Side (modern Eski, Turkey)

Date: 150 to 175 CE. There may have been an earlier theatre on site.

Cavea Width: 120 meters
Orchestra Width: 29 meters

The Theatre at Side, located in ancient Side (modern Eski Antalya, Turkey), is a Roman-style theatre with Greek aesthetic influences; 120 meters in diameter; features 30 rows in the ima cavea divided into 11 cunei and approximately 25 rows in the summa cavea divided into 24 cunei; faces east-north-east (221° converging analemmata); accommodated between 13,700-17,200 spectators; orchestra measures approximately 29 meters in diameter; constructed during the last quarter of the 2nd century CE on the site of an earlier Hellenistic structure; underwent modifications in late Roman times to accommodate gladiatorial combats and animal shows.

The Theatre at Side (modern Eski Antalya, Turkey)

The ancient ruins of Side are located on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, in the Antalya Province. It’s situated approximately halfway between the cities of Antalya and Alanya, specifically in the Manavgat district. The ancient city sits on a small peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the modern settlement developing around these ruins.

Brief History of Side

Side was founded in the 7th century BCE by Greek settlers from Kyme in Eolia, northwestern Anatolia . The city’s patron goddess was Athena, whose head was depicted on locally minted coins. Over time, the Greek origins were gradually absorbed into local customs and languages. Side developed into a prosperous port city during the Hellenistic period.

In 25 BCE, Emperor Augustus incorporated Pamphylia, and hence Side, into the Roman province of Galatia. The city reached its peak prosperity between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, with a population estimated at 60,000. This wealth derived primarily from maritime trade, including the controversial slave trade, and olive oil production. The city began a gradual decline in the 4th century CE despite its impressive fortifications.

Brief History of the Theatre

The theatre was constructed in the middle of the 2nd century CE, specifically during the last quarter of the 2nd century, on the site of an earlier Hellenistic theatre. The structure exemplifies a synthesis of Roman and Greek theatrical traditions, with Roman engineering methods applied to a design that incorporates Greek aesthetic influences.

The theatre underwent modifications in late antiquity, when the rising popularity of gladiatorial combat and animal shows necessitated adaptations to the performance space. A temple dedicated to Dionysus was situated on the north side of the cavea, emphasizing the sacred associations of theatrical performances in antiquity.

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: Eski Antalya, Turkey
• GPS coordinates: 36.76824, 31.3909
• Orientation: Facing east-north-east (221° converging analemmata)

Cavea (seating area)

• Diameter: 120 meters
• Estimated capacity: 13,700-17,200 spectators (according to Frank Sear’s calculations)
• Seating divisions:
  • Ima cavea (lower section): 30 rows divided into 11 cunei (wedge-shaped sections)
  • Top row featuring continuous stone back-rest
  • Summa cavea (upper section): approximately 25 rows divided into 24 cunei
  • Praecinctio (horizontal walkway) separates ima and summa cavea
  • Broad ambulacrum (covered walkway) surrounding the top of cavea
• Construction materials and techniques:
  • Stone seating arranged in typical Roman fashion
  • Architecture showing influence of Greek design, with the audience area forming a sector of a circle greater than 180 degrees
• Substructures:
  • Ima cavea: Built against the natural slope of the hill
  • Summa cavea: Constructed on two levels of substructures, each comprising 23 radial barrel-vaults
  • Lower level directly accessible from hillside
  • Façade features two stories of arched openings
  • Annular passage immediately behind façade, created by arched openings in radial walls
  • Inner passage features a sloping barrel-vault supporting seating above
  • Complex system of internal staircases leading up to ambulacrum

Orchestra (performance space between audience and stage)

• Diameter: approximately 29 meters
• Surrounded by podium (height: 0.805 meters) with passageway on top (width: 0.82 meters)
• Drain around rim (width: 0.73 meters; depth: 0.68 meters)
• Semi-circular in shape, positioned between the stage and audience area

Arena (later addition)

• At a later period, a massive wall (width: 2 meters) was constructed around the orchestra
• Enclosed the lowest four rows of seats
• Likely created to accommodate venationes (animal hunts) or possibly a kolymbethra (water basin for aquatic spectacles)

Pulpitum (stage)

• Trapezoidal in shape
• Limited information preserved about detailed design and dimensions
• The podium was 6 meters wide and stood 3 meters above the orchestra

Scaenae Frons (decorative scene house front)

• Rectilinear design
• Five doorways decreasing in size toward the sides
• Between doorways, podia each supporting four columns grouped in pairs
• Half-columns corresponding to them in scaenae frons wall
• Richly sculpted coffers between columns and scaenae frons wall
• Two-story columnatio (columnar arrangement)
• Base of the podium, visible above the orchestra, decorated with reliefs depicting various scenes from Greek mythology, though preservation of these reliefs is poor

Access and Circulation

• Postscaenium (area behind the stage): Nine rooms, with the third, fifth, and seventh serving as passageways running directly into the orchestra
• Semicircular latrine at north end of postscaenium
• Porticus post scaenam (colonnade behind the stage building): Forum behind postscaenium with colonnades on all four sides and shops on three sides
• Multiple access points through the vaulted substructures allowed for the efficient movement of large crowds

Current Status

Archaeological excavations at Side began in 1947 under Prof. Dr. Arif Müfid Mansel . Baruthotels Focused work on the theatre started in 1982 led by Dr. Ülkü Izmirligil for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, continuing until 2008 . Baruthotels Leadership transferred to Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Sabri Alanyali in 2009 . Baruthotels The theatre underwent major renovations that closed it to visitors before reopening around 2017 , with apparent additional restoration work conducted in 2023-2024 . 

The theatre is open to visitors and occasionally hosts cultural performances.

Ancient Renovation History

• Initial Construction: Last quarter of the 2nd century CE (possibly on the site of an earlier Hellenistic theatre)
• Late Roman Adaptation: Addition of a 2-meter-wide wall around the orchestra, enclosing the lowest four rows of seats to create an arena for gladiatorial combats and animal shows
• Late Roman Empire period: Modifications to accommodate gladiatorial combats and shows with wild animals, which had become increasingly popular forms of entertainment

Archaeological Research

The first systematic description of Side, including its theatre, dates back to 1890 when the city was visited by Austrian researchers led by Niemann and Petersen. This initial documentation provided the foundation for later archaeological work.

Major excavation campaigns include:

• Early visitors and documentation:

• • Francis Beaufort’s exploration recorded in “Karamania” (early 19th century)
  • Thomas Spratt’s investigations documented in “Travels in Lycia” (mid-19th century)
  • Karl Lanckoronski’s comprehensive documentation (late 19th century)

• Modern systematic excavations:
  • Professor Arif Müfid Mansel (Turkish archaeologist): Led excavations from 1947 to 1966, establishing the first comprehensive understanding of the site
  • R. Paribeni and P. Romanelli: Early 20th century investigations
  • Professor Jale Inan and Haluk Abbasoğlu: Continued Mansel’s work in the following decades
  • V. Izmirligil: Conducted excavations in the 1980s, significantly advancing understanding of the theatre’s construction phases

Modern restoration works on the Side Theatre were initiated in 1982 under the direction of Dr. Ülkü Izmirligil and his team on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. These restoration efforts continued under Dr. Izmirligil’s leadership until 2008, during which period extensive work was also carried out on the water channels in Side. BaruthotelsIn 2009, the responsibility for the excavation and restoration work at the Ancient City of Side, including the theatre, was transferred to Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Sabri Alanyali, who continued the conservation and restoration efforts. Baruthotels

More recently, the theatre underwent another extensive renovation that temporarily closed it to the public, before reopening around 2017. Turkisharchaeonews 

The funding for restoration projects typically comes through the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which is responsible for the preservation and protection of archaeological sites throughout Turkey. 

Publication history:

• • Lanckoronski’s “Städte Pamphyliens und Pisidiens” (1890): First comprehensive documentation
  • A.M. Mansel’s “Die Ruinen von Side” (1963) and “Side” (1978): Definitive studies based on his extensive excavations
  • Various reports in Turkish archaeological journals and international publications

Bibliography / Resources:

Bean, George E. Turkey’s Southern Shore: An Archaeological Guide. London: Ernest Benn, 1979.

Ferrero, Daria De Bernardi. Teatri classici in Asia Minore. Vol. 3. Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, 1970.

Inan, Jale. “Recent Excavations in Side.” Anatolian Studies 28 (1978): 103-129.

Lanckoronski, Karl. Städte Pamphyliens und Pisidiens. Vol. 1. Vienna: F. Tempsky, 1890.

Mansel, Arif Müfid. Die Ruinen von Side. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1963.

Mansel, Arif Müfid. Side: 1947-1966 Yılları Kazıları ve Araştırmalarının Sonuçları. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu, 1978.

Özgür, M. Ertuğrul. A Guide to Side. Istanbul: Net Turistik Yayınlar, 2015.

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

“Roman Theatre in Side.” Turkish Archaeological News, May 4, 2017, https://turkisharchaeonews.net/object/roman-theatre-side.

Yegül, Fikret. “The Roman Theatre of Aspendos and Its Neighbours in Pamphylia and Pisidia.” Journal of Roman Archaeology 5 (1992): 285-301.