Theatre of Zea began in March 2010, when DIAZOMA President Mr. Stavros Benos visited the theatre of Zea as part of his tour around the ancient theatres of Piraeus. There, Mr. Benos met local bodies, and they discussed ways to enhance and promote the theatre (see here). The urgent need for the theatre’s protection to preserve its fragile materials arose from this meeting. DIAZOMA also recommended that more general urban planning interventions (pedestrianization) take place in the two modern roads Filellinon and Charilaou Trikoupi, which frame the theatre to the east and west, to allow the monument to breathe.

Two years later, in 2012, DIAZOMA visited the space anew and held meetings with institutional bodies, aimed at determining the steps which needed to be taken. In 2014, with DIAZOMA’s contribution, a Programme Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Attica for 70,000 euros towards the production of a study on the ancient theatre’s enhancement and promotion. The Agreement included both the preparatory work that would be required to produce the study and the studies themselves (see here).

In February 2015, the competent Ephorate of Antiquities commissioned the architectural study for the restoration, enhancement, and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea, within the framework of the project “Production of a Study for the enhancement and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea”. The study was approved by the Central Archaeological Council in 2016. At present, the implementation of the study needs to be incorporated into a European funding programme. The theatre’s restoration is mainly based on the “reconstruction” of the koilon as a metal construction, which will rest on the ancient remains and allow the re-use of the theatre.

The theatre’s restoration will mark both the enhancement and promotion of the monument and the regeneration of the wider area. The goal of the municipality of Piraeus and the West Attica, Piraeus and Islands Ephorate of Antiquities is to transform the city block that encloses the theatre, as well as the old and new Archaeological Museum, into a center of culture.

Detailed Progress of Works at the Theatre:

• On Wednesday, 3 March 2010, the DIAZOMA President visited the Ancient Theatre of Zea as part of his tour around the ancient theatres of Piraeus. There he met with all local bodies to discuss the enhancement and promotion of the theatre. (see here)
• On Thursday, 12 July 2012, DIAZOMA President Mr. Stavros Benos, DIAZOMA Board of Directors Secretary General Mr. Vasilis Lambrinoudakis, and Mr. Vangelis Kazolias, a founding member of the association, paid a working visit to Piraeus. Its object was the enhancement and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea. The visit began at the Town Hall of Piraeus and continued at the offices of the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. The object of the meeting was the enhancement and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea and planning the next steps. At the meeting, it was announced that the Regional Unit of Piraeus would allocate funds of 100,000 euros for the enhancement and promotion of this great monument through a Programme Agreement. (see here).
• On 15 May 2014, DIAZOMA acted as a catalyst in the signing of the Cultural Development Programme Agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Region of Attica for the “Production of a study for the enhancement and promotion of the ancient theatre of Zea” amounting to 70,000 euro. (see here)
• The aim of the aforementioned agreement was to prepare the study for the enhancement and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea. To this end and to protect the monument, it is necessary to carry out fixing and maintenance works to make it visitable and allow its use as a venue for cultural events. Its proximity to the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus and the coastal front of Akti Moutsopoulou will assist the aesthetic and economic upgrade of the area and attract visitors. At the same time, this study is part of the efforts made by the Archaeological Service to transform the city block on which the theatre stands into an archaeological park.
• On Tuesday, 24 February 2015, the West Attica, Piraeus and Islands Ephorate of Antiquities directly commissioned Mr. Georgios Antoniou, Architect-Engineer of the National Technical University of Athens, to prepare an architectural study for the restoration, enhancement, and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea in Piraeus.
• On Tuesday, 29 November 2016, the Central Archaeological Council approved the architectural study for the restoration, enhancement, and promotion of the Ancient Theatre of Zea. (CURRENT STATE)
• The integration of the restoration study in a European funding programme is required. (NEXT STEP)

You can visit the Ancient Theatre of Zea website here.