Ancient Theater of Demetrias

The Ancient Theatre of Demetrias lies within the walls of the city founded by Demetrius I Poliorcetes (the Besieger of Cities) between 294 and 292 BC, near the modern neighbourhood of N. Pagasi in Volos. Built at the city’s foundation, the theatre retains its three-part Hellenistic structure: the stage building, the orchestra and the cavea (koilon) with the epitheatre. The stone coating on the seats of the cavea has been lost, and the stage construction dates from the Roman period. Extensive stone-looting began when the theatre was abandoned. The site is closely associated with the adjacent sanctuary of Artemis Iolkia and the royal palace, which overlooked the port from the centre of the grid-planned city. The theatre now hosts contemporary performances.