Heraclea Minoa Theatre, Sicily, Italy

Heraclea.Minoa1 Heraclea Minoa (Eraclea Minoa) Theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa2 Heraclea Minoa (Eraclea Minoa) Theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa3 Heraclea Minoa (Eraclea Minoa) Theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa4 Heraclea Minoa (Eraclea Minoa) Theatre plan.

Heraclea.Minoa5 Excavations at Ancient Heraclea are located on the southern shore of Sicily between Sciacca and Agrigento.

Heraclea.Minoa6 Excavations at Ancient Heraclea are located on the southern shore of Sicily between Sciacca and Agrigento. Heraclea Minoa (Eralea Minoa) archeological site signage

Heraclea.Minoa7 Heraclea Minoa (Eralea Minoa) archeological site signage Heraclea Minoa (Eralea Minoa) archeological site signage

Heraclea.Minoa8 Heraclea Minoa (Eralea Minoa) archeological site signage

Ancient Heraclea is located on a white limestone promontory (Capo Bianco) on a high vertical cliffs 75 meters above sealevel. Photo: Sofy Dora - Google Maps

Heraclea.Minoa9wide Ancient Heraclea is located on a white limestone promontory (Capo Bianco) on a high vertical cliffs 75 meters above sealevel. Photo: Sofy Dora - Google Maps

The same natural forces that carved Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks ) 26 km to the south carved the remains of the theatre – it was, after all, constructed from the same material - soft limestone and marl.

Heraclea.Minoa10 The same natural forces that carved Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks ) 26 km to the south carved the remains of the theatre – it was, after all, constructed from the same material - soft limestone and marl.

Heraclea.Minoa.beach Author resting on the beach between Agrigento and Heraclea Minoa. Scala dei Turchi in the background.

The same natural forces that carved Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks ) 26 km to the south also carved he exposed remains of the theatre – it was, after all, constructed from the same material - soft limestone and marl.

Heraclea.Minoa11 The same natural forces that carved Scala dei Turchi (Stair of the Turks ) 26 km to the south also carved he exposed remains of the theatre – it was, after all, constructed from the same material - soft limestone and marl.

Heraclea.Minoa12 View from the archeological site at Heraclea Minoa. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa13 View from the archeological site at Heraclea Minoa. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa14

Heraclea.Minoa15 Protective roof detail at Heraclea Miinoa. theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa16 Heraclea Minoa. theatre Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa17 Heraclea Minoa theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

3.5 meter-high analemmata, (supporting walls) composed of blocks of marl masonry. The stone masonry is faced with brick, possibly as a conservation effort at a later date.

Heraclea.Minoa18 3.5 meter-high analemmata, (supporting walls) composed of blocks of marl masonry. The stone masonry is faced with brick, possibly as a conservation effort at a later date.

Protective roof, weathered seating, analemmata and parodos (side entrance into the orchestra) details at Heraclea Miinoa. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa19 Protective roof, weathered seating, analemmata and parodos (side entrance into the orchestra) details at Heraclea Miinoa. Photo: T. Hines 2018. Euripos - narrow water drainage channel around the perimeter of the orchestra. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa20wide Euripos - narrow water drainage channel around the perimeter of the orchestra. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

The weathered rows of seats are divided into nine pie-shaped sectors (kerkides) by eight small staircases (klimakes). Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa21 The weathered rows of seats are divided into nine pie-shaped sectors (kerkides) by eight small staircases (klimakes). Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa22 The weathered rows of seats are divided into nine pie-shaped sectors (kerkides) by eight small staircases (klimakes). Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa23 Excavated building at the Heraclea Minoa archeolgical site. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa24 Excavated building at the Heraclea Minoa archeolgical site. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa25 Heraclea Minoa theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa26 Protective roof( finished in 1999) and weathered theatron (seating secion) detail at Heraclea Minoa. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa27 Protective roof( finished in 1999) and weathered theatron (seating secion) detail at Heraclea Minoa. Photo: T. Hines 2018.

Heraclea.Minoa28 Heraclea Minoa theatre. Photo: T. Hines 2018.