Myra (modern Demre, Turkey)

First quarter 3rd century CE (Sear). Probably replaced an earlier (c. 100 BCE) Greek theatre.

Cavea Width: 111 meters
Orchestra Width: 30 meters

The Roman Theatre at Myra (modern Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey).

Cavea: The cavea (theatre seating area) faces south, exceeds a semicircle shape, and measures 111 meters in diameter. The ima cavea (lower seating section) contains 27 rows of seats and is divided horizontally into 13 cunei (wedge-shaped seating sections) and accessed by 14 stairways; the top row of the ima cavea has a continuous stone backrest. The summa cavea (upper seating section) is separated from the lower ima cavea by a 2.66-meter-wide praecinctio (curved walkway) backed by a 2.48-meter-high podium (wall). Only 8 rows of the summa cavea remain; they are divided horizontally into 26 cunei. The theatre could seat approximately 12,000 people. Date: The existing Roman ruins date from the first quarter of the 3rd century CE (the original theatre was destroyed by an earthquake in 141 CE).

Myra Theatre (modern Demre, Turkey)

Myra was one of the six major cities of the Lycian League, possessing three voting rights within this ancient federation (Strabo, cited in Bilgin). Known as “Muri” in the Lycian language, possibly derived from the myrrh tree (commiphora myrrha), the city’s earliest archaeological evidence dates to at least the 5th century BCE, as demonstrated by rock tombs, Lycian inscriptions, and numismatic findings (Turkish Museums). The city’s strategic importance stemmed from its positioning on fertile plains and its connection to the Mediterranean trade routes through its port of Andriake, among the largest harbors in the ancient Mediterranean (Livescience).

Myra experienced its zenith during the Roman Imperial period, particularly in the 2nd century CE, when many buildings were constructed or renovated. During the Byzantine period, Myra gained religious significance as the episcopal seat of St. Nicholas in the 4th century CE (Britannica). The city began declining from the 7th century CE due to several factors, including earthquakes, floods, alluvial sedimentation of the Myros (Demre) River, and Arab raids, eventually reducing to village status by the 12th century (Turkish Museums). Today, modern Demre sits on alluvial fill covering the ancient Myra with an average height of 4-9 meters (Bilgin).

Brief History of the Theatre

The ancient theatre of Myra is situated in modern-day Demre (formerly Kale), in Turkey’s Antalya Province. The remains of the theatre date primarily to the Roman Imperial period, having been constructed over a Hellenistic predecessor. Recent archaeological excavations led by Professor Nevzat Çevik since 2009 have uncovered significant evidence of the earlier Hellenistic structure beneath the Roman theatre (Hürriyet Daily News 2021). The Roman theatre was severely damaged by an earthquake in 141 CE and rebuilt in the first quarter of the 3rd century CE (Sear 370).

Later Roman modifications included converting the orchestra into an arena for gladiatorial games in the late 3rd century and adapting the space to be used as a kolymbethra (water-filled arena for aquatic displays) in the early 4th century (Sear 370). The most recent excavations during 2020-2021 have confirmed substantial remains of the earlier Hellenistic theatre.

Theatre Specifications

The following specifications are drawn from Frank Sear’s reference book, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study (Oxford University Press, 2006) (p.370), except where otherwise noted.

Location

• GPS coordinates: 36.25907, 29.98576
• Orientation: Facing south
• Topographical details: Located at the southern foot of the acropolis hill

Cavea (seating area)

• Diameter: Approximately 111 meters
• Estimated capacity: Over 10,000 spectators (based on comparable theatres)
• Seating divisions:
  • Ima cavea (lower section): 27 rows of seats (0.44 × 0.76 m, including moulding 0.165 m) divided into 13 cunei (wedge-shaped sections)
  • Top row with continuous stone back-rest (overall height 1 m)
  • Praecinctio (horizontal walkway) separating sections (width 2.66 m) with podium (height 2.48 m)
  • Summa cavea (upper section): 8 rows surviving, divided into 26 cunei
• Construction materials and techniques: Stone seats, with decorative elements including an image of the Fortune of the city carrying a rudder and cornucopia on the diazoma wall
• Support structures and access: Complex system of vaulted substructures (described below)

Orchestra (performance space between audience and stage)

• Dimensions: Diameter approximately 30 meters
• Shape and materials: Semicircular, surrounded by a podium (height 2.20 m)
• Special features: Passageway on top of the podium accessible from three small staircases (one at each side of the cavea and one in the middle)
• Modifications: Later converted to an arena for venationes (animal hunts) and subsequently adapted as a kolymbethra (water basin) around 300 CE

Pulpitum (stage)

• Dimensions:
  • Length: 27.5 m (front); 53.7 m (back)
  • Width: 7.5 m, 9.85 m
• Construction details: Rectilinear center with oblique sides, supported on vaults
• Stage machinery: The hyposcaenium (area beneath the stage) features 13 doorways connecting to the orchestra and parodoi (side entrances)
• Connection to orchestra: 5 doorways lead from the hyposcaenium to the basement of the scene building, with 2 additional doorways at the sides leading to small rooms in the basement

Scaenae Frons (decorative scene house front)

• Architectural order and design: Rectilinear design
• Doorways: 5 doorways decreasing in size toward the sides
• Stories: Evidence of a second story of columns
• Decorative elements: Podium with 4 columns between each pair of doorways, and 2 columns on each of the end podia

Access and Circulation

• • Entrances and exits:
    • West side: 2 entrances in west analemma (retaining wall) and 3 entrances in adjacent outer cavea wall
    • East side: 2 entrances in east analemma, 5 arched entrances in outer cavea wall
  • Vomitoria (access passageways): Complex system of substructures for vertical circulation
  • Stairways and special areas:
    • West side: First entrance opens into blind annular corridor running around the edge of cavea for approx. 19 m; second opening gives access to small vaulted room; third leads into narrow radial corridor running through podium wall into praecinctio
    • East side: More elaborate substructures; 5 arched entrances opening into vaulted annular corridor, with 4 staircases leading to inner annular corridor at a higher level, from which 4 more staircases lead directly into praecinctio

Current Status

• Most of the seats and vomitoria remain in good condition (Stillwell et al.)
• Much of the stage building also survives (Stillwell et al.)
• The theatre has undergone partial excavation and documentation, with some restoration work completed (Ancient Theatre Archive)

Conservation Efforts

• Survey and restoration projects have been prepared and some approved, awaiting implementation by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Hürriyet Daily News, 2021)
• The Myra-Andriake excavations continue year-round as of 2021, by decision of the Culture and Tourism Ministry (Hürriyet Daily News, 2021)
• Conservation efforts focus on protecting the exposed remains while continuing archaeological research

Renovation History

• Hellenistic Period (pre-Roman): Recent excavations have uncovered remains of a smaller Hellenistic theatre beneath the Roman structure (Hürriyet Daily News, 2021)
• First quarter of 3rd century CE: Construction of the main Roman theatre visible today (Sear 370)
• Later 3rd century CE: Conversion of the orchestra into an arena for venationes (animal hunts) (Sear 370)
• Circa 300 CE: Adaptation of the orchestra as a kolymbethra (water basin) (Sear 370)
• 141 CE: The semi-circular theatre was reportedly destroyed in an earthquake, but rebuilt afterward (Wikipedia)

Major Excavation Campaigns and Directors

• Luigi Mayer (1776-1794): British artist and antiquarian who traveled through the Ottoman Empire creating architectural drawings, including early documentation of Myra and the Andriake harbor (Fellows)
• Charles Fellows (1840): British archaeologist and explorer who documented the Lycian region during his expeditions in Asia Minor, including detailed observations of Myra’s rock tombs with their original colorful paint still visible (Fellows)
• E. Petersen and F. von Luschan (1881-1884): German scholars who conducted research in Lycia, including Myra, as part of the Austrian Archaeological Institute’s expeditions (Stillwell et al.)
• Jürgen Borchhardt (1965-1968): Austrian archaeologist from the University of Vienna who led the first comprehensive archaeological surveys of Myra, documenting the major monuments and establishing the foundation for future research (Bilgin)
• Nevzat Çevik (2009-present): Turkish archaeologist from Akdeniz University in Antalya who initiated and continues to direct the first systematic excavations at Myra and Andriake, uncovering significant new findings, including the Hellenistic theatre (Hürriyet Daily News, 2021)

Bibliography / Resources:

Antalya Myra Archaeological Site. Turkish Museums. https://www.turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/1966-antalya-myra-archaeological-site/1966/4. Accessed 5 Sep 2024.

Bilgin, Bora. “Myra – Muri.” Lycian Monuments. https://www.lycianmonuments.com/myra/. Accessed 5 Sep 2024.

“Excavation head calls Myra ‘Pompeii’ of Anatolia.” Hürriyet Daily News. 30 Jul 2021. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/excavation-head-calls-myra-pompeii-of-anatolia-166670. Accessed 5 Apr 2025.

Fellows, Charles. An Account of Discoveries in Lycia, Being a Journal Kept During a Second Excursion in Asia Minor. London, J. Murray. 1841.

“Figurines found in Myra ancient city.” Hürriyet Daily News. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/figurines-found-in-myra-ancient-city-158174. Accessed 5 Apr 2025.

Gybels, Michel. “Myra (Demre): Historical Overview.” Myra Turkish Archaeological News. 10 Mar 2017. https://turkisharchaeonews.net/site/myra-demre

Livescience. “Greek gods and ancient mortals ‘resurrected’ in terracotta figurines discovered in Turkey.” Live Science. 4 Feb 2021. https://www.livescience.com/terracotta-figurines-discovered-turkey.html. Accessed 5 Apr 2025.

“Myra Theatre.” Articles on ancient history. Livius.org. 13 August 2020. https://www.livius.org/articles/place/myra-demre/myra-theater/

“Myra, Turkey.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Myra

“Myra-Andriake summer excavations end with ‘important’ finds.” Hürriyet Daily News. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/myra-andriake-summer-excavations-end-with-important-finds-158922. Accessed 5 Apr 2025.

Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. p. 370.