DODONI
The origins of the sanctuary, known for its historical
reputation, go back to Copper Age(2600-1200BC.)
Initially the sanctuary was outdoor and in it was
worshipped the Great Goddess, deity of land fertility
and welfare, who later was replaced by the worship
of Dodoneos Dias. The priests said oracles listening
to the sounds of tripods around Figos 'the holy
oak tree' of Dias. To honour Dias the 'Naia' were
organized famous Hellenic races. In the 14th C.,
the first temple started being build the 'Holy Oikia'.
Yet it was restored radically in 3rd C. under Pirros's
royalty. It was then that Pritaneion, Vouleftirion
and the Theatre one of the largest ancient theatres
(17.000 seats) were built. The sanctuary was destroyed
in 219 BC by Etoli and later in 167 BC by the Romans.
The most important
monuments of the site are:
The Sacred House
(temple of Zeus, Building E1).
At least four architectural phases are distinguished
in the building whose original form remains unknown.
It seems that in the beginning it was an open space
with bronze tripod cauldrons surrounding the sacred
oak tree. The first temple was built in the early
4th century B.C. and was gradually enlarged and
repaired in the 4th, 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C.
The latest and better preserved building measures
20.80 x 19.20 m.
The Theatre is one of the
largest in Greece, seating 18.000 persons. It consists
of the cavea (auditorium), the orchestra, a doric
stoa and a wooden proscenium. It was built in the
3rd century B.C., during the reign of Pyrrhus, and
was destroyed in 219 B.C. by the Aetolians. At the
end of the 3rd century B.C. it was restored but
was again demolished by Aemilius Paulus in 167 B.C.
During the 1st century B.C. it was turned into an
arena.
The
Bouleuterion (Building E2). The building comprises
a large hall (measuring 43.60 x 32.35 m.) and a
Doric stoa in the front. It was erected at the end
of the 4th or the beginning of the 3rd century B.C.
and was rebuilt twice, after its destruction by
the Aetolians in 219 B.C., and by the Romans in
167 B.C. It was again repaired by Augustus and remained
in use until the end of the 1st century B.C.
The
Stadium.
The monument is not completely excavated. It is
one of the few ancient stadiums with stone seats
(21 or 22 rows of benches), contemporary with the
second architectural phase of the theatre (late
3rd century B.C.).
The
Acropolis. It occupies
the top of the hill and is surrounded by a polygonal
wall (750 m. long) dated to the 4th century B.C.
The wall is reinforced with rectangular towers and
has three main gates. Inside the walled area are
preserved foundations of buildings and an underground
water cistern, carved in the rock.
The
Prytaneum (Building H). Rectangular building (measuring
17.30 x 10.70 m.) dated to the 4th century B.C.
It is the earliest structure of the sanctuary after
the Sacred House. It functioned as a resting place
for the priests of Zeus or the leaders of the Molossian
Koinon (League) and was destroyed by the Aetolians
in 219 B.C.
Location: Manteion,
Ioannina
Telephone Number.2651082287
