It makes sense that Siracusa has one of the most impressive theatres in the Greek world. This city was one of the most important commercial and cultural centres in ancient times. And possibly the most beautiful.
So I sat in the middle row of the theatre and dreamed I was watching “Women of Etna”, by Aeschylus, first performed here in 475 BCE with the playwright himself centre stage.
Aeschylus spent a lot of time in Sicily, he loved this island.
There I was, sitting on the stone seat (quite comfy) just as others did two thousand five hundred years ago and perhaps another woman of a certain age, creaky of knee and crotchety of hip, would have been here, just like me, in the afternoon sun. My heart leaped up at the thought.
This is a working theatre and Aeschylus’ plays are still performed here each Spring and Summer. What an experience that must be!
It was larger back in the 5th century BCE but the Spanish invaders of the 15th century, true to form, carted off a large number of stones.
Before I left I splashed my face with cool water from this fountain.
I see fountains everywhere and they’re always dripping, if not pouring, water at a reasonable speed. For a country that’s not too blessed with water falling from the sky, I always wonder just what the City Fathers are thinking, allowing such a precious resource to run away. The fountains of Rome, although lovely to behold, always made me a little cross.
