FOLLOW A ROUTE TO HISTORY by offering them the best: For their earthly needs, It is unimaginable that this people, who created Finally, the stage is rectangular with two ramps Elean authority, to whom the Romans, masters HELLENIC REPUBLIC “Catagogion,” a spacious guest house; and for the such an inspired town turning their vision into to the right and left, which led to the logeion, a of the “divide and rule” doctrine, had granted Ministry of Culture and Sports spirit and soul, a large theatre. In this way, they reality, would deprive themselves of the aesthetic raised platform where the actors performed. privileges. won them over. pleasure, the spiritual uplift or entertainment Between the two, stands the proskenion (the The “Catagonion” was a public building built provided by the theatre and its three forms of front of the stage), whose façade included six The final blow to the town came in 31 BC EPHORATE OF ANTIQUITIES OF PREVEZA behind the Northern Portico at the end of the drama. Cassopeans did not only build a theatre columns. when the residents were forced to relocate to 3rd century BC, at a time when the town enjoyed in the 3rd century BC, with a capacity of 5,000- In 167 BC, a terrible fate befell the Cassopeans. Nicopolis. Octavian Augustus’ town of victory great glory and wealth. The latest excavations 6,000 spectators, but they chose the best site Not only did the Roman legions ravage their was decorated with the finest things Cassope at the archaeological site revealed 1,512 coins for it, at the foot of the North west citadel from brilliant town, but took the people as slaves, just had. Finally, the devastated town would suffer Mary Beloyianni, from 40 different cities, strong evidence of the where the view of the Ionian Sea and its islands as they had done in 70 more towns in Epirus. from the ruthless passage of time which made great commercial traffic in the town. Commerce is enchanting. Cassope would never again live glorious times, it vanish. At the beginning of the 1950s, the afforded the residents of Cassope all kinds of even if there was some rebuilding during the archaeological trowel of Professor S. Dakaris comforts. It is likely that foreign merchants had The peculiarity of this theatre is that the Roman times. The fatal blow was delivered, lifted the sheet of time and gradually revealed plenty of reasons to prolong their stay in the city. however, when, in the 20 years between 168-148 its incomparable magnificence. Phd. Archaeologist, Greek language teacher Responsible for educational programs of Diazoma Association language teacher Responsible for educational programs Greek Phd. Archaeologist, orchestra does not form a full circle, as Research Loaded with merchandise ships were coming was the usual shape, but an arc larger BC, the town ceased to be the political centre for and the enhancement of its great in and out of the two ports, one in present-time than a semi-circle which is probably the Assembly of Cassopeans, which the Romans monuments continues. Michalitsi in the Ambracian Gulf and the other due to the limited amount of space abolished, forcing the residents to participate in in today’s Kastrosikia by the Ionian Sea. In this available. It is obvious that the architect did his the Pandosian Assembly, which initially had way, the residents of Cassope were provided with best to build a theatre venue in this perfect spot. Pandosia as its seat and later Dodona, under every comfort. So, there were more than a few reasons why foreign merchants would extend The auditorium (Koilon) (with a base diameter of their stay in the town. 16m and of 78m at the top) has the following characteristics: It is supported at the front by The “Catagogion” is reminiscent of a house, but two polygonal retaining walls, reinforced with on a larger scale (30x32.50m). There is a central buttresses. A gangway (diazoma) divides the courtyard surrounded by 17 spaces-rooms. Each koilon into an upper section comprising 23 rows of these 17 spaces had a wooden staircase of stone seats and a lower section of 12 rows. leading to its upper floor-attic. Another staircase Nine stairways divide it into 10 stands of which led from the propylon, the main entrance of the the two at the sides are narrower. There is building, to the first floor balcony. Most agree another gangway at the top, which is protected that the Catagogion was used as a guest house. on the outside by a polygonal wall. An opening It has been suggested, however, that it was used in the wall facilitated the spectators’ exit from as a commercial centre. The Catagogion was the upper part of the theatre. This is another destroyed by the Romans, when they conquered innovation which reveals the high cultural level Cassope in the 2nd century BC, but reopened later of the Cassopeans. And it is the proof that culture as a large complex of workshops. is, after al, the result of man’s efforts to make life comfortable, effortless and qualitative. Big and smaller gates facilitated the entrance and exit to the walled town, which, having secured protection, gave itself up to the experienced hands of specialists who created the If a town demonstrates how civilized CASSOPE conditions for its complete urban character, building on past experience to achieve perfection in it is by the efficacy of its waste If you want to get to know Ancient Cassope, located between the village of Kamarina Cassope. (25km from Preveza) and the historic St. Demetrius Monastery which crowns the highest peak management system, then Cassope of Mt. Zaloggos (known for the heroic suicide of the women from Souli in 1803, after Souliotes Aristotle notes in “Politics” (VII, chap. X, 25) that “…the configuration of buildings would be more pleasant capitulated to the infamous Ali Pasha of Epirus), you should follow these directions: Drive from should it be designed based on a street plan of straight roads, following the city planning of Hippodamus.” should have a place amongst the Kamarina Village towards Zaloggos. After 500 m., before reaching the overwhelming stone This is exactly what the town planners of Cassope did and the city was built right from the start according cluster of the Souli women, created by sculptor, G. Zoggolopoulos in 1955, there is a signpost for to a geometric grid plan, known as “Hippodamian” after the man who inspired it, Hippodamus, the most civilized cities. “Ancient Cassope.” famous urban planner, mathematician and architect from Miletus. Twenty parallel roads 4.2 m. wide each were built and named “alleyways.” They crossed the town from north to south and were crossed also the best known because of its excellent as we enter the town, we imperceptibly A beautiful 300 m. path leads you through vertically by two roads 6 m. wide each. These “wide streets” or “avenues,” intersect the town from east position and the security it provides in feel a positive aura, always commanded Ancient Cassope had the pine trees and wild flowers to the capital to west. The street plan that was employed, out of respect for men and their works, created 60 blocks, relation to the neighbouring places of the by theatre venues filled with the energy features of an ideal state as of Cassopeans, one of the four most 30 m. wide and 70-128 town” (Aristotle, Politics, VII, I, 25-30).Based of hundreds or thousands of people who important tribes of ancient Epirus amongst m. long, along which two on finds to this date, no sanctuaries have come together to enjoy something special, described by philosopher the fourteen referred to in the 4th century that even the two rivers were also navigable, height, the view of the sea is breathtaking two-storey houses were been discovered within the city of Cassope. even if this is a political meeting. This small BC by the historian Theopompus. made the Cassopeans love exploration, and the location is a perfect observation built. Outside the city, below the “separation theatre, which was probably used as a Aristotle in his “Politics” communication and interchange with the post to scan the movements of aspiring wall”, in other words the fortification that Bouleuterion, a council house, has a koilon Ancient Cassope was founded in peoples in the west as well as in southern conquerors whether they came from the The houses were controlled the road from the coastline to the (auditorium) with 21 rows of stone seats the first half of the 4th century BC as a settlement of villages in the Cassopean Greece. In this way, they distinguished plains of Preveza or from the shores of the separated by a 1.2 m. wide mainland and vice versa, a temple was built and stairs separate it into four stands. The country (its area coincides approximately with that of the present day Prefecture of Preveza). themselves at trade, created a flourishing Ambracian Gulf and the Ionian Sea. sewer, called “peristasis.” almost at the same time as the city. It was stage is rectangular with two rectangular The residents of Ancient Cassope were open-minded, with innovative ideas and a belief in economy, entered into friendships and If a town demonstrates edicated not to omnipotent Zeus, or Dione wings on the two sides, which extend into the principle of “ευ ζην”, “living well”. It is possible that water played a part in this, since the alliances with the powerful and built a For safety reasons, they built how civilized it is by as was the custom in the towns of Epirus or the orchestra and embrace the proscenium.