The Ministry of Culture, through the Ephorate of Antiquities of Preveza and the Directorate for the Restoration of Ancient Monuments, is proceeding with the restoration of the stage building and the backstage areas of the great theatre in Ancient Nikopolis, including specific interventions in the overall plan for the promotion of the archaeological site. The restoration projects concerning the theatre’s hollow have already been completed, while the restoration of the orchestra is in progress. At the same time, work is proceeding at an intensive pace on the restoration, conservation and landscaping of the House of George the Justicius, the luxurious mansion of the Roman official, and the Basilica I of Dometius, while the restoration of the gate of the Basilica of Alcison has been completed by the Directorate for the Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments.
Ancient Nikopolis was built by Augustus Octavian, following the Roman orthogonal urban system, in honour of the gods for his victory against Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra at the naval battle of Actium in 31 BC. The theatre in the 2nd century AD became more luxurious than the original, with a taller stage structure and a peripheral portico. It had the capacity to accommodate 8,000 spectators and with the maximum use of space 10,000 spectators. In 1960, the earliest research – excavation on the site of the theatre was carried out, with cuts in the stage. In 1997, extensive cleaning led to the completion of the theatre’s floor plan. In 2001, fixing work was carried out on the east window of the stage floor and on a large crack in the stage façade From 2013 to 2018, extensive additions were made to the north wall and the south face of the stage structure. In 2020, a supplemental geotechnical study was conducted for the hollow and east side of the theatre. In 2021 a study of visitor traffic routes to and from the theatre interior was carried out and in 2023 a restoration study for the theatre orchestra.
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