The Ancient Theatre Archive

The Theatre Architecture of Greece and Rome

Addenda

Theatres in Asia Minor: A Brief History by Georgia Aristodimou
Summary: Theatres in the form of monumental public buildings appeared in Asia Minor after the conquests of Alexander the Great and adopted the architectural style of theatres in mainland Greece. In Hellenistic years a local tradition went above the established standards and later evolved into the theatrical facilities of the Imperial years. In Roman years a new architectural style of theatres was developed, typical of Asia Minor, the so-called‘ Roman Asia Minor, which was a combination of the Greek and the Roman styles. Read More …

Types of Roman Theatres: An Architectural Overview
Roman theatre architecture evolved differently across the Empire, resulting in distinct regional variations that reflected local traditions, cultural influences, and practical considerations. According to Frank Sear’s comprehensive study (Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study), Roman theatres can be categorized into three main architectural types, each with characteristic design features that distinguished them from one another. Read More...

Complete List of Roman Theatres and Odeums by Modern Country and Condition
Frank Sear identifies 587 Roman Theatres and odeums in 22 countries: 309 structures with substantial remains and 278 structures with little or no remains. Although this list is specific to Roman Theatres and odeums, be aware that many have a Greek heritage, especially those in Sicily, Greece, and Turkey. These structures may have had a Greek origin, but were renovated to Roman standards. A reliable test: if you see a semicircle orchestra, arches, and brick-clad facades, you are looking at Roman architecture. Read More…

Bibliography
Books
Akurgal, Ekrem. Ancient Civilization and Ruins of Turkey. 9th ed., Net Turistik Yayinlar, 2001.
Arnott, Peter. The Ancient Greek and Roman Theatre. Random House, 1971.
—. Greek Scenic Conventions in the Fifth Century B.C. Greenwood Press, 1978.
Ashby, Clifford. Classical Greek Theatre: New Views of an Old Subject. University of Iowa Press, 1999.
Baran, Musa. Troy, Pergamon, Sardes, Izmir, and Its Surroundings. Translated by Hulya Terzioglu, Molay Matbaacilik, 1980.
Bean, George E. Aegean Turkey: An Archaeological Guide. Earnest Benn, 1966.
—. Lycian Turkey: An Archaeological Guide. 2nd ed., John Murray, 1989.
Berve, Helmut, and Gottfried Gruben. Greek Temples, Theatres, and Shrines. H.N. Abrahms, 1963.
Bieber, Margarete. The History of the Greek and Roman Theatre. 2nd ed., Princeton UP, 1961.
—. The History of the Greek and Roman Theatre. 4th ed., Princeton UP, 1961.
Brockett, Oscar G., and Franklin J. Hildy. The History of Theatre. 10th ed., Allyn and Bacon, 1999.
Brown, Andrew. A New Companion to Greek Tragedy. Croom Helm, 1983.
Bulle, Heinrich. Untersuchungen an griechischen Theatern. Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1928.
Camp, John M. The Archaeology of Athens. Yale UP, 2001.
Chandler, Richard. Travels in Asia Minor. Clarendon Press, 1775.
Ciancio Rossetto, Paola, et al. Teatri Greci e Romani: Alle Origini del Linguaggio Rappresentato. SEAT, 1995.
Cimok, Fatih. Pergamum. A. Turizm Yayinlari, 2001.
Dinsmoor, William Bell. The Architecture of Ancient Greece: An Account of its Historic Development. Rev. 3rd ed., W.W. Norton, 1975.
Dörpfeld, Wilhelm, and Emil Reisch. Das griechische theater. Das Theater in Eretria. Barth & von Hirst, 1896.
—. Das griechische Theater. Barth & von Hirst, 1896.
École Française d’Athènes. Excavations at Argos: Reports and Findings. École Française d’Athènes.
Fellows, Charles. An Account of Discoveries in Lycia. J. Murray, 1841.
Ferrero, D. De Bernardi. Teatri classici in Asia Minore. Studi di Archeologia Pubblicati dalla Soprintendenza alle Antichità del Piemonte e della Liguria, 1966.
Finley, M. I., editor. Atlas of Classical Archaeology. McGraw-Hill, 1977.
Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Cultural Heritage Projects in Greece: The Argos Theatre Restoration.
Izenour, George C. Roofed Theaters of Classical Antiquity. Yale UP, 1992.
—. Theater Design. 2nd ed., Yale UP, 1996.
—. Theatre Design. McGraw-Hill, 1977.
Kostof, Spiro. History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals. Oxford UP, 1985.
Laborde, Alexandre de. Voyage de l’Asie Mineure. Firmin Didot, 1838.
Lawrence, R.A. Greek Architecture. Edited by R.A. Tomlinson, 5th ed., Penguin Books, 1983.
Leake, William Martin. Travels in the Morea. Vol. 2, J. Murray, 1830.
Lenas, Peter. A Historical Guide for Visitors to Old Corinth, Mycenae, Heraeum, Argos, Lerna, Tiryns, Nauplia, Epidaurus, Byzantine Churches: Topography, Legend and History, Monuments, Museums, Churches. Patsilinakos, 1962.
MacDonald, William L. The Architecture of the Roman Empire. 2nd ed., Yale UP, 1982.
MacKendrick, Paul. The Iberian Stones Speak: Archaeology in Spain and Portugal. Funk & Wagnalls, 1969.
—. The Mute Stones Speak: The Story of Archaeology in Italy. 2nd ed., W.W. Norton, 1983.
McDonald, Marianne, and J. Michael Walton, editors. The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theatre. Cambridge UP, 2009.
McDonagh, Bernard. Blue Guide Turkey. A&C Black, 2001.
Mitens, K. Teatri greci e teatri ispirati all’architettura greca in Sicilia e nell’Italia meridionale. L’Erma di Bretschneider, 1988.
Papathanasopoulos, G. The Sanctuary of Dionysus at the South Slope of the Acropolis. Archaeological Society of Athens, 1993.
Pausanias. Description of Greece. Translated by J.G. Frazer, vol. 1, Biblo and Tannen, 1965.
—. The Description of Greece. Translated by J.G. Frazer, Faulder, 1898.
Perego, F., editor. Memorabilia: Il futuro della memoria. Electa, 1987.
Pickard-Cambridge, Arthur Wallace. The Dramatic Festivals of Athens. Oxford UP, 1968.
—. The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens. Clarendon Press, 1946.
Pococke, Richard. Description of the East. Vol. 2, W. Bowyer, 1743-1745.
Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford UP, 2006.
Tomlinson, R.A. Argos and the Argolid: From the End of the Bronze Age to the Roman Occupation. Cornell UP, 1972.
—. Epidauros. U of Texas P, 1983.
Travlos, John. Pictorial Dictionary of Ancient Athens. Praeger, 1971.
Vitruvius. Ten Books on Architecture. Translated by Ingrid D. Rowland, commentary by Thomas Noble Howe et al., Cambridge UP, 1999.
Vitruvius Pollio. The Ten Books on Architecture. Edited by Morris Hicky Morgan, Harvard UP, 1914.
—. De Architectura. Translated by Frank Granger, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard UP, 1931.
—. On Architecture. Translated by Richard Schofield, Penguin Classics, 2009.
von Diest, W. Nysa ad Maeandrum. JdI-EH 10, Berlin, 1913.
Ward-Perkins, John B. Roman Imperial Architecture. Reprint, Penguin Books, 1985.
Winter, Frederick E. Studies in Hellenistic Architecture. U of Toronto P, 2006.

Journal Articles and Book Sections
Brownson, Carleton L. “Further Excavation at the Theatre of Sicyon in 1891.” The American Journal of Archaeology and the History of the Fine Arts, vol. 8, no. 3, 1893, pp. 397-409.
Capps, Edward. “Excavations in the Eretrian Theatre in 1894.” The American Journal of Archaeology and of the History of the Fine Arts, vol. 10, no. 3, 1895, pp. 338-346.
Catling, H.W. “Archaeology in Greece, 1986-87.” Archaeological Reports, vol. 33, 1986-87, pp. 3-61.
Chandler, Richard. “Ionian Antiquities.” Ionian Antiquities, vol. 4, 1881, pp. 35; vol. 5, 1915, pp. 10, 13, 28.
Fossum, Andrew. “The Theatre at Sikyon.” The American Journal of Archaeology and the History of the Fine Arts, vol. 9, no. 3, 1905, pp. 263-276.
Gephard, Elizabeth. “The Form of the Orchestra in Early Greek Theater.” Hesperia, vol. 43, no. 4, Oct.-Dec. 1974, pp. 428-440.
Ginouvès, René. “Théâtron à gradins droits et odéon d’Argos.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 79, no. 2, 1975, pp. 161-163.
Gogos, Savas. “Pausanias und das antike Theater von Argos.” Κοινός λόγος: Mélanges offerts à André Hurst, Geneva, 2008, pp. 329-339.
Haigh, A. E. “Dorpfeld’s Theory of the Greek Stage.” The Classical Review, vol. 12, no. 1, 1898, pp. 1-11.
Hall, Jonathan M. “How Argive Was the ‘Argive’ Heraion? The Political and Cultic Geography of the Argive Plain, 900-400 B.C.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 99, no. 4, Oct. 1995, pp. 577-613.
Ianiro, C. A. “Lunga storia di Teano.” Archeo, no. 63, 1990, pp. 124-138.
Johannowsky, W. “Relazione preliminare afli scavi di Teano.” Bollettino d’Arte, vol. 48, 1963, pp. 131-165.
Laumonier, A., and T. Bequignon. “Sur quelques villes antiques de l’Asie Mineure.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique, vol. 49, 1925, pp. 281-319.
Lauter, H. “Die hellenisstischen Theater der Samniten und Latiner in ihere Beziehung sur Theaterarchitektur der Griechen.” Hellenismus in Mittelitalien, Göttingen, 1974, pp. 413-422.
McMurtry, William J. “Excavations by the American School at the Theatre of Sikyon. I. General Report of the Excavations.” The American Journal of Archaeology and the History of the Fine Arts, vol. 5, no. 3, 1889, pp. 267-286.
Moretti, J.-Ch. “Argos: Le theatre.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellenique, vol. 112, 1988, pp. 716-717.
Ögun, B. “Teos Kazilari 1963.” Türk Arkeoloji Dergisi, vol. 13, no. 1, 1964, pp. 116-121.
Papastamati-von Moock, Christina. “New Evidence on the Form and Development of the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique, vol. 131, 2007, pp. 127-161.
Pariente, A. “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques en Grèce en 1986.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique, vol. 111, 1987, pp. 592-595.
Roux, Georges. “Le théâtre d’Argos.” Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique, vol. 76, 1952, pp. 105-117.
Sezer, V., et al. “Nysa Kazisi.” Türk Arkeoloji Dergisi, vol. 27, 1988, pp. 85-100; vol. 28, 1989, pp. 307-322.
Şimşek, C., and M. A. Sezgin. “The West and North Theatres in Laodicea.” Restoration and Management of Ancient Theatres in Turkey, edited by F. Masino et al., Lecce, 2012, pp. 103-128.
Shear, T. Leslie. “Excavations on the Slopes of the Acropolis, 1938.” Hesperia, vol. 8, no. 3, 1939, pp. 231-262.
Vallois, R. “Le théâtre de Téos.” Revue des Études Grecques, vol. 38, 1925, pp. 241-267.
Waldstein, Charles. “Excavations by the School at Eretria, 1891. Introductory Note.” The American Journal of Archaeology and of the History of the Fine Arts, vol. 7, 1891, pp. 233-238.

Online Resources and Other Materials
“Ancient Theater of Epidaurus.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 23 May 2024. Web. 30 June 2024.
“Ancient Theater of Thoricus.” Diazoma. Diazoma.gr, 2024. Web. 30 Oct. 2024.
Aristodemou, Georgia. “Theatres in Asia Minor: A Brief History.” The Ancient Theatre Archive. AncientTheatreArchive.com, 2022. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
“Art & Architecture Thesaurus Online (AAT).” The Getty Research Institute. Getty.edu, 2025. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
“Aydın Nysa Archeological Site.” Turkish Museums. TurkishMuseums.com, 2023. Web. 23 Oct. 2023.
Cartwright, Mark. “Segesta.” World History Encyclopedia. WorldHistory.org, 2023. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
Denard, Hugh. “Teano. Italian Theatres.” King’s Visualisation Lab, The Pompey Project. KCL.ac.uk, 2023. Web. 5 Sep. 2023.
“Epidaurus.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 21 June 2024. Web. 30 June 2024.
Hackens, Tony. “The Theatre at Thorikos.” Thorikos Archaeological Project. 1967. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
Kolonia, Rosina. “Theatre of Eretria.” Diazoma. Diazoma.gr, 2024. Web. 11 July 2024.
“Nysa, Ancient Theatre in Turkey.” On the Traces of Ancient Cultures. Tuerkei-Antik.de, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
“Pergamon.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org, 2 Jan. 2018. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
“Pergamon. On the Traces of Ancient Cultures.” Tuerkei-Antik. Tuerkei-Antik.de, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
Purcell, N., et al. “Teanum Sidicinum: a Pleiades place resource.” Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Pleiades.stoa.org, 2021. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
“Sanctuary of Asclepius.” Tuerkei-Antik: On the traces of ancient cultures. Tuerkei-Antik.de, 2024. Web. 10 June 2024.
“Taormina.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.org, 7 Oct. 2024. Web. 8 Oct. 2024.
Vitruvius Pollio. “The Ten Books on Architecture.” Edited by Morris Hicky Morgan. Perseus Digital Library, 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2025.
Contributors and Sponsors
The following individuals and Institutions graciously provided expertise and assistance in the development of The Ancient Theatre Archive. I am grateful for their contributions and honored by their involvement in this project. 

Bakker, Jan Theo, Ph.D., University of Leiden and The Internet Group Ostia, The Netherlands. 
The \\P. Bruce and Virginia C. Benson Foundation
Brilhante, Maria João Monteiro, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Centre for Theatre Studies, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.  
Bullard, Anna, Student Research Assistant, Whitman College, 2001, and Developer and Project Manager, Giant Rabbit, LLC. 
Burgess, Dana L. Ph.D., Professor of Classics, Whitman College. 
Communicating with Technology Initiative with funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 
Dickey, Jerry, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theatre, the University of Arizona. 
Falk, Heinrich R., Ph.D., Professor of Theatre, California State University, Northridge. 
Foster, Edward E., Ph.D., Mina Schwabacher Professor of English and the Humanities, Whitman College. 
Gleave, Simon. Photography
Goldman, Andrew, Ph.D., Professor of History, Gonzaga University. 
Hardy, Clara Shaw, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Classical Languages, Carleton College. 
Heffernan, Amanda, Student Research Assistant, Whitman College, 2003. Hellenic Ministry of Culture 
Icten Cengiz, Archeologist, Efes Muzesi, Turkey Internet Group Ostia (IGO). 
Jagel, Ian, Abshire Research Assistant, Whitman College, 2008. Johnson, Odai, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theatre, the University of Washington. 
Lavy, Jennifer, Graduate Student in Theatre, the University of Washington. 
Louis B. Perry Summer Research Scholarship Fund.
McDowell, Stuart W., Ph. D., Chair and Artistic Director, Department of Theatre, Dance & Motion Pictures, Wright State University. 
Martin, Suzanne, Ph.D., Professor of History, Emeritus, Whitman College. Mohler, Frank, Ph.D., Professor of Theatre, Appalachian State University. 
National Endowment for the Humanities.
Pitter, Keiko, Chief Technology Officer, Whitman College. 
Panttaja, Dean, Ph.D., Professor of Design, Dept. of Theatre and Film, the University of Idaho. 
P. Bruce and Virginia C. Benson Foundation
Louis B. Perry Summer Research Scholarship Fund
Polster, Joshua, Ph.D. Professor of Theatre, Emerson College. 
Shelmerdine, Cynthia W., Ph.D., Robert M. Armstrong Centennial Professor, Department of Classics, The University of Texas at Austin. 
Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 
USITT (United States Institute For Theatre Technology, Inc.)
Wells-Thulin, Elizabeth, Student Research Assistant, Whitman College, 2006. 
Whitman College, Aid to Faculty Scholarship and Instructional Development Whitman College,

Last Update: 07-22-2025