Roman Theatre of Aspendos

The Roman theater of Aspendos is a Roman theater in the ancient city of Aspendos in Turkey. It was built in the 2nd century and is one of the best preserved ancient theaters of the Greco-Roman world.[1]

Roman Theatre of Aspendos
Overview of the theatre in 2011
LocationAspendos, Turkey
Coordinates36°56′20″N 31°10′20″E
TypeRoman theatre
Width96 metres (315 ft)
History
BuilderZenon
Founded161 a.D - 180 a.D
AbandonedNo
PeriodsAncient Rome
CulturesRoman
Site notes
ConditionAlmost intact
Public accessYes

Description

History

The theater was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180). An inscription lists the brothers Curtius Crispinus and Curtius Auspicatus as commissioners and Zenon as architect. The cavea is partly built against theslope of the hill, which provides a natural foundation. The rest of the stand rests on stone arcades. The cavea has 41 rows of benches, providing seating for 12,000 spectators. The stage wall is completely intact, only the original eight-meter-deep wooden ceiling has disappeared. Around the theater, 58 holes have been found where there used to be poles, which could be used to stretch a large velarium over the grandstand to protect the spectators from the sun.[2]

In the 13th century, the stage building was converted into a palace for the Seljuks.

In modern times, the theater has been restored to its original state. It is an important tourist attraction for the region. In spring and summer, opera and ballet performances are held there.

See also

References
  1. Andreae, Bernard (1977). The Art of Rome. New York: H. N. Abrams. p. 567. ISBN 0-8109-0626-0. The Roman theater survives virtually intact... scarcely another surviving theater gives a better impression of just how the Roman theater - a solid single unified structure - differed from the Greek theater, which was made up of separate structures juxtaposed but each isolated and complete in itself.
  2. "Theatre in Aspendos | Turkish Archaeological News". turkisharchaeonews.net. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
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