37°58′13″N 23°43′40″E / 37.97034°N 23.727784°E
The Bema of Phaidros (Ancient Greek: Βῆμα τοῦ Φαίδρου) is the marble platform created in the third century CE[1][2] that served as stage front to the Theatre of Dionysos in Athens. It is decorated with a Neo-Attic Roman sculpture of the Hadrianic or Antonine period, this sculpture was dismantled sometime in antiquity, moved from an unknown location,[3] and rebuilt into the bema of the Theatre by Phaidros, archon of Athens.[4] Four stone reliefs decorate the stage front illustrating scenes from the life of Dionysos they are: 1) The birth of Dionysos, 2) the entrance of Dionysos into Attica, 3) the sacred marriage of Dionysos and the Basilinna and 4) the enthronement of Dionysos. These scenes are framed by crouching Silenoi.
- ^ Travlos, p.538
- ^ Frantz suggests a likely date between circa 300 and 345 CE. Frantz, 1982, p.38
- ^ Travlos, p.538.
- ^ IG II2 5021, his inscription is preserved on the top flight of the stairs from the orchestra to the stage and reads: For you, lover of the sacred rites, this beautiful stage has been built by Phaidros, son of Zolios, archon of life-giving Athens.