Laodicea ad Lycum, West Theatre (near modern Denizli, Turkey)
Ancient City
Location
Theatre Type
Earliest Date
Hellenistic period, 1st or 2nd century BCE.
GPS Coordinates
Seating Capacity
Dimensions
Cavea Width: 112 meters
Orchestra Width: 24 meters
Summary
Laodicea-ad-Lycum (modern Goncali, Turkey). Hellenistic/Roman theatre. Also known as the West Theatre. Smaller and older of 2 theatres at the site; cavea width: 111 m: ima cavea 23 rows in 9 cunei, summa cavea 19 rows in 9 cunei; single diazoma; orchestra width: 24 m; facing west-north-west; capacity: 8,000; Hellenistic period 2nd century BCE with Roman modifications (source: Şimşek).
Laodicea ad Lycum (Laodicea on the Lycus River) Historical Overview Thomas G. Hines. 10/28/2023
Laodicea ad Lycum, was one of many Hellenistic cities established following Alexander the Great’s conquests in Asia Minor. Excavations of the five-square-kilometer site indicate continuous habitation from approximately 5500 BCE to the seventh century CE. However, the extant ruins primarily date to the Hellenistic and Imperial Roman periods. The city was founded in the mid-third century BCE, with its most prosperous era occurring between the first and fifth centuries CE, during which the majority of its architectural and urban development took place.
The city was established by Antiochus II Theos, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, between 261 and 253 BCE, in honor of his wife, Laodice. It functioned as a commercial hub along newly established or refurbished trade routes and served as a strategic stronghold for the Seleucid Empire. Laodicea ad Lycum is situated approximately 200 kilometers inland from Ephesus, within the modern Turkish villages of Eskihisar, Goncalı, Korucuk, and Bozburun, about six kilometers north of Denizli. The site lies along the route to Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis), which is located approximately ten kilometers to the north.
Throughout its history, Laodikeia suffered many earthquakes and was rebuilt numerous times. It was finally abandoned after a severe earthquake in the reign of Emperor Focas (r. 602-610 CE). Its citizens settled in Denizli – Kaleiçi and Hisarköy on the north slopes of Mt. Salbakos (modern Babadağ), after the city’s abandonment. Laodikeia was one of the Seven Churches named in the Book of Revelation and later became a metropolitan city in the Early Byzantine period. (UNESCO Archaeological site of Laodikeia).
Theatres of Laodicea
Laodicea possessed the largest stadium in the region and was distinguished by the presence of two theatres: the West Theatre (smaller and older, Hellenistic 2nd century BCE), and the North Theatre (largest and newer, Roman built during the second century CE).
The Laodicea West Theatre:
The West Theatre is older and smaller of the two theatres at Laodicea. It dates to the Hellenistic age with alterations during the Roman Imperial period (Şimşek). This northeast-facing structure seated approximately 8,000 to 10,000 and was excavated directly from the bedrock. The cavea measures 111 meters (Sear 340),
Cavea: The seating of the ima or lower cavea and the decoration of the stage building were originally built from marble with the suma or upper cavea seating constructed from local limestone. Şimşek speculates that the two building materials indicate a smaller Hellenistic theatre (marble) expanded during the imperial age with cheaper materials. Excavations found the upper cavea seating in relatively good condition while the lower was decimated by scavengers who removed the more expensive marble for other building projects (Şimşek).
The seating is divided into 2 vertical sections: the lower (ima) with 23 rows, divided horizontally into 9 cunei (wedge-shaped seating sections, and the upper (summa) cavea with 19 rows divided into 9 cunei. Stairs separate the cunei vertically and a curved walkway (diazoma) separates the upper and lower sections of seating. The audience enters from the street level above the summa cavea and descends by stairways to the lower rows of seats. Şimşek estimates that the theatre seated about 8000.
Orchestra and Scene House: The orchestra and cavea exceed a semicircular configuration indicating a Hellenistic influence. Excavations noted evidence that the Hellenistic orchestra floor had been lowered during the imperial age. Şimşek suggests that prohedria honorific) seating once ringed the orchestra as at Priene. Excavations found little remaining of the stage and scene building except for fragments of column shafts, bases, capitals, and architrave fragments. Remains of Corinthian capitals dated to the 5th or 6th century CE indicate that the theatre was in use from the Hellenistic epoch into the late-Roman period.
Later Use and Decline:
The theatre remained in use from the second through the seventh century CE, with evidence of multiple phases of restoration. Renovations were undertaken during the early Severan period, the reign of Diocletian, and the Proto-Byzantine era, with additional repairs following an earthquake in 494 CE. By the fifth century CE, both the North and West Theatres were integrated into the city’s defensive fortifications. Ultimately, the theatres were destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in the seventh century CE, and their materials were repurposed for subsequent construction projects (Şimşek).
Excavation and Restoration:
In 2003, a team led by Professor Celal Şimşek from Pamukkale University initiated comprehensive archaeological excavations at Laodicea. Prior to this, the site had been largely unexplored. Daily Sabah Between 2003 and 2021, archaeologists, academics, architects, and workers collaborated to excavate and restore the West Theatre. By 2021, they had successfully restored the seating area of the theater, with ongoing efforts to reconstruct the stage. nomadicniko.com
Renovations / Excavations
1746 to 1765: Richard Chandler and N. Revett visited Laodicea and took preliminary measurements during their archeology tour of Asia Minor.
1833 and in 1843: G. Weber carried out minor excavations but was primarily focused on water supply in Laodicea. Created the first plan of the ancient city.
1061-1963: first round of systematic archaeological excavations conducted by the expedition from the University of Laval, from the Canadian city of Quebec headed by Professor Jean de Gagniers.
1992: Hasim Yildiz from the Denizli Museum, conducted rescue excavations in the main street of the site, known as the Syrian Street.
1995-2002: the survey work by researchers from the University Ca ‘Foscari in Venice managed by Professor Gustavo Traversari.
2002: systematic archaeological work was initiated by the Denizli Museum under the leadership of Ali Ceylan, in cooperation with the Department of Archaeology of Pamukkale University in Denizli.
2003: Excavation and restoration work under Professor Celal Simsek of the University of Pamukkale.
2017: Professor Simek began reconstruction work in the area of the Sacred Agora and the West Theater.
Bibliography / Resources:
Anadolu Agency. “Revelation: Experts Revive 2,200-Year-Old Theater in SW Turkey.” Daily Sabah, 11 July 2021, https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/revelation-experts-revive-2200-year-old-theater-in-sw-turkey/news.
“Ancient Theater in Turkey: Laodicea (or Laodikeia) North-Theatre.” Türkei Antik, 2020, http://www.tuerkei-antik.de/Theater/laodikeia_nord_en.htm. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.
“Archaeologists Completed the Restoration of Ancient Laodiceia’s Theatre.” The Archaeologist: Civilizations of the World, 25 Aug. 2021, https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/archaeologists-completed-the-restoration-of-ancient-laodikeas-theatre.
Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World (EHW). Foundation of the Hellenic World, http://www.ehw.gr/ehw/forms/Default.aspx.
“Laodicea ad Lycum: Two Theaters.” Aeternitas Numismatics, 30 Nov. 2016, https://www.aeternitas-numismatics.com/single-post/2016/11/30/laodicea-ad-lycum-two-theatres.
“Laodikeia Archaeological Site.” T.C. Ministry of Culture and Tourism, https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?sectionId=DLO01&distId=MRK.
“Laodicea on the Lycus.” Turkish Archaeological News, submitted by Iza, 9 Mar. 2017, last modified 20 Oct. 2019, https://turkisharchaeonews.net/site/laodicea-lycus. Accessed 23 Oct. 2023.
“Laodicea on the Lycus.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Oct. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laodicea_on_the_Lycus.
Pangere, Nick. “Laodicea: A Fascinating Ancient City in Turkey.” Nomadic Niko, 4 Dec. 2024, https://nomadicniko.com/turkey/laodicea/. nomadicniko.com
Pleiades. Ancient World Mapping Center and Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/763220261?searchterm=laodicea+theat.
Şimşek, Celal, and M.A. Sezgin. “The West and North Theatres in Laodicea.” Restoration and Management of Ancient Theatres in Turkey: Methods, Research, Results, edited by F. Masino, P. Mighetto, and G. Sobra, Lecce, 2012, pp. 103–128. https://www.academia.edu/5596474/%C5%9Eim%C5%9Fek_C_Sezgin_M_A_The_West_and_North_Theatres_in_Laodicea_Restoration_and_Management_of_Ancient_Theatres_in_Turkey_Methods_Research_Results_Ed_F_Masino_P_Mighetto_G_Sobra_Lecce_2012_103_128. Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.
“UNESCO Archaeological Site of Laodikeia.” UNESCO World Heritage Centre, https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5823/#:~:text=Laodikeia’s%20excavations%20and%20restorations%20have,Celal%20%C5%9Eim%C5%9Fek. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023.