Roman Theatre of Aspendos
View of the Roman Theatre of Aspendos in 2011
Roman Theatre of Aspendos is located in Turkey
Roman Theatre of Aspendos
Shown within Turkey
LocationAspendos, Turkey
Coordinates36°56′20″N 31°10′20″E / 36.93889°N 31.17222°E / 36.93889; 31.17222
TypeRoman theatre
Width96 metres (315 ft)
History
BuilderZenon
Founded161 a.D - 180 a.D
AbandonedNo
PeriodsAncient Rome
CulturesRoman
Site notes
ConditionAlmost intact
Public accessYes

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]

Description

With a diameter of 96 metres (315 ft), the theatre provided seating for 7,000/13,000 people. The theatre was built in 155 AD by the Greek architect Zenon, a native of the city, during the rule of Marcus Aurelius. It was periodically repaired by the Seljuks, who used it as a caravansary, and in the 13th century the stage building was converted into a palace by the Seljuks of Rum. Technically the structure is a theatre not an amphitheatre, the latter being fully round or oval shaped.

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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