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Founded: 11th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)
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Château de Ballon is mentioned from the beginning of the 11th century. It is said to have been built by Robert I of Bellême to serve as a stronghold against the family of the Counts of Maine. The fortress quickly became the target of the Normans who sought to conquer the southern region.
From the 12th century onwards, Ballon passed into the hands of the Chaources family, who held the castle for two hundred years. The lordship was then under Anglo-Norman influence. In order to end the Plantagenet hegemony, Philip Augustus traveled to Maine. He captured Ballon twice in 1189 and 1199. The Ballon fortress was then burned and dismantled. Philip Augustus had it rebuilt and placed Hugues de Beauçais in charge.
During the Hundred Years' War, the fortress had to endure several sieges and was ravaged an conquered several times. The reconstruction of the keep and the part of Ballon began in 1469.
Today Château de Ballon is a triangle form castle with corner towers and moat. It has remarkable gardens built in the 1960s.
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.