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Founded: 1124Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)
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Fontguilhem abbey was founded in 1124 near a source called Fons Gallia. It was occupied by the monks of Gondom abbey and joined the Cistercian order in 1147 as daughter-house of Cadouin. In 1309, Pope Clement V granted his forbearance to all those who, after having confessed, took part in the construction of a new church and a new cloister.
After the French Revolution, the monastery was sold as a national asset. The new owners repaired the abbey palace which had been built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Part of the conventual buildings, including the vestry, was transformed into farm buildings; and the rest of the abbey, including the church, was used to build the neighbouring village of Grignols.
Today, Fontguilhem is made up of two groups of buildings: south west, part of the abbey-palace with a remarkable wrought iron gate, the work of Blaise Charlus. Inside, on the ground floor, court-side a dining room can be found which has retained part of its Louis XVI decor. On the first floor of the south side, the old cells, spread symmetrically on each side of a long central corridor which leads to the Abbot's balcony.
The building on the northeast side is made from stone and wood. In the stone part, can be found the most visible medieval remains of the old abbey including a room with low barrel vaults, illuminated by two semi-circular windows.
References:The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.
The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.
Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.