Aspendos Roman Theater

The Aspendos Theater is the best-preserved ancient theater in the world, and is located in the ancient city of Aspendos, about 25 miles east of Antalya.
The theater was built during the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (160 to 180). Thanks to inscriptions on its walls, we know exactly who designed it: Zenon, son of Theodorus. The inscriptions also tell us that the Greek architect, who was born in Aspendos, was funded by two rich brothers, A. Curtius Crispinus Arruntianus and A. Curtius Crispinus, who gifted the theater to the city.
Despite being built during Roman rule, the theater displays many Greek characteristics.
The sheer scale of the Aspendos Theater is impressive. The overall width of the theater is 96 meters, the width of the stage is half the width of the building, and the diameter of the orchestra is half the width of the stage.
The spectator tribune is divided in two parts by a horizontal walkway called the diazoma. The lower section contains 20 rows of seat, while the upper has 21 rows. The theater’s capacity has been estimated at 8,500 people at least. The theater is also known for its excellent acoustics.
Read less