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How did Herodes Atticus change the ancient Panathenaic Stadium?
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Stadium
Aerial view of Michigan Stadium, home to the gridiron football team of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
In the 2nd century CE, during the period of Roman rule in Athens, the Athenian writer Herodes Atticus funded a major reconstruction of the ancient Panathenaic Stadium.
His architectural interventions transformed the site in several significant ways:
- Material: The stadium was rebuilt using marble, making it a distinctive structure of the era.
- Shape: He changed the stadium's original rectangular layout into a horseshoe shape.
- Capacity: The structure was enlarged to accommodate approximately 50,000 spectators.
While these renovations were executed in a classical Athenian style, they were built to a Roman scale, reflecting the influence of the period. This project solidified the stadium's status as a landmark that bridged Athens' ancient past with its later history.12