It had a cedar roof
The theatre was originally roofed with cedar timber, which made it a true odeon, a hall for music. The roof is long gone; performances now take place under the open sky.
Urban Tales › Athens › Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Odeon of Herodes Atticus: the history, and who has performed here
Herodes Atticus finished this stone theatre in AD 161 in memory of his wife, Regilla. Ruined in AD 267 and restored in the 1950s, it hosts concerts again every summer. Here's what you're looking at, and what to listen for from the path above it.
CompletedAD 161
Built byHerodes Atticus
Capacity≈ 5,000
Restored1950s
Hear the Odeon of Herodes Atticus story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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Ruined, then rebuilt
In AD 267 the Heruli, a Germanic people, sacked Athens and left the Odeon in ruins for centuries. Its seats and stage were rebuilt in Pentelic marble in the 1950s.
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Callas, Sinatra, Pavarotti
It has been the main stage of the Athens Festival since the 1950s. Maria Callas sang here in 1957, Frank Sinatra in 1962, and Luciano Pavarotti performed here twice.
TipYou can only go inside for a performance, so check the Athens Epidaurus Festival programme for summer dates. The best free view is from the path up to the Acropolis, just above the theatre.
Nearby landmarks
Odeon of Herodes Atticus: common questions
Can you visit the Odeon of Herodes Atticus?
Only during performances. You can see it from above on the path up to the Acropolis.
When was the Odeon built?
It was completed in AD 161 by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Athenian, in memory of his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla.
How many people does it hold?
About 5,000 spectators.