Theater at Butrint

The theater was built in the southern area of the Acropolis at the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine site of Butrint (Buthrotum). The original theater was built in a Greek style in the fourth century B.C. It was commonly used as a place for religious events, including ceremonies and priestly activities, as well as dramatic performances. Based on the 13-19 rows of stone seats that are preserved, it is estimated that the theater would have been able to accommodate approximately 1,500 visitors.

In the second century B.C., the theater was reconstructed according to a Roman plan, which, among other changes, involved building a new stage. Many inscriptions and statues from the various phases of its use have been found in this theater. Among them are inscriptions recording the manumission of slaves and a statue that combines a woman's body and a head of Apollo. The theater was abandoned around the fourth century A.D. after an earthquake.