Jonathan DiazArchitecture 130Roman Architecture

The Roman Theater at Aspendos

The Roman Theater is located in Lycia, Turkey, and the theater was built probably during

the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161 – 180 AD). Although history indicates that Romans were

trying to copy their amphitheaters from the Greek theater’s architecture, the theater at

Aspendos is known for being one of the most well preserved Roman Theaters. Also, an

amphitheater is a fusion of two horseshoe-shape theaters for example (The Coliseum) is a place

for massive spectacles such as wild animals shows, gladiator fights, and probably naval battles

while the Roman Theater at Aspendos was used for small performance such as entertaining and

musical roman events. There are inscriptions in Greek and Latin that indicates two wealthy

brothers Curtius Crespinus and Curtius Auspicatus built the theater and then they dedicated it

to the Gods of the country and the imperial house. The construction of the building was

influenced by the Hellenistic practice of building a horseshoe- shape cavea (the stepped slope

zone diminished) against a hillside.

In addition, Because of the steeply slope cavea, this theater design is most likely to

cause echo and absorb low frequencies from the environment or the people around when

using; however, the cavea is made of marble and limestone which they could impact a lost

reduction noise from low frequencies around giving a clear sound at the time of events. At the

top of the cavea there is a colonnaded gallery with fifty-nine vaulted arches, and they

contribute to the excellent acoustics.

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The Roman Theater diameter is 96 meters (315 ft.) and it can provide seats for almost

10,000- to 15,000. There are upper levels and lower levels of the cavea (the stepped semi-

circular diminished zone), and they are separated by a single diazomata. Even though the

seating capacity of the Aspendos’ theater is estimated over 10,000, some evidence indicates

that women only sat in the upper rows of seat. Moreover, the first row of seats was reserved

for senators, judges, and ambassadors while the second row was reserved for other notable

and important social class. There are forty-one rows of seat in the cavea area subdivided by ten

staircases in the lower seating and also there are twenty-one staircases for the upper section.

Also, there is a barrel vault which can support the upper cavea and it is set behind the

diazomata’s sole which it’s separated in two seating levels.

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Parts of the Roman Theater at Aspendos

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Diazomata

Orchestra

Cavea Vomitoria

Aditus MaximusPulpitum

Scaena: Stage building