Carved into the lower south slope of the Acropolis, the Theatre of Dionysus is the birthplace of ancient Greek drama, where masterpieces by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes premiered. This historic 17,000-seat amphitheater was constructed in its monumental stone form during the 4th century BC by Lycurgus for the festive City Dionysia. Today, the ruins display a semi-circular stone orchestra in the foreground with tiered limestone seating rising up the hillside, including partially preserved front-row Pentelic stone thrones known as the prohedria or seats of honor.