When Hadrian became emperor in 117 AD, a young rhetoric student with a stutter arrived at his military camp near the Danube to greet him. This seventeen-year-old boy was about to become not only one of the greatest orators and the richest men of his era, but also a generous sponsor of big artistic events and public works.
His first precious gift to the city of Athens was the reconstruction of the Panathenaic Stadium, completed in 143 AD. Afterwards, in addition to many works in different Greek cities, in 161 AD, he offers Athens a theatre with a roof, an Odeon, with a seating capacity of 5000 people, built on the south side of the Acropolis Hill.
This boy was Herodes Atticus.
It is said that the theatre’s roof was made of cedar wood.
Herodion –– the Roman Odeon –– is today considered one of the most emblematic odeons in the world.
In June 2026 –– a month with a special symbolism –– thanks to a smart gesture which transforms temporary stillness into creative opportunity, the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, before it is sealed and retreats into silence for a few years (so that, through an inspired and necessary work of restoration, renovation, and exposure, it passes into the next century of symbolism and importance in the cultural life) opens, for only one month –– this special June –– its gates. An opportunity, therefore, arises for a series of Art events to unfold, within the context of Farewell Celebrations. Someone could say that each event set to be presented this year on the stage of the Herodion –– every single night, every kind of ‘Tribute’ –– is a special Farewell celebration of the Odeon.
Until we meet again,
MM.
