ASPENDOS

About 45km from Antalya lies one of the most remarkable Roman

theaters in the world (open 8am-7pm in summer; 8:30am-5pm in

winter; entrance fee). Built from heavy grey stone and biscuit-colored

limestone during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161 to 180 AD), the

theater is almost perfect.

The grand arena has 15,000 seats topped by a row of columned arches

that curve around to touch the stage building. It is unusual for a theater

to be totally enclosed in this way. The stage building was highly

decorative with statues in the niches. Five doors allowed the orchestra

and actors to enter. During gladiatorial combat, the smaller doors

would have been used to let in the wild animals.

The city’s inhabitants enjoyed the plays for free,

which were paid for by high-ranking officials to

win popularity. Theater tickets were usually

made of bone or metal and would sometimes

be in the shape of a bird or a fish.

Romans preferred bawdry entertainment with coarse language and

satire aimed at their Greek predecessors. They used Greek masks to

mock them. Gladiator and wild beast contests were the most popular

forms of entertainment. In addition to the amphitheater, there are the

ruins of an agora, acropolis, nymphaeum and a wonderfully preserved

Roman aqueduct