Odeon of Herodes Atticus Tickets

Experience the 2026 season of events at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, featuring a program of music, theatre and dance or special events. Located on the slopes of the Acropolis, this venue hosts the annual Athens Epidaurus Festival in a historic Roman setting.

Music and concerts

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a preserved Roman-era amphitheater located on the south slope of the Acropolis of Athens. Built in 161 AD by the wealthy Greek Herodes Atticus, an influential and wealthy Greek nobleman and sophist who lived in the 2nd century AD. Hailing from an immensely rich Athenian family, he enjoyed a distinguished political career in the Roman Empire, rising to become a Roman senator and consul in 143 AD.

The Odeon was designed for musical and theatrical performances, with a seating capacity of up to 5,000 people. Today, it remains an important cultural attraction and a testament to the grandeur of ancient Greek and Roman architecture.

It quickly became a popular venue for musical performances, but its splendor lasted just over a century:

Barbarian destruction

The Odeon’s demise began in 267 AD when Athens suffered a devastating invasion by the Heruli, a Germanic tribe who swept through the Roman Empire. This catastrophic event led to a massive fire that destroyed much of the lower city and, critically, burned away the Odeon’s expansive cedar wood roof and damaged the stage area, marking the abrupt end of its functionality in antiquity.

Abandonment and reuse

Following the invasion, the Odeon was abandoned, and unlike other damaged Acropolis structures, it was never repaired or rebuilt during the following centuries. Instead, its valuable marble blocks were systematically reused, known as spolia, as building material to reinforce the new defensive wall surrounding the Acropolis, called the Rizokastro. Over the next centuries, the structure became progressively covered in earth and debris, remaining largely buried.

Restoration of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus underwent a major restoration in the mid-20th century to restore the ancient theater to its former glory. The restoration was funded by the Greek government and took several years to complete. The restoration process involved repairing and replacing the original stone seating, restoring the stage area, and improving the acoustics of the theater. Today, visitors can see the results of the restoration in the well-preserved seating area and the restored stage backdrop.

Now is used for various cultural events and performances, including concerts, plays, and dance performances, bringing the ancient theater back to life for modern audiences to enjoy.

Designed in the Roman style, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus features many elements typical of Roman-era amphitheaters. The theater is built into a natural slope, and the semi-circular orchestra is surrounded by tiered seating. The stage is raised and framed by a tall back wall with niches for statues.

Its facade is made of white marble and features an impressive archway at the entrance. The archway is flanked by two columns topped with Corinthian capitals. The archway’s keystone is carved in the shape of a lion’s head, a common motif in Roman architecture.

The Odeon’s seating area is divided into three sections: the diazoma, the lower cavea, and the upper cavea. The diazoma is a walkway that separates the lower and upper cavea and allows access to the seating area. The lower cavea is divided into several sections, with rows of seats separated by staircases. The upper cavea is also divided into sections, with the seats arranged in a radial pattern.

A raised platform forms the Odeon’s stage, featuring a semi-circular area for performers. The back wall of the stage is divided into three sections, with the central section featuring a niche for a statue. This stage was originally covered with a wooden roof, but this was later removed.