The Theatre in Ancient Messina
The first monument the visitor encounters in the archaeological site is the Theatre. It was discovered northwest of Asklepion and 50 metres west of the Agora. It was built in the 3rd-2nd century BC. and is one of the largest of antiquity. The theatre was used for the entertainment of the citizens and for mass gatherings of political nature (as evidenced by the epigraphic findings). The meeting of the king of Macedonia, Philip V and Aratus of Sikyon took place in this theatre in 214 BC. The Theatre of Ancient Messina seems to have been abandoned from the end of the 3rd to the beginning of the 4th century AD.
The place surrounding the stage rests on an embankment, supported by a solid semi-circular rampart, the western part of which is preserved in good condition. During the Roman Imperial times (1st-2nd century AD), it took its current form after radical changes that took place in the Hellenistic period. The rampart is built of massive stone plinths, and every 20 metres, it has impressive sharp-pointed gates with internal staircases leading to the upper deck. Descending staircases started from there and ended up in the orchestra overlooking the rows of seats of the building.
In the years of the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius (1st century AD), the stage and proscenium were fundamentally replaced. The Roman scene is preserved in reasonably good condition. Its multi-storey facade was built with doors, arches and niches, while white and colourful marble and granite columns were used.
The ground floor part of the stage consists of a central semicircular and two rectangular alcoves. In each niche, there were two pedestals for the re-founding of six marble statues of benefactors and other people. Statues were also placed in the smaller alcoves of the upper floors of the tent.