The theatre of Orchomenus in Boeotia

• On 10 February 2010, the President of DIAZOMA, Mr. Stavros Benos, visited the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos as part of his tour of the ancient theatres of Boeotia. There, he met with local bodies and institutions to discuss enhancing and promoting this ancient theatre. (link)

• The DIAZOMA Association has set up a fundraising bank account (“piggy bank”) for the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos. (link) The starting point for this important event was the visit of journalist and Orchomenos Municipal Councillor, Mr. Lampros Rodes, on 6 July 2010 to DIAZOMA’s headquarters. During an in-depth discussion with DIAZOMA President Mr. Stavros Benos, Mr. Rodes announced that he would take the initiative to form a citizens’ movement to enhance and promote the ancient theatre of Orchomenos. (link) This proved to be DIAZOMA’s most dynamic “piggy bank,” successfully raising 198,767.75 euros.

• In the case of Boeotian Orchomenos, through synergies developed with all the competent bodies at the DIAZOMA Association’s initiative, a unique archaeological park was designed and is coming into being. The archaeological park encompasses an exceedingly rare monument complex of great cultural value: the tholos tomb of Minyas, also known as the “Treasury of Minyas” (1250 BC), the third-century theatre of Orchomenos, and the ninth century Church of Panagia Skripou. (link)
• Utilizing the great potential of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos’ “piggy bank,” DIAZOMA has commissioned all the necessary studies for the creation of the archaeological park.
• More specifically, on 7 October 2011, DIAZOMA commissioned topographer engineer Mr. George Artemakis with the topographic study for the creation of the archaeological park. On 21 December 2011, DIAZOMA’s Committee took receipt of the study.
• Moreover, on 19 December 2011, DIAZOMA commissioned architect Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos and PLEIAS Architects to carry out a study for the creation of an archaeological park. The commissioning took place in the presence of the Mayor of Orchomenos, Mr. Konstantinos Xirogiannis, and the President of the Municipal Council, Mr. Giorgos Zygouris.  (link)
• On 10 January 2012, at the urging of the DIAZOMA Association, the Region of Central Greece provided funding amounting to 50,000 euros to the Ministry of Culture via a Cultural Development Programme Agreement for the restoration, enhancement, and promotion needs of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos. More specifically, these funds covered the cost of all the preliminary works required for the monument’s restoration study to follow. (link)
• In 2012, archaeological work was carried out in the context of implementing the “Excavation and mapping of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos” project, funded by the aforementioned Programme Agreement.
• Using funding provided by the same Programme Agreement, the Ministry of Culture commissioned architect-engineer Mr. Themis Bilis with the study for the “Excavation and mapping of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos.”
• In addition, on 19 July 2012, DIAZOMA commissioned architect-engineer Mr. Themis Bilis to prepare the “Restoration of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos” project study. The fees for the study were drawn from the “piggy bank” set up by DIAZOMA for the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos.
• On 27 July 2012, Stage A of the architectural study for the archaeological park of Boeotian Orchomenos was forwarded to the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, Sport and Culture for approval by the competent authorities.
• On 16 October 2012, the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) approved Stage A of the architectural study for the archaeological park of Boeotian Orchomenos.
• On 20 February 2013, the DIAZOMA Association commissioned topographer engineers Mr. George Artemakis and Mr. Nikos Manis and architect-urban planner Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos (representing PLEIAS Architects) with the supplementary studies required for the creation of the archaeological park (urban planning study for the modification of the city plan, drafting land compensation actuarial acts, topographic study, road construction/ road nodes study), funded by the theatre’s “piggy bank.” (link)
• Moreover, on 20 February 2013, the DIAZOMA Association commissioned electrical -mechanical engineer Mr. Stephanos Nikolaou to prepare an electromechanical study for the creation of the archaeological park. The cost of this study was also covered by the theatre’s “piggy bank.” (link)
• On 20 July 2013, during the DIAZOMA Board of Directors meeting, architect-engineer Mr. Themis Bilis presented his study on the restoration of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos. (link) This restoration study was forwarded to the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) for approval. At the same meeting, architect-urban planner Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos, his team, and topographer-engineers Mr. George Artemakis and Mr. Nikos Manis presented the urban planning study to modify the city plan of Orchomenos (Boetia) and the road construction study. All studies were forwarded to the Municipality of Orchomenos for approval.
• On 17 September 2013, the Central Archaeological Council (KAS) approved the restoration study for the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos.
• On 15 December 2013, the DIAZOMA Association and the Municipality of Orchomenos (Boetia) co-hosted an event at the PETRINA conference center to honor the sponsors of the archaeological park. (link)
• On 3 April 2014, two new agreements to commission the preparation of a) the structural surveys and b) phytotechnology study were signed at DIAZOMA’s headquarters, in the context of designing the archaeological park. (link) Structural surveyors F. Karydakis and Associates Ltd and agronomist- engineer Mr. Eleftherios Katsoulakis were respectively commissioned by the DIAZOMA Association to prepare the studies, utilizing funds from the ancient theatre’s “piggy bank.” (link)
• On 3 July 2014, the DIAZOMA Board of Directors took receipt of the following studies, which were subsequently approved by the Central Archaeological Council (KAS):

1. Stage B of the Architectural Study (Implementation Study) for the archaeological park
2. Phytotechnology Study (Implementation Study) for the archaeological park
3. Electromechanical study
4. Structural survey

• On 23 July 2014, Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos presented the studies for creating the Boeotian Orchomenos archaeological park to the extraordinary meeting of the Municipal Council of Orchomenos (Boeotia). (link)
• On 23 August 2014, at the Orchomenos (Boeotia)  Municipal Council Hall, Mr. Themis Bilis presented the restoration study for the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos (link)
• On 5 November 2014, Mr. Stavros Benos and his colleagues, and architect-engineers Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos and Mr. Themis Bilis visited the Town Hall of Orchomenos, bringing the action plan for the implementation of the Boeotian Orchomenos Park before Mayor and President of the Regional Association of Municipalities (PED) Mr. Loukas Yperifanos, President of the Municipal Council Mr. Lampros Rodes, technical advisor Mr. Vasilis Tountas and the entire technical service of the Municipality. The presentation was also attended by the Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia, Ms. Alexandra Charami, and the archaeologist responsible for Boeotia, Ms. Olga Kaliga. (link)
• On 13 May 2015, at the Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, a lecture was held on the “Archaeological Park of Boeotian Orchomenos: integrating the region’s antiquities in the life of the city.” During the event, speakers Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos (architect-urban planner and consultant on the Archaeological Park of Orchomenos), Mr. Themis Bilis, and Ms. Maria Magnisali (National Technical University of Athens architects-restorers and restoration consultants on the ancient theatre’s restoration) illuminated aspects of the study on the creation of the park and the restoration study of the ancient theatre, respectively. (link)
• In September 2014, Mr. Evdokimos Fregoglou, head of multimedia applications at DIAZOMA, and Mr. Dimitris Diamantopoulos, architect-urban planner and consultant on the Archaeological Park, created a video which presents in 3D form the archaeological park of Boeotian Orchomenos and the new configurations it will include. (link)
• On 26 September 2015, the DIAZOMA Association chose the ancient theatre of Orchomenos as the venue for its 8^th General Assembly. The Assembly’s work sessions were combined with visits to Central Greece’s natural and cultural monuments, focusing on ancient theatres. The decision to host the Assembly in the region was also related to the design of the OEDIPUS cultural route, a central attraction pole of which is the Archaeological Park of Orchomenos. The formalities of DIAZOMA’s General Assembly (verification of the quorum – election of the office) took place at the ancient theatre, and guitarist Eva Fambas brought the day to a close with a musical performance. (link)
• In November 2016, the project “Upgrading the Archaeological Site of Boeotian Orchomenos and Restoring the Ancient Theatre” was included in the Regional Operational Programme of Central Greece (NSRF 2014-2020) with a budget of 1,992,000 euros.
• On 22 February 2018, Greek President Mr. Prokopis Pavlopoulos,  Minister of Culture and Sports Ms. Lydia Koniordou, and Minister of the Environment and Energy Mr. George Stathakis signed the “Amendment of the approved urban plan of the Municipal Unit of Orchomenos in the Regional Unit of Boeotia (South Boeotia) for the area of Skripos, the archeological site of Orchomenos in the Prefecture of Boetia, the establishment of a front yard setback and the definition of the uses, conditions and building restrictions” (Government Gazette No 27). This amendment was necessary to achieve the integration of the region’s Archaeological sites via alterations in building and street lines, changes in traffic arrangements, pedestrian routes, etc.  (link)
• On 16 March 2018, a one-day conference on “Monuments at the center of life, sustainability and sustainable development” was held at the Antoniadou Amphitheater of the Athens University of Economics and Business within the framework of DIAZOMA’s collaboration with the University’s education sciences program. This was followed by field research by the program’s students at the Archaeological Park of Boeotian Orchomenos on 17 May 2018. (link) The best research, selected by a special scientific committee comprising Ms. Brinia and DIAZOMA specialists, was presented by the team that carried it out at the 4^th meeting of Ano Diazoma on 10 June 2018. (link)
• On 8 April 2020, within the framework of the “ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BOEOTIAN ORCHOMENOS” project, the Region of Central Greece approved the amended technical bulletins for the following projects:

1. ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BOEOTIAN ORCHOMENOS, SURROUNDING PUBLIC SPACE, PHASE A: STREETS, MINYAS-AKROPOLEOS, with new amended funding amounting to 1,155,000 euros to be provided by the Region of Central Greece’s Public Investment Programme.
2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BOEOTIAN ORCHOMENOS, PHASE B: SURROUNDING PUBLIC SPACE, with new amended funding amounting to 1,706, 250 euros to be provided by the Region of Central Greece’s Public Investment Programme.
3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BOEOTIAN ORCHOMENOS, RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF PANAGIA SKRIPOU MONASTIC CELLS BUILDING-PRESBYTERY, with new amended funding amounting to 865,590.94 euros to be provided by the Region of Central Greece’s Public Investment Programme.
4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BOEOTIAN ORCHOMENOS, CHURCH OF THE PANAGIA SKRIPOU AREA, with new amended funding amounting to 767,000 euros to be provided by the Region of Central Greece’s Public Investment Programme.

This amendment was necessary to incorporate the Archaeological Excavations and Works Subprojects to be carried out by the Ministry of Culture – Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia in the technical bulletins. Given that these works will receive National Funding (Public Investment Programme), the amendments were also approved by the Ministry of Development on 27 April 2020. (link)

• On 6 November 2020, the construction agreement for the “Archaeological Park of Boeotian Orchomenos Phase A: Streets, Minyas-Akropoleos” was signed at the Orchomenos Town Hall between the Mayor of Orchomenos, Ms. Voula Karalis, and the representative of Vasileios Kondylis & Co. Ltd. The project’s implementing body is the Municipality of Orchomenos, and the funding of 897,000 euros is provided by the Public Investment Programme of the Operational Programme of Central Greece 2014-2020. The project is due to start soon and is expected to be completed within nine months.

• Work on the restoration of the ancient theatre of Boeotian Orchomenos and the creation of the Boeotian Orchomenos archaeological park is currently underway. The Boeotian Orchomenos archaeological park is one of the main poles of attraction of the OEDIPUS Cultural-Environmental Route of Central Greece. (CURRENT STATE)
• Monitoring and completion of works on the creation of the archaeological park of Boeotian Orchomenos. (NEXT STEP)