Amvrakia was a rich city but the presence of two theaters cannot really be explained by the needs of the ancient art of drama. In the late 4th century BCE Epirus was ruled by Pyrrhus, whose ancestry included Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. Pyrrhus turned his insignificant kingdom into a powerhouse of the ancient world and selected Amvrakia as his capital. He adorned the city with impressive new buildings and works of art. The theater probably served the needs of the assembly of the citizens of Amvrakia, who gathered here to debate administrative and religious matters. Second-rate plays and music pieces may also have been presented here.