Scattered around the Mediterranean lie the remains of the ancient theaters of the Greek and Roman world. The Greek theaters were large, open-air structures constructed on the slope of a hill. Roman theaters, although heavily influenced by the Greeks, have specific differences, such as being built upon their own foundations.

The theater originates from the city-state of Athens where it was used for festivals honoring the god Dionysus and the famous Athenian tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays. The Romans, being a little bit less philosophical in spirit than the Greek, wanted more pure entertainment with lots of laughs and excitement. Popular entertainments in Roman times included mime plays, acrobatics, jugglers, animal fights and gladiator fights although the later two were more common in the Roman amphitheater.

Greco-Roman theater

Taormina was a Greek colony on the east coast of the island of Sicily. The theater of Taormina was built by the Greeks in the 2nd century BC and restructured and widened by the Romans. The ancient theater is beautiful situated, overlooking the bay of Naxos and mount Etna. Today it is the center of the Taormina’s international film festival.

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Pergamum Theater

Pergamum was an ancient city founded by Greek colonists on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Although Pergamum is one of Turkey’s lesser known archaeological sites it contains a number of notable structures, including the theater. The Pergamon theater was built in the 3rd century and could seat 10,000 spectators. It is one of the steepest ancient theaters in the world.

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Jerash theaters

Jerash is a popular archaeological site in Jordan, second only to Petra. The city’s golden age came under Roman rule and the site is now generally acknowledged as one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Jerash contains not one but two Roman theaters. The north theater, with a capacity of 1600, was built in 165 AD and was mainly used as the city council chamber. The larger south theater was built between 90-92 AD and could seat more than 3000 spectators.

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Theater of Dionysus

The Theater of Dionysus, cut into the southern slope of the Athenian Acropolis, was the first stone theater ever built and the birthplace of Greek tragedy. There were many alterations to the theater during the ages starting from the 5th century BC until late antiquity. What remains today dates to the Roman Empire and could seat 17,000 spectators.

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Roman theater of Orange

The Roman Theater of Orange is a well preserved theater build in the 1st century AD for watching theatrical performances. After the Roman Empire declined the theater was closed by official edict in 391 AD as the Church opposed what it regarded as uncivilized spectacles. The ancient theater was restored in the 19th century and today it is home of the summer opera festival, the Chorégies d’Oran.

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Great Theater of Ephesus

The ruins of Ephesus are a popular tourist attraction on the west coast of Turkey. The city of Ephesus was once famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which was destroyed by a mob led by the archbishop of Constantinople in 401 AD. Some of the structures can still be seen however including the impressive Great Theater. This large theater, which was capable of holding 25,000 spectators, was used initially for drama, but during later Roman times it was also used for gladiator fights.

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Aspendos Theater

Aspendos boasts the best preserved theater of antiquity in Turkey, and one of the best in the world. The theater of Aspendos was build in 155 AD during the rule of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and could seat between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators. Because the stage area was later used as a caravanserai (a roadside inn) in Seljuk times, it was continuously repaired and maintained .Thus, the Aspendos Theater has been able to survive to this days without losing almost any of its original qualities.

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Delphi Theater

In ancient times Delphi was the most important site in ancient Greek religion, home to the sanctuary and oracle of Apollo. The theater of Delphi was built on a hill giving spectators a view of the entire sanctuary and the spectacular landscape below. It was originally built in the 4th and could seat 5,000 spectators.

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Bosra

Situated 140 Km south of Damascus, Bosra is an ancient city that was already mentioned in the 14th century BC by Egyptians hieroglyphs. The city was conquered by the Romans in 106 AD who made it the capital of their Arabia province. The theater of Bosra was built in the 2nd century AD and could seat up to 15,000 people. Because a fortress was built around the theater by the Ayyubids it is now one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world.

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Epidaurus

The theater of Epidaurus, located on the northeastern corner of the Peloponnesus, was constructed in the 4th century BC. It is still one of the most beautiful Greek theaters in the world. Unlike Roman theaters the view on a lush landscape behind the scene is an integral part of the theater itself. The theater of Epidaurus is famous for its exceptional acoustics. Actors on stage can be perfectly heard by all 14,000 spectators, regardless of their seating.

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