The strategic holistic plan for the conservation and restoration of the ancient theater of Dodoni, with the aim of evaluating the works to date and drawing up the road map for the further development of the project by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina, always in accordance with the methodology and principles of restoration of the lower hollow , examined the Central Archaeological Council, which gave a unanimous positive opinion on the proposals.
As the relevant announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs, among other things, the strategic plan includes the history of operations in the theater from 2000 until today, the evaluation of the restoration operations in the inferior cavity, the updated recording of the pathology of each individual area of the monument, the analysis-verification of the geometry of the monument based on previous studies and the newest data obtained during the execution of the project, the temporal prioritization of the works based on the experience gained and the restoration principles applied to the lower hollow.
“One of the most complex and difficult projects that the competent services of the Ministry of Culture have undertaken for years to complete is the restoration of the ancient theater of Dodoni. The main cause of the difficulty is the construction material of the monument itself, as the limestone with which it was built was crumbling due to the environmental conditions that prevail in the area,” said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. And he added: “The last phase of the restoration and enhancement project of the ancient theater of Dodoni, with a budget of 4,790,500 euros, with funding from the Regional Operational Program of Epirus NSRF 2014-2020, has been completed as far as the bottom is concerned. Using innovative methods, work will continue with the restoration of the middle diazoma. In the lower hollow, the original geometry of the theater was adequately documented, through the identification of authentic sections and carvings of the natural rock. Geometry has been a constant demand, either as a restoration of geometric regularity or as a restoration of the original geometry of the theater in the intervention areas in accordance with the scientific data from the general study of the monument, as well as with what emerged during the development of the project. The results obtained during the study-rehabilitation of the lower cavity are the indicator of the situation prevailing in the middle cavity as well, in which work is planned to start immediately with funding from the Epirus NSRF 2021-2027 PEP. The ancient theater of Dodoni is included in the Cultural Route of Epirus, which is implemented by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Region of Epirus, and also includes the ancient theaters of Gytani, Amvrakia, Kassopi, Nikopolis.
According to the same announcement, the time sequence of the following works is as follows: 1. Restoration of the middle zone (stands, railings and external staircases), starting from stand 5B with the aim of bringing geometric regularity to this zone of the monument. 2. Restoration of the theatre. This is the longest section of the monument, which has not undergone structural interventions as it was not included in the restoration works of 1960. Regarding the pathology of the second zone, the amphitheater and the retaining walls, the documentation has shown that this is a part of the monument that has suffered a dramatic loss of material, mainly in the apical areas, due to the collapse of the lateral abutments that supported the support embankments at the periphery of the hollow. Intervention in the theater cannot, at present, be adequately defined. However, the studies and work that have been carried out in the lower hollow, and are planned to be applied in the middle one as well, are a base and reservoir of information necessary for the final management of the theater.
The strategic holistic plan for the conservation and restoration of the ancient theater of Dodoni, with the aim of evaluating the works to date and drawing up the road map for the further development of the project by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina, always in accordance with the methodology and principles of restoration of the lower hollow , examined the Central Archaeological Council, which gave a unanimous positive opinion on the proposals.
As the relevant announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs, among other things, the strategic plan includes the history of operations in the theater from 2000 until today, the evaluation of the restoration operations in the inferior cavity, the updated recording of the pathology of each individual area of the monument, the analysis-verification of the geometry of the monument based on previous studies and the newest data obtained during the execution of the project, the temporal prioritization of the works based on the experience gained and the restoration principles applied to the lower hollow.
“One of the most complex and difficult projects that the competent services of the Ministry of Culture have undertaken for years to complete is the restoration of the ancient theater of Dodoni. The main cause of the difficulty is the construction material of the monument itself, as the limestone with which it was built was crumbling due to the environmental conditions that prevail in the area,” said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. And he added: “The last phase of the restoration and enhancement project of the ancient theater of Dodoni, with a budget of 4,790,500 euros, with funding from the Regional Operational Program of Epirus NSRF 2014-2020, has been completed as far as the bottom is concerned. Using innovative methods, work will continue with the restoration of the middle diazoma. In the lower hollow, the original geometry of the theater was adequately documented, through the identification of authentic sections and carvings of the natural rock. Geometry has been a constant demand, either as a restoration of geometric regularity or as a restoration of the original geometry of the theater in the intervention areas in accordance with the scientific data from the general study of the monument, as well as with what emerged during the development of the project. The results obtained during the study-rehabilitation of the lower cavity are the indicator of the situation prevailing in the middle cavity as well, in which work is planned to start immediately with funding from the Epirus NSRF 2021-2027 PEP. The ancient theater of Dodoni is included in the Cultural Route of Epirus, which is implemented by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Region of Epirus, and also includes the ancient theaters of Gytani, Amvrakia, Kassopi, Nikopolis.
According to the same announcement, the time sequence of the following works is as follows: 1. Restoration of the middle zone (stands, railings and external staircases), starting from stand 5B with the aim of bringing geometric regularity to this zone of the monument. 2. Restoration of the theatre. This is the longest section of the monument, which has not undergone structural interventions as it was not included in the restoration works of 1960. Regarding the pathology of the second zone, the amphitheater and the retaining walls, the documentation has shown that this is a part of the monument that has suffered a dramatic loss of material, mainly in the apical areas, due to the collapse of the lateral abutments that supported the support embankments at the periphery of the hollow. Intervention in the theater cannot, at present, be adequately defined. However, the studies and work that have been carried out in the lower hollow, and are planned to be applied in the middle one as well, are a base and reservoir of information necessary for the final management of the theater.
