098_ITHOMI_ THEATRE The first monument one encounters on the way from the Museum to the [and as most theaters this one like looks to the south. This theater was one of the larger ones. the size of the orchestra is 23.46 meters; changes where made during the Roman times as with all the theaters the original round was cut to put in a scene area rebuilt. The theatre was used for large scale assemblies of political character. In this theatre was held the meeting between King Philipp V Macedon and Aratos the Sikyonian in 214B.C; the day following the revolt of the Messenian people. According to the testimony of Livius (39.49.6-12); many Messenians preceded to the theatre of Messene and demanded that the great general of the Achaean League Philopoimen from Megalopolis captured by the Messenians in 183B.C. be transferred there and exposed to common view. The theatre must have been abandoned around the end of the 3rd or beginning of the 4th c. A.D. Stone blocks belonging to the retaining wall of the theatre seem to have been built into the nearby fountain house Arsinoe during its last phase of constructions in the time of Diocletian. The exterior of the retaining wall is built in exactly the same way as the fortification walls and towers of the city.