Duke World: Aspendos Roman Theater

15 June 2014

Aspendos Roman Theater | Turkey

Aspendos or Aspendus was an ancient Greco-Roman city in Antalya province of Turkey. The it is located seven kilometers notheast of cenral Serik. Aspendos is the third largest after the city of Perge and Sida in Pamphylia. Presently, Aspednos is famous for its impressive Roman Theater, the best preserved in Asia Minor. The theater was constructed in the 2nd century AD by the architect Zeno during the reign of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 161-180 AD on the south-east slope of the hill on which the ancient city was developed.

According to legend the city of Aspendos was founded by colonists from Argos returning form the Trojan War. The first confirmed reference is in Hittite writings of 800 Bc. In the 5th and 4th centuries the city was one of the the few in the region to mint silver coins. The city reached its zenith during the Roman Era, and the theater was constructed during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurilius in the 2nd century AD bye the Roman architect Zeno. First Image byvsetkooturecku

Image by Flickr user Robert Wright

The theater it is clear that it was conceived and executed by a skilledarchitect who knew exactly how to work with general proportions. The overall width of the theater is 96 meters, the with of the stage is half the width of thebuilding that is 48 meters and the diameter of the orchestra is half the width of the stage that is 24 meters. the height of the scaenae frons including the triangular pediments is two-third of the diameter of the orchestra that is 16 meters. The theater could accommodate around 10-12 thousand spectators and was maintained by the Byzatines and Seljuks. After Ataturk visited Aspendos he commanded the restoration of the theater. Aspendos theater is still in use today. Each year during June and July the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival is held. Also at Aspendos and near to the theater are an acropolis with a nymphaeum and basilica.