Misplaced Pages

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Odeon of Herodes Atticus" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Herodeion)
Ωδείο Ηρώδου του Αττικού (Ηρώδειο)
Alternative names	Herod Atticus Odeon / Odeum
General information
Type	Odeon
Architectural style	Classical
Address	Dionysiou Areopagitou Street
Town or city	Athens
Country	Greece
Coordinates	37°58′15″N 23°43′28″E / 37.970756°N 23.724444°E / 37.970756; 23.724444
Completed	AD 161
Renovated	1950
Height
Roof	Destroyed in AD 267
Technical details
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Main contractor	Herodes Atticus
Other information
Seating type	Stone benches
Seating capacity	5,000

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus (Greek: Ωδείο Ηρώδου του Αττικού; also called Herodeion or Herodion; Greek: Ηρώδειο) is a stone Roman theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. The building was completed in AD 161 and then renovated in 1950.

Ancient times

It was built in AD 161 by Herodes Atticus in memory of his Roman wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. It was originally a steep-sloped theatre with a three-story stone front wall and a wooden roof made of expensive cedar of Lebanon timber. It was used as a venue for music concerts with a capacity of 5,000. It lasted intact until it was destroyed and left in ruins by the Heruli in AD 267.

• Historical image of Odeon of Herodes Atticus (ca. 1880)
• Odeon of Herodus Atticus, 1870-1880. Nicholas Catsimpoolas Collection, Boston Public Library

Modern events

The audience stands and the orchestra (stage) were restored using Pentelic marble in the 1950s. Since then it has been the main venue of the Athens Festival, which runs from May through October each year, featuring a variety of acclaimed Greek as well as International performances.

In 1957, Maria Callas performed at the Odeon as part of the Athens Festival and in the same year Edith Hamilton was pronounced an honorary citizen of Athens at ninety years of age. In May 1962 Frank Sinatra gave two benefit concerts for the city of Athens. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was the venue for the Miss Universe 1973 pageant. Another memorable performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus was given by the Greek singer Nana Mouskouri in 1984; after 20 years of absence she returned to her country. Luciano Pavarotti performed at the Odeon twice, in 1991 and in 2004. Vangelis' Mythodea premiered at Odeon of Herodes Atticus in July 1993 and the venue hosted Yanni's Live at the Acropolis performance in September 1993. Sting performed at the venue during his Mercury Falling Tour on May 17, 1996. In June 2018 he returned for two more concerts. Mario Frangoulis has performed at the historic theatre with Yannis Markopoulos' and directed by Elias Malandris, Orpheus in 1996 and also played the role of Erotokritos in his work based on Vitsentzos Kornaros' Erotokritos. He also performed 'Axion Esti' poem by Odysseus Elytis music by Mikis Theodorakis and conducted by the composer himself in May 1998 to benefit Elpida Foundation for children suffering from cancer. Elton John performed two concerts at the venue during his Medusa tour in 2000. In June 2008, Sylvie Guillem performed Boléro in company with the Tokyo Ballet as part of the Athens Festival. In September 2010, tenor Andrea Bocelli held a concert at the Odeon to raise funds for cancer research. In 2012, Mario Frangoulis performed the leading role in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana at the Herodes Atticus theatre. In 2020 the first art exhibition was held on the site, by Greek artist Dionisis Kavallieratos, entitled 'Disoriented Dance / Misled Planet' organised by NEON Organization and the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. On July 12, 2022 Jeff Mills performed on the site with his project Tomorrow Comes the Harvest for the Athens Epidaurus Festival with Jean-Phi Dary on piano, Divinity Roxx on bass guitar, and Rashida Ali on flute. In June 2024, Coldplay shot the music video for the single, "Feelslikeimfallinginlove". On September 28th, 2024, the Greek symphonic death metal band Septicflesh performed a live set with an orchestra.

• Herbert von Karajan and the Orchestra of the Athens Conservatory (later to become the Athens State Orchestra) at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (1939)
• The Odeon of Herodes Atticus with the Parthenon in the background (2020)

See also

• List of concert halls
• List of contemporary amphitheaters

References

1. The Biggest Cultural Event of the Year in Athens and It’s In Our Backyard!, 3/2/2018, "known locally as the Herodion"
2. One variation of the Roman theater was the odeon, a small, completely roofed theater intended for poetry readings and music performances (for example, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the southern slope of the Athenian Acropolis). For more see: PhD. Christoph Höcker, Architecture, Concise History Series, Laurence King Publishing, 2000, ISBN 1856691594, p. 23.
3. "Sting at Herodion Atticus". www.athensinsider.com. 12 January 2018.
4. www.dandelion-burdock.com, dandelion & burdock (23 June 2020). "Dionisis Kavallieratos: Disoriented Dance / Misled Planet". thisistomorrow. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
5. "Jeff Mills Live at the Acropolis". 12 July 2022.
6. mkatopodi (2024-06-10). "Coldplay To Shoot Music Vid At Herodes Atticus Odeon". tovima.com. Retrieved 2024-06-17.

External links

Media related to Theatre of Herodes Atticus at Wikimedia Commons

• Odeon of Herodes Atticus: History, location, how and when to visit. Text in English, photos.
• The southern slope of the Acropolis and the theatre itself, Hellenic Ministry of Culture.
• Video: Haris Alexiou performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in 1994, directed by Mauro Bolognini; in this video a part dedicated to her collaboration with Manos Hadjidakis, who had died a few days before the concert.

Preceded byCerromar Beach Hotel Dorado

Miss Universe venue 1973

Succeeded byFolk Arts Theater Pasay

v t e Acropolis of Athens
Extant structures	Parthenon Erechtheion Propylaia Temple of Athena Nike Odeon of Herodes Atticus Pedestal of Agrippa Stoa of Eumenes Sanctuary of Asclepius Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus Aglaureion Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos Beulé Gate Cave Sanctuaries Peripatos Infrastructure
Former structures	Pelasgic wall Hekatompedon Older Parthenon Old Temple of Athena Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia Chalkotheke Pandroseion Arrephorion Altar of Athena Polias Eleusinion Sanctuary of Pandion Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus Odeon of Pericles Frankish Tower Choragic Monument of Nikias Klepsydra Church of Panagia Atheniotissa Temple of Roma and Augustus Parthenon mosque
People	Themistocles Pericles Phidias Ictinus Callicrates Mnesikles Xerxes I Mardonius Francesco Morosini Lord Elgin Giovanni Battista Lusieri Reverend Philip Hunt Jacques Carrey Louis-François-Sébastien Fauvel Ludwig Ross Kyriakos Pittakis Panagiotis Kavvadias Nikolaos Balanos
Museums	Acropolis Museum Old Acropolis Museum Museum of the Center for the Acropolis Studies Elgin Marbles at the British Museum
Sculpture	Athena Parthenos Parthenon Frieze Athena Promachos Metopes of the Parthenon Pediments of the Parthenon Korai of the Acropolis of Athens Antenor Kore Euthydikos Kore Kritios Boy Kore 670 Peplos Kore Moschophoros Mourning Athena Nike Fixing her Sandal Persian Rider Procne and Itys Lemnian Athena Athena Marsyas Group Nike of Callimachus Three-Bodied Daemon
Events	Achaemenid destruction of Athens Sack of Athens (267 AD) Siege of the Acropolis (1687) Siege of the Acropolis (1821–1822) Siege of the Acropolis (1826–1827)
Related articles	Perserschutt Moria

37°58′15″N 23°43′28″E / 37.970756°N 23.724444°E / 37.970756; 23.724444

• Buildings and structures completed in the 2nd century
• Acropolis of Athens
• Landmarks in Athens
• Ancient Greek buildings and structures in Athens
• Ancient Roman buildings and structures in Greece
• Theatres in Athens
• Roman Athens