
Theatre of ancient Thouria

The theater of ancient Thouria was discovered in 2016 by the archaeologist Xeni Arapogianni on the highest point of the western side of the Ellinika ridge. The monument is oriented to the west and the spectators would have had a panoramic view of the Pamisos river valley and the Messenian gulf. The exvavations brought to light part of the the koilon (auditorium) with stone seats for the spectators, the orchestra with a diameter of 16.30 meters surrounded by a drain for channeling rainwater, and the skenotheke, a built structure for the storage of the mobile stage. Additionally, three long, parallel stone grooves for the wheels of the rolling wooden stage were found in front of the skenotheke. The theater dates back to the 3rd century BC. After its abandonment, mainly during the early Christian and Byzantine periods, it was used for the construction of workshops and agricultural premises.