Record #00318Architecture archive
Oldest Surviving Theatre Site
The Theatre of Dionysus on the south slope of the Acropolis in Athens traces its earliest performance area to the sixth century BCE and is identified by Greek heritage institutions as the world's oldest theatre site.
ARCHIVE VISUAL / 01
NOT TO SCALE
Current Record
6th (BCE)
Current record value
- Holder
- Theatre of Dionysus
- Location
- South slope of the Acropolis, Athens, Greece · Theatre of Dionysus archaeological site
- Start date
- —
- Record status
- VerifiedReport an issue
Verification basis and limitations
VerifiedThe record conclusion has sufficient verification support.
Verification explanation pending
- Last editorial review
- 2026-11-04
Current Entry identifies the current entry in this archive; it does not establish that the record is still held today.
Overview
Archive NoteThe site developed from a ritual circular performance area associated with Dionysian festivals. Viewers initially watched from the hillside and temporary wooden seating.
Greece's UNESCO tentative-list submission dates the original core to the sixth century BCE but the bulk of today's monumental stone remains to the later fourth century BCE; the two construction phases must not be conflated.
Record history
1 Milestones- 6th (BCE)Theatre of DionysusSouth slope of the Acropolis, Athens, GreeceCurrent Record
Sources
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