Nysa (modern Sultanhisar, Turkey)

After 50 BCE

Cavea Width: 115 meters
Orchestra Width: 25 meters

Nysa (modern Sultanhisar, Turkey). Roman Theatre. Cavea width: 115 m, orchestra width 25m; after 50 BCE. Maximum seating capacity: 12,000. Theatre existed in Augustan period (Strabo); The stage building and scaenae frons was probably built between 120 and 140 CE as two-story building independently of the cavea. The stage building of Hadrian’s Period, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 178 CE, was rebuilt into three floors in 180-200 CE.

Nysa (modern Sultanhisar, Turkey)

The ancient theatre of Nysa (modern Sultanhisar) represents one of the most well-preserved theatrical structures in western Anatolia. Located in the ancient city of Nysa ad Maeandrum in the Caria region, the theatre is situated approximately 30 kilometers east of Aydın and 3 kilometers north of the modern town of Sultanhisar in Turkey (Turkish Museums, 2020).

According to Strabo, the theatre already existed during the Augustan period (late 1st century BCE), though the structure visible today is primarily from later construction phases (Sear, 2006, 346).

It has a cavea (seating area), which is thought to have been built in the Late Hellenistic Period (2nd half of the 1st century BC), and opens its semicircular form 12 degrees. The stage building and scaenae frons (multi-story columnar architecture in front of the stage building) was probably built between 120 and 140 AD as two-story building independently of the cavea. The stage building of Hadrian’s Period, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 178 AD, was rebuilt into three floors in 180-200 AD. Nysa Theater, like other Anatolian ancient theaters, has the characteristic features of Anatolian-Roman theaters.

In mythology, by the command of Zeus, Hermes entrusted the child Dionysus to the fairies of Mount Nysa to raise him. The people of Nysa included sections from the life of Dionysus, the god of Nysa, on the podium friezes of the stage building of the theater they built.

The high podiums with the multi-story facade architecture (scaenae frons) in front of the stage building are decorated with reliefs as in the Perge (Aksu), Side, and Hierapolis (Pamukkale) theaters. The podium friezes depicting the marriage of Pluto and Kore (theogamia) and the life of Dionysus, the god of wine, were unearthed in situ (in its own place) during the scaenae frons excavations. The podium friezes, in which many important characters from mythology take place, also convey quotations from the geography in which the city is located. Menderes River and Messogis Mountains are examples of these. Although they were damaged due to various reasons (earthquake or human origin), the broken pieces and figures were repaired. Other plastic artifacts belonging to Scaenae frons were unearthed during the excavations and research carried out since 1982 (Turkish Museums, 2020).

Historical Context

The City of Nysa was founded in the Hellenistic period, traditionally attributed to Antiochus I Soter (281-261 BCE), who allegedly named the city after his wife (Researchgate, 2018). The city was strategically positioned in the fertile basin of the Maeander (Büyük Menderes) River along important trade routes. Strabo, the renowned ancient geographer who studied in Nysa, described it as a “double city divided into two by a strait that was formed by a flood current” (Turkish Museums, 2020). The city gained prominence as an educational and cultural center during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, hosting important institutions, including a library that was considered the second most significant in Asia Minor after that of Ephesus (Slowtravelguide, 2020).

Architectural Specifications

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

Location

• Approximately 30 kilometers east of Aydın and 3 kilometers north of the modern town of Sultanhisar in Turkey
• GPS coordinates: 37.9036, 28.14531
• Orientation: Facing south
• Topographical details: The theatre is centrally located within the city, with the bouleuterion (council house) situated in the north-west corner of the agora. The theatre was built against a natural slope and covers an area of approximately 73 x 99 meters (Turkish Museums, 2020).

Cavea (seating area)

• Diameter and estimated capacity: Overall diameter 115 meters with an estimated seating capacity of 10,000-12,000 spectators (Visit My Turkey, 2020; Turkish Museums, 2020).
• Seating divisions: The cavea exceeds a semicircle in shape and opens its semicircular form by 12 degrees (Turkish Museums, 2020). It is divided into three horizontal sections:
  • Ima cavea (lower section): 11 rows of profiled seats (0.425 x 0.71 m) arranged in 9 cunei (wedge-shaped sections)
  • Media cavea (middle section): 12 rows also in 9 cunei
  • Summa cavea (upper section): 26 rows arranged in 18 cunei
• Construction materials and techniques: Seats featured precise profiling. The top row of the ima cavea has a unique design – slightly wider than standard seats (0.83 m instead of 0.71 m) with a narrow step that functioned as a foot-rest for the lowest row of the media cavea.
• Support structures and access: A narrow praecinctio (horizontal walkway) separates the ima and media cavea. A wider praecinctio (1.76 m) with a podium wall (height 1.05 m) separates the media and summa cavea. Nine double staircases ascend to the summa cavea seats, featuring an unusual design – instead of being built within the thickness of the podium wall and diverging, they are constructed against the wall and converge. A porticus (covered walkway) once encircled the top of the cavea, though only one column drum survives.

Orchestra (performance space between audience and stage)

• Dimensions: Diameter approximately 25 meters.
• Special features and modifications: The orchestra was later remodeled as a kolymbethra (water basin for aquatic performances), with the parodoi (side entrances) sealed by heavy walls to withstand water pressure.

Pulpitum (stage)

• Dimensions and construction details: Not specifically detailed in Sear’s text, but archaeological evidence shows the stage was extended in the 2nd century CE (Tuerkei-antik, 2024).

Scaenae Frons (decorative scene house front)

• Architectural order and design: Most of the marble from the scene building was plundered in later periods. The stage building was initially constructed as a two-story structure between 120-140 CE, later rebuilt into a three-story design following earthquake damage in 178 CE (Turkish Museums, 2020).
• Doorways and stories: Five doorways are visible in the scaenae frons.
• Decorative elements: The high podiums of the multi-story facade architecture were decorated with relief friezes depicting mythological scenes, including the marriage of Pluto and Kore (theogamia) and scenes from the life of Dionysus. These decorative elements show similarities to those in other Anatolian-Roman theatres like Perge, Side, and Hierapolis (Turkish Museums, 2020). The original friezes and sculptures from the scaenae frons are now exhibited in the Aydın Archaeology Museum (Visit Aydın, 2024).

Current Status

• Preservation condition: Recent archaeological work has focused on the documentation and conservation of the remaining elements. The large theatre is currently undergoing extensive restoration with many new stones being added in a manner that respects the original architectural style (Turkish Museums, 2020).
• Conservation efforts: Recent restoration work (2019-2021) has focused on the first floor of the stage building, where podium frieze replicas are located. The original podium friezes and sculptures from the scaenae frons are now exhibited in the Aydın Archaeology Museum (Müze Kart, 2023; Visit Aydın, 2024).

Renovation History

• Original Hellenistic construction: Late 1st century BCE
• First Roman renovation: Second quarter of the 1st century CE
• Stage building reconstruction: 120-140 CE (Turkish Museums, 2020)
• Reconstruction after earthquake: 180-200 CE following damage from the 178 CE earthquake
• Conversion of orchestra to kolymbethra: Date uncertain, during Roman period
• Modern restoration project from 2019 to 2021 focusing on the first floor of the stage building where podium frieze replicas are located. This work was directed by Associate Professor Serdar Hakan Öztaner of Ankara University, who has been leading the excavations at Nysa since 2012 (ResearchGate, 2021) (Hürriyet Daily News, 2023.

Major excavation campaigns and directors:

• 1960s: Initial excavations of the theatre by the Museum of İzmir (Visit Aydın, 2024)
• 1982-1988: Extended excavations by the Museum of Aydın (Turkish Museums, 2020)
• 1990-2010: Systematic excavations led by Prof. Vedat İdil of Ankara University (ResearchGate, 2021)
• 2012-present: Ongoing excavations and restoration directed by Assoc. Prof. Serdar Hakan Öztaner of Ankara University (ResearchGate, 2021)

Bibliography / Resources:

“Aydın Nysa Archeological Site.” Turkish Museums, www.turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/1987-aydin-nysa-archeological-site/1987/4. Accessed 23 Oct. 2023.

“Ancient artifacts in Turkey’s Aydın under museum protection.” Hürriyet Daily News, www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-artifacts-in-turkeys-aydin-under-museum-protection-129166. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

“Ancient city of Nysa hosts theater play.” Hürriyet Daily News, www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ancient-city-of-nysa-hosts-theater-play-184574. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

“Nysa Ancient City.” Visit Aydın, visitaydin.com/en/nysa-ancient-city/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

“Nysa, Ancient Theatre in Turkey. On the Traces of Ancient Cultures.” Tuerkei-Antik, www.tuerkei-antik.de/Theater/nysa_en.htm. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

“NYSA ANTİK KENTİ KAZILARI KONSERVASYON-RESTORASYON ÇALIŞMALARI.” ResearchGate, www.researchgate.net/publication/348952944_NYSA_ANTIK_KENTI_KAZILARI_KONSERVASYON-RESTORASYON_CALISMALARI. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

“Two 1800-Year-Old Inscriptions Found in Nysa Ancient City!” Expat Guide Turkey, expatguideturkey.com/two-1800-year-old-inscriptions-found-in-nysa-ancient-city/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

“Türkiye’s Ancient Nysa: Discovery of 1,000-year-old Tombs Reveals Tragic Past.” Türkiye Today, www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/turkiyes-ancient-nysa-discovery-of-1000-year-old-tombs-reveals-tragic-past-36537/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

Sear, Frank. Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford