Selge Theatre (modern Zerk, Turkey)

mid-2nd century CE

Cavea Width: 104 meters
Orchestra Width: 26 meters

The Theatre at Selge, located in modern Zerk (ancient Selge), Turkey, is a Roman imperial theatre with a cavea diameter of 104 meters. The seating is divided into 45 rows total: an ima cavea of 30 rows arranged in 11 cunei, separated by a praecinctio from a summa cavea of 15 rows in 22 cunei. The cavea faces south-south-east and accommodated an estimated 9,300-11,600 spectators. The orchestra measures approximately 25.5 meters in diameter and features a horseshoe shape surrounded by a podium. Constructed during the mid-2nd century CE, the theatre exemplifies Roman provincial architectural sophistication with its complex substructure system of vaulted radial passageways and distinctive converging analemmata. Currently, the cavea remains exceptionally well-preserved with much original seating intact, while the scaenae frons has collapsed, leaving only substantial foundation walls and scattered architectural elements that provide evidence for the original multi-story columnar design.

Theatre at Selge, near modern Zerk, Turkey

Selge was an ancient city located in the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey, situated at approximately 1,250 meters above sea level in what is now Köprülü Canyon National Park. The archaeological site lies near the modern village of Zerk in Antalya Province. Unlike the nearby ancient cities of Perge and Side, Selge remains almost untouched by archaeologists, and only a few tourists have visited, making it an idyllic site that offers insight into how ancient theatres appeared before modern reconstructions (World Archaeology).

Historical Context

The Selge archaeological site lies near the modern village of Zerk in Antalya Province. The city’s strategic position in the rugged Taurus Mountains, at approximately 1,250 meters above sea level, allowed it to prosper throughout the Hellenistic period while maintaining its autonomy. Under Roman rule, Selge’s prosperity continued, and the city developed extensive civic infrastructure, including the construction of its magnificent theatre (Machatschek and Schwarz 72). Archaeological remains scattered across the plateau include not only the theatre but also city walls, a stadium, cisterns, and a Byzantine church, indicating the city’s long period of occupation and prosperity.

Selge probably succumbed as a major centre in the 7th century CE, following the decline that befell many other Mediterranean cities in late antiquity. This decline was possibly the result of major earthquake damage, environmental change, and a reduction in trading and economic activity after the Sassanian wars and Islamic incursions of the 7th century CE (World Archaeology). Known for its fierce independence, Selge maintained an alliance with Rome during the imperial period and retained prominence until the Byzantine era, when it was gradually abandoned due to its isolation and agricultural limitations in the mountainous environment.

The theatre at Selge was constructed during the height of the Roman Empire, specifically in the 2nd century CE, during a period of extensive building activity throughout the eastern provinces. This most significant surviving structure was built into the mountainside with a capacity of approximately 10,000 spectators, featuring a well-preserved cavea (seating area), orchestra, and remnants of the stage building. This construction coincided with a broader program of urban development that included the renovation of the city’s agora, stadium, and other public buildings, reflecting the city’s continued economic vitality under Roman administration (Ferrero 39).

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

• Modern city, Country: Zerk, Turkey
• Orientation: Facing south-south-east (Sear 376)

Cavea (seating area)

• Diameter: 104 meters (Sear 376)
• Estimated capacity: 9,300-11,600 spectators (Sear 376)
• Seating divisions:
  • Ima cavea (lower seating): 30 rows of seats in 11 cunei (wedge-shaped seating sections)
  • The top row features a continuous stone backrest
  • Praecinctio (horizontal walkway): 2.80 meters wide with podium wall 2.65 meters high
  • Summa cavea (upper seating): 15 rows in 22 cunei
  • Ambulacrum (walkway): 3.30 meters wide around the top (Sear 376)
• Construction materials: Grey limestone laid in alternately high and low courses (Sear 376)
• Special features: Analemmata (retaining walls) converge to 211°, creating a distinctive architectural feature (Sear 376)

Substructures

• Ima cavea built against natural rock, cut back at praecinctio level
• Summa cavea supported on earth fill contained within heavy walls
• Five pairs of vaulted radial passageways accessible through entrances in outer cavea wall
• Each entrance consisted of two round-headed doorways with lunette window between
• Transverse corridor behind podium wall connecting radial corridors
• Diverging staircases within podium wall thickness (Sear 376)

Orchestra (performance space)

• Dimensions: Approximately 25.5 meters diameter (Sear 376)
• Shape: Horseshoe-shaped
• Materials: Surrounded by podium with passage 0.85 meters wide on top (Sear 376)
• Special features: Modified from original circular design typical of earlier periods

Pulpitum (stage)

• Dimensions: Details not fully preserved
• Construction: Evidence suggests substantial stone construction
• Access: Staircases of 13 steps at ends of stage leading to tribunalia (box seats) (Sear 376)

Scaenae Frons (decorative scene house front)

• Design: Rectilinear arrangement with five doorways decreasing in size toward sides
• Architectural elements: Six podia flanking doorways
• Columns: Central pair supported three columns; others supported two columns
• Stories: Corresponding half-columns in scaenae frons wall suggesting multi-story elevation
• Current condition: Collapsed into heap of stones with general outline visible (Sear 376)

Access and Circulation

• Aditus maximi (main entrances): Analemmata converge toward scene building rather than orchestra center
• Vaulted passages with tribunalia featuring four rows of seats
• Double archway access from outside
• Single arched opening facing orchestra
• Complex system of radial and transverse corridors serving upper seating areas (Sear 376)

Current Status

The theatre at Selge remains one of the best-preserved examples of Roman theatrical architecture in Turkey, despite its remote mountain location (Bean 156). The cavea retains much of its original seating, and the overall structural integrity of the monument is remarkable. However, the scaenae frons has collapsed, leaving only the substantial foundation walls and scattered architectural elements that provide evidence for reconstruction of the original design.

The site faces ongoing challenges from natural weathering, vegetation growth, and the effects of seasonal temperature variations common to high-altitude locations. Limited accessibility has both protected the monument from tourism-related damage and restricted conservation resources. Currently, the theatre is not included in any UNESCO World Heritage designation, though it contributes to the overall significance of ancient Pisidia’s archaeological landscape (Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism).

Conservation priorities focus on structural stabilization, vegetation management, and documentation of architectural fragments. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism oversees site protection, working with international scholars to ensure proper preservation of this significant monument (Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism).

Ancient Renovation History

The theatre at Selge underwent several phases of construction and modification during antiquity. The initial construction occurred in the mid-2nd century CE, as evidenced by architectural analysis and comparison with similar structures (Machatschek and Schwarz 75). Archaeological evidence suggests that the original design may have included a simpler scaenae frons that was later elaborated with the more complex columnar arrangement whose remains are visible today.

Ferrero’s analysis indicates a later renovation phase during the third quarter of the 3rd century CE, which may have included modifications to the stage building and the addition of decorative elements (Ferrero 39). However, Machatschek’s more recent research suggests the primary construction and major decorative phases occurred during the mid-2nd century CE, with only minor repairs and maintenance occurring in later periods (Machatschek and Schwarz 78).

Archaeological Research

The theatre at Selge has been the subject of intermittent archaeological investigation since the 19th century. Early documentation was provided by Spratt and Lanckoronski, who recorded the basic architectural features and published preliminary plans (Spratt 22; Lanckoronski 182-183).

The most comprehensive archaeological investigation was conducted by Alfons Machatschek and Manfred Schwarz of the Austrian Archaeological Institute beginning in the 1970s. Their systematic study, published as Bauforschungen in Selge in 1981, provided detailed architectural analysis and accurate plans of the theatre complex (Machatschek and Schwarz 72-80). This work established the chronological framework for the theatre’s construction and identified its architectural relationships to other monuments in the region.

Earlier studies by Domenico De Bernardi Ferrero, published in his multi-volume Teatri Classici in Asia Minore, provided important comparative analysis and contributed to understanding the theatre’s place within the broader development of Roman theatrical architecture (Ferrero 39-53). These investigations focused primarily on architectural documentation rather than extensive excavation.

Recent conservation efforts have been limited, with most work focusing on stabilization of existing structures rather than new excavation. The remote location of the site has both protected it from modern development and limited resources available for comprehensive archaeological investigation.

Bibliography / Resources:

Bean, George E. Turkey Beyond the Meander: An Archaeological Guide. London: Ernest Benn, 1971.

Ferrero, Domenico De Bernardi. Teatri Classici in Asia Minore. Vol. 1. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, 1966.

Lanckoronski, Karl. Städte Pamphyliens und Pisidiens. Vol. 2. Vienna: A. Holzhausen, 1892.

Machatschek, Alfons, and Manfred Schwarz. Bauforschungen in Selge. Vienna: Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981.

Mitchell, Stephen. Anatolia: Land, Men, and Gods in Asia Minor. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993.

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

Spratt, T.A.B. Travels and Researches in Crete. Vol. 2. London: John van Voorst, 1865.

Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “Archaeological Sites of Antalya Province.” Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 2024, www.kulturvarliklari.gov.tr/EN. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.