Aphrodisias (modern Geyre, Turkey)

ca. 30-27 BCE

Cavea Width: 86 meters
Orchestra Width: 26 meters

Aphrodisias (modern Geyre, Turkey). Cavea width: 90 m, orchestra width: 25 m; ima cav w/26 rows in 11 cuni survives; suma cavea w/16 rows; scaena frons w/3 doorways survives; conferted into area in 2nd cent. CE; East facing; seating capacity: 8000. ca. 39-27 BCE., Roman modifications: 27 BCE – 64 CE, and in late 2nd cent. and 4th cent. CE. (Sear 328-329).

The Ancient Theatre of Aphrodisias, Geyre (Turkey)
Aphrodisias Panoramas

The ancient theatre of Aphrodisias is located in the archaeological site of Aphrodisias near the modern village of Geyre in Turkey’s Aydın Province, approximately 230 kilometers southeast of Izmir and 100 kilometers east of the Aegean coast (Ratté).

History: Aphrodisias (Greek: Ἀφροδισιάς) was a small city in Caria that rose to prominence in the late Hellenistic period, flourishing particularly under Roman rule from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The city was renowned as an artistic center dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, whose sanctuary formed the core of the settlement (Erim). The theatre was constructed during the late Hellenistic period around 30-27 BCE, financed by the wealthy benefactor Gaius Julius Zoilos, a former slave who became a freedman of Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) and returned to his hometown as a patron (Smith).

The city maintained imperial favor throughout the early Roman empire, receiving the rare privilege of “free city” status with tax exemptions and political autonomy (Erim). Aphrodisias continued to thrive as a cultural and administrative center through the Byzantine period until declining in the 7th century CE following earthquake damage, Arab incursions, and changing trade routes (Ratté).

Theatre Specifications: The theatre at Aphrodisias represents one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman theatres in Anatolia, with a distinctive design that was substantially modified during the Roman period. The cavea faces north-northeast. (Ratté; “Aphrodisias Theatre”).

The following specifications are drawn from Frank Sear’s reference book, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study, Oxford University Press, 2006 (328-329) except where otherwise noted.

• Cavea (Seating Area): The semicircular auditorium is partially built into a natural hillside and partially constructed on vaulted substructures. With a diameter of approximately 76 meters, it originally contained 27 rows of marble seating divided into nine cunei (wedge-shaped sections), accommodating an estimated 8,000 spectators (De Chaisemartin).
• Orchestra: The original Hellenistic circular orchestra had a diameter of approximately 20 meters. During the 2nd century CE, it was transformed into a semicircular arena for gladiatorial contests and animal hunts with the addition of a 1.6-meter-high protective parapet (Reynolds).
• Skene (Stage Building): The monumental three-story stage building was approximately 46 meters wide and featured elaborate architectural decoration with marble-columned façades. Archaeological evidence suggests it was richly adorned with statuary and relief sculptures of mythological subjects (Smith).
• Construction Materials: Primarily local white and blue-gray marble from the nearby quarries that made Aphrodisias famous as a sculptural center. The abundant, high-quality marble allowed for exceptional architectural refinement and decorative elements not typically found in provincial theatres (De Chaisemartin 70; Sear 124; “Aphrodisias Research Project”).

Current Status: The theatre is exceptionally well-preserved and forms a centerpiece of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aphrodisias. Open to visitors year-round, the site features comprehensive interpretive signage and a dedicated on-site museum. Conservation work is ongoing, with recent structural stabilization of the cavea completed in 2018 by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and New York University’s Aphrodisias Project (Smith; “Aphrodisias Archaeological Site”).

Construction and Renovations:

1. Initial Construction: c. 30-27 BCE during the late Hellenistic period, financed by Gaius Julius Zoilos, establishing the basic theatre with a circular orchestra for traditional Greek performances (Reynolds).
2. Early Roman Modifications: During the Julio-Claudian period (1st century CE), the stage building was elaborated with additional decorative elements in the Roman architectural style (Smith 50).
3. Arena Conversion: In the mid-2nd century CE, the theatre was substantially modified to accommodate gladiatorial games and animal hunts, with the orchestra converted into an arena and protective barriers installed (De Chaisemartin).
4. Late Antique Adaptations: In the 4th century CE, following the rise of Christianity, the theatre was repurposed for civic gatherings rather than theatrical or gladiatorial performances, with some architectural modifications (Ratté).
5. Modern Excavation and Conservation: Beginning in 1961 with Kenan Erim’s excavations, followed by systematic conservation work from the 1990s onward led by R.R.R. Smith and Christopher Ratté. Current conservation is supervised by the New York University Aphrodisias Project in collaboration with Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Smith).

Excavations:

• Early Explorations (1904-1913): The first excavations at Aphrodisias were carried out by a French engineer, Paul Gaudin, a Frenchman in charge of the Smyrna-Kassaba railway. 
• Early Documentation: In 1835, French archaeologist Charles Texier made the first modern recorded visit to Aphrodisias, documenting the visible remains of the theatre and other structures (Erim).
• Initial Excavations: Between 1904-1913, French engineer Paul Gaudin conducted limited excavations, uncovering parts of the theatre and recovering numerous sculptural fragments (Reynolds).
• Systematic Excavation: From 1961-1990, Kenan Erim of New York University directed extensive excavations throughout Aphrodisias, including a thorough investigation of the theatre, establishing its chronology and architectural history (Erim).
• Current: Research and excavations at the site have continued since 1990. They are jointly directed by Christopher Ratté, Associate Professor of Classics and Fine Arts at New York University, and R.R.R. Smith, Lincoln Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Oxford (Smith).

Bibliography / Resources:

Aphrodisias Panoramas.

“Aphrodisias Archaeological Site.” Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-113764/aphrodisias.html. Accessed 15 Jan 2023.

“Aphrodisias Research Project.” Oxford University, aphrodisias.classics.ox.ac.uk/theatre.html. Accessed 20 Jan 2023.

“Aphrodisias Theatre.” Ancient Theatres of Anatolia, www.ancientsites.turkey.com/aphrodisias-theatre. Accessed 18 Jan 2023.

De Chaisemartin, Nathalie. “The Theatre at Aphrodisias: Staging and Status.” Aphrodisias Papers 5, Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary Series 103, 2015, pp. 67-78.

Erim, Kenan T. Aphrodisias: City of Venus Aphrodite. Facts on File Publications, 1986.

Ratté, Christopher. “The Urban Development of Aphrodisias in the Late Hellenistic and Early Imperial Periods.” Aphrodisias Papers 4, Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary Series 70, 2008, pp. 11-42.

Reynolds, Joyce. “Inscriptions and the Building of the Temple of Aphrodite.” Aphrodisias Papers, Journal of Roman Studies Monographs 1, 1990, pp. 87-102.

Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford University Press, 2006.

Smith, R.R.R. Aphrodisias: Excavations and Research. Oxford University Press, 2018

“Aphrodisias.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodisias Accessed 9/22/2023.

“Aphrodisias.” New York University. Online document.  http://www.nyu.edu/projects/aphrodisias/. Accessed 11/12/2003.

“Aphrodisias Papers 2: The Theater, A Sculptor’s Workshop, Philosophers, and Coin-types.” Ed. R.R.R. Smith and Kenan T. Erim. Journal of Roman Archaeology Supplementary Series No. 2. Ann Arbor, MI: 1991. 

“The Aphrodisias Project: Aphrodisias Excavations.” (http://aphrodisias.classics.ox.ac.uk/theatre.html) Accessed 9/22/2023.

Erim, Kenan. “Aphrodisias: City of Venus Aphrodite.” New York: Facts on File Publications, 1986. 

Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. (pp.28-329)

Unesco World Heritage Convention.
(https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1519/) Accessed 9/22/2023.