Second Ancient Theatre, Larissa

The Second Ancient Theatre of Larissa is an ancient Greek theatre in the city of Larissa in Thessaly, Greece [1]. The theatre was built in the second half of the 1st century BC, on the southwestern slopes of the Pefkakia hill [1]. Its construction is probably connected to the conversion of the city's original theatre, which was converted into an arena for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles after the Roman conquest of Greece [1]. An inscription dedicated to Demeter and the Kore indicates that the site also housed a temple dedicated to them [1]. Only the stage and the chorus area (orchestra) were completed; the semi-circular seating area (koilon) and the side entrances were left incomplete, apparently due to inability to fund their completion [1]. The koilon is divided by 14 stairs into thirteen tiers, each with two rows of low seats of grey-white marble; the rest were never completed, and probably wooden seats were used instead [1]. The orchestra has a diameter of 29.7 metres and is composed of two layers of stamped earth mixed with gravel [1].