Listed 1 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for wider area of: "METS City quarter ATHENS" .
ARDITOS (Hill) ATHENS
It was originally a natural hollow part of the ground between the
two hills of Agra and Ardettos, over Ilissos river. It was transformed into a
stadium by Lykourgos in 330-329 BC for the athletic competitions of the Great
Panathinaea Festivities. Between 140 and 144 AD, Herodes Atticus restored the
Stadium, giving it the form that was found at the 1870 excavation: the horseshoe
construction with a track 204,07 meters long and 33,35 meters wide. It is believed
that the Stadium had a seating capacity of 50.000 people. Separating scales were
built between the tiers and on the base of the sphendone there was a portico with
Doric-style columns; another portico was placed in the stadium's facade. Herodes
possibly restored also the Ilissos river bridge on the Stadium's entrance, making
it larger and adding three archways on its base. The bridge was standing there
up to 1778 and a part of it was excavated in 1958. At the Roman times, the Stadium
was used as an arena, with the addition of a semi-circular wall on the north that
was corresponding to the sphendone of the southern side.
The modern times restoration of the Stadium was conducted by G. Averof
by the end of the 19th century for the first Olympic Games that were reborn again
in 1896.
This text is cited Sept 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains images.
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