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Period: Oct 14, 1500 to
Epiduarus
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George Wheler wheels past the theatre
English clergyman and sometime plagiarist George Wheler visits the Levant but manages to miss Epidaurus. Perhaps the plants weren't interesting enough for him. -
Richard Chandler visits Epidaurus
Richard Chandler, in the company of Nicholas Revett, visited Epidaurus and was one of the first Western travellers to publish a log including a detailed account of the site. He describes the grove and sanctuary of Aesculapius (with customary references to Pausanias) and also the town of Epidaurus itself, which was some miles away from the grove. http://books.google.ca/books/about/Travels_in_Greece.html?id=AIQOAAAAQAAJ&redir_esc=y pg. 250-255 -
From Derby to Delos
William Gell begins his journey through Greece. He writes down his travels in The Itinerary of Greece, and gives an archaeological description of the site.
"The diameter of the orchestra is 89 feet ..."
http://books.google.ca/books?id=RysGAAAAQAAJ&dq=william+gell+greece&source=gbs_navlinks_s pg 103-110 -
Edward Dodwell
This landscape painter and man of means visits Epidaurus, and makes note of its archaeological potential.
pg. 413-430 of «Le Voyage en Grèce», edited by Hervé Duchêne. Paris, Éditions Lafond, 2003. -
This theatre is not a quarry!
In an article in the journal "Ephemeris ton Athinon", A giant limekiln is reported to be operating near Epidaurus. pg; 68 of «The Nation and its Ruins» by Yannis Hamilakis. -
Quinet is at Epidaurus
Edgar Quinet breaks off from his scientific expedition and goes solo through Morea, visiting Epidaurus, where he determines that tragedy is Greece's unique contribution to world culture.
"Aussi de tous les monuments de la Grèce, les theatres cont les plus originaux et les plus indigènes, comme l’art lui-même pour lequel ils étaient faits." pg. 563 of «Le Voyage en Grèce». -
Too bad, Flaubert
Gustave Flaubert and his friend Maxime du Camp tour Greece for two months. Flaubert has the intention to visit Epidaurus but unfortunately time and money constraints force him to bypass the site. "J’étais heureux de le voir s’interesser à cette partie de notre voyage et aspirer au jour où, à cheval et côte à côte, nous irions vers l’Épidaure, vers Mantinée, vers Orchomène, vers Boesa." Excerpt from the Maxime du Camp's account of the voyage. pg. 655 of «Le Voyage en Grèce». -
Let's dig this thing up
Panagiotis (Panayis) Kavvadias begins the excavations at Epidaurus. They continue under his oversight until he dies in 1928. -
From a collection to a museum
Kavvadias organizes the Epidaurus museum over the course of the years 1905-09. -
"Restoring" the theatre
Due to the growth in popularity in the site, the idea of staging theatre there begins to be considered. This leads to some erroneous restorations of the retaining walls of the theatre and the western aisle. -
The hat-wearing dictator
General Metaxas seizes control of Greece. A theatre festival is founded at Epidaurus to promote Greek national pride and to spread good morals. http://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Metaxas_Myth.html?id=fjfbknGdE9YC&redir_esc=y
"The theatre must cease to exist as an artistic form enjoyed only by and restricted to the elite." -
Completely unemotional man at Epidaurus
Henry Miller visits Epidaurus in a taxi. Experiences revelation about peace, Mozart, and psychotherapy.
"The road to Epidaurus is like the road to creation."
http://books.google.ca/books?id=krSDPue9K3QC&dq=colossus+of+maroussi&source=gbs_navlinks_s pg. 67. -
Here come the French
After the Second World War, the École Française d'Athènes takes over the excavations at Epidaurus. -
Big audience=big restoration
In anticipation of intensive use of the theatre, Anastassios Orlandos rebuilds the supporting walls. This project lasts until 1963. -
We're not just Greek. We're Ancient Greek!
The government of Konstantinos Karamanlis mandates for the founding of an ancient Greek theatre festival in Epidaurus to bolster the Greek state's claim to the legacy of ancient Hellas. The first performance is "Hecuba" by Euripides, directed by Minotis.
http://www.greekfestival.gr/en/ -
Epidaurus: designed for Dasein
Martin Heidegger hikes up to Epidaurus on his tour of Greece, and confirms his suspicions that the ancients and the moderns are indeed very different types of people.
"We can realize how poor and helpless stands present day man with his progress infront of such buildings, that since time immemorial granted healing." -- from Sojourns, pg. 21-22. -
We've found the little brother.
The Little Theatre of Epidaurus is found under a grove of olive trees. In ancient times it stood in the acropolis of Epidaurus. Now festivals play there, including "Musical July". -
Take this, censors!
Takis Mouzenidis's production of "Persians" causes an uproar as it assimilates the character Xerxes with the current military junta. -
Whoops. We shouldn't have done that.
Three decades of use led to a deterioration in the theatre's structural soundness. So, once again, the restorations are restored by the Greek government, this time using proper scientific criteria. -
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The Usual Suspect
Kevin Spacey appears in the Epidaurus festival in a production of Richard the Third. -
Money? Money, anyone?
The Greek government is looking for investors to upgrade the port and marina at Nea Epidavros. Is any tax evader who still has money interested? -
Theatre with a message
The festival "World Crisis Theatre" takes place in the Little Theatre of Epidaurus near the sea. It is a three day festival of places dealing with the economic crisis in Greece, Europe, and beyond. http://www.worldcrisistheatre.com/
"World Crisis Theatre proposes a meeting of professional artists and young people . . . Their common goal is the creation of two plays dealing with the 2008 financial crisis and the present one, together with organising public activities."
