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Ligugé Abbey, or the Abbey of St. Martin of Ligugé, is a Benedictine monastery in Ligugé, Vienne, France. Founded in 361 by Martin of Tours with land from Bishop Hilary of Poitiers, it is one of France’s oldest monastic sites. Initially thriving, the abbey later declined after invasions and conflicts, becoming a dependent priory by the 11th century. It was revitalized in 1003 but suffered during the Hundred Years’ War and was later held in commendam.
In the 16th century, the Jesuits took over, renovating the priory and running a college until the suppression of their order in 1762. The site was sold during the French Revolution, with the church eventually serving as a parish church.
Monastic life was restored in 1853 with monks from Solesmes, making Ligugé the first Solesmes daughter house. Expelled in 1880 by anti-clerical laws, the monks took refuge in Spain, later returning and founding new abbeys. Visitors like Huysmans and Claudel spent time there. After another expulsion in 1902, the community returned and rebuilt the abbey church, consecrated in 1929.
During World War II, the abbey sheltered figures like Robert Schuman and Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow. Monk Aimé Lambert joined the Resistance and was executed in 1943. After the war, an enamelling workshop was established at the abbey.
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.