Harry's Peloponnese Guide: Ancient Megallopolis Page 3

The Theater of Megalopolis (left) was the largest in all of ancient Greece and, like Epidavros, acoustically excellent. It was built against a knoll, 100 meters from the river and dates from the 4th century BC. There are ten stairways and two diazomata , 59 rows of seats that accommodate around 21,000 spectators. The best preserved tiers are the lower ones.

The Orchestra has a diameter of 30meters. The stage, made of stone and adorned with fourteen marble columns, was added by the Romans. Trees look on from the rear of the theater.

The Thersilion (the assembly hall) is perhaps the most elaborate known example of a square hall, measuring 52.5 by 66.5 meters, with five concentric rows of columns, with 67 pillars placed in such a way that all present could see the speaker who stood in the center of the side next to the theater. It was intended to hold 10,000 people (or 16,000, depending on whom you read) the representatives of the Arcadian people.

The site beyond the enclosed area is vast, and enjoyable to wander around, with the soft contours of ruined walls, towers, markets, temples, gymnasiums slowly crumbling back into nature.

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