Thiva at the centre of the ancient Greek theatre

In the Kavireion sanctuary, just 8km west of Thebes, was, from the Geometric period, the site of the worship of Kaviros, Pais, and Kavirian Demeter.

The Kavirioi, a bearded god wearing a garland of ivory, and the divine child Pais, came from the East. Their worship was secretive, and so it remains unknown what it involved. Boeotian Kaviros is often confused with Dionysos. At the sanctuary, in its final form from Roman times, apart from the temple, there were an arcade and other buildings inside a constructed enclosure , as well as a theatre, with an altar in the centre of the orchestra. It consisted of an amphitheatre of ten rows of seats and was used for events connected with worship.

Kaviroi were believed to be the protectors of metal workers, the fertility of the land, and the healthy breeding of animals. The offerings of the faithful depended on the aspect of the gods: copper and clay idols, jewellery, children’s toys such as spinning tops, knuckle bones, rattles, and vases. Typical examples are the large black-painted kanthars and skyfoi [bowls], with depictions of scenes from mythology and worship, symposia and dances, in which the figures were rendered in a cartoon style.

The Theban mythological cycle was created from the magnificent adventures of the Labdacides dynasty of Thebes. Oedipus was born from the marriage of the king of Thebes Laius, son of Labdacus, with Jocasta. After solving the enigma of the Sphinx, Oedipus ascended to the throne of Thebes, married Queen Jocasta, not knowing that she was his mother, and had children with her. This shattering myth gave birth to the masterpieces of the ancient Greek drama. Such as “Seven at Thebes” by Aeschylus, “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone” by Sophocles, “Foinissai” by Euripides.

Did you really know that the seven gates (the Electress, the Omoloids, the Proitides, the Ogygies or Voraies, the Nyistes, the Ypsistes and the Ogaies) of Thebes are real places? So far they have identified the Electress from where the road to Athens started and part of the Mycenaean wall at the point where the Proitides would have been. With a visit to Thiva you can walk the paths of time.

Source: https://www.mthv.gr/

Location