Ioannina: Dodoni Ancient Theater & Archaeological Museum tour

With a capacity of approximately 18,000 spectators, Dodoni ancient theater is one of the largest ancient theaters in Greece. During the celebration of the “Naion” in honor of Naios Zeus, in addition to the games, theatrical performances were also organized in the stadium. The theater was destroyed and repaired twice. Initially, it was destroyed by the Aetolians with King Dorimachus in 219 BC, but the following year King Philip V of Macedonia began repairs. In 167 BC, the Roman general Aemilius Paul destroyed it again. However, in 31 BC. It was again repaired by the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus to be used as an arena for beast fights by the Romans.

The essential architectural parts of the theater are the stage, the orchestra and the caveat.

Archaeological Museum of Ioannina

The Archaeological Museum of Ioannina collections is displayed in seven halls, the central aisle and three atria with a surface of 1.200 square meters. Exhibits cover a vast period from the first appearance of humans in Epirus during the Lower Paleolithic, 250.000 years ago, to late antiquity in late Roman times (3rd century AD). Great emphasis is laid on the artifacts from the sanctuary of Dodoni, which are exhibited in a hall devoted to one of the greatest sanctuaries of the Greek world. The new permanent exhibition retains the Panepirotic dimension of the old one, as was conceived by the first director of the Archaeological Museum, Ioulia Vokotopoulou. It comprises approximately 3.000 artifacts from all over Epirus. The exhibition is structured around three axes: chronological, geographical and thematic. These intertwined axes underpin the museum’s narrative to highlight the area’s distinct character and history during antiquity.