Theater of Segesta

The ancient Greek theater is considered one of the most impressive archaeological and cultural sights on the island. On the site of the theater was a cave containing Bronze Age material , which was later incorporated into the construction.

The theater of Segesta dates back to the 4th or 2nd century BC (there are two theories on the matter) and is one of the best preserved Greek theaters in the world . It was originally built by the Elymians, an indigenous people of Sicily, but was later taken over by the Greeks.

The auditorium was partly dug into the rock , partly built with a powerful retaining wall.

The theater has classical Greek architecture with a semi-circular grandstand and beautiful views of the surrounding landscape , including the Temple of Segesta and the surrounding countryside. The theater is largely constructed from local limestone , which was a common building material in ancient times. The stones were quarried from the nearby quarries and then used for the construction of the theater.

The stones were cut by hand and carefully placed to form the structure. No mortar or cement was used to bond the stones together. Instead, the stones were carefully balanced and joined together to ensure the stability of the grandstand and other parts of the theater.

The theater has a semi-circular stand that overlooks the stage. It contained an orchestra, a circular area for choirs and musicians . The stand could seat approximately 4,000 spectators and was carefully designed to provide good acoustics so that the sound from the stage could be clearly heard by the audience. It was used for plays, musical performances and other events.

Segesta's theater is still used for cultural events , including theater and music performances. It offers a unique and historic environment for modern art expressions.

Willem Vandenameele