Theatre of Aspendos

The theatre of Aspendos is one of the best preserved theatres of the Roman world.
It is situated in Lycia (Turkey) at about 15 km from the mediterranean coast. The history of the city goes probably back to 1000 BC. Romanisation started in 190 B.C. The theatre was built in the period 161 - 169 A.D. on the south-east slope of the hill on which the ancient city was developed. According to bilingual inscriptions the construction was payed by A. Curtius Crispinus Arruntiatus and A. Curtius Crispinus Auspicatus who executed the will of A. Curtius Crispinus. At the same time another inscription mentions Zeno as the architect. It is one of the few roman buildings of which the name of the architect is known.

The Theatre of Aspendos was built during the second century AD and is one of the best preserved ancient theatres in the world. It offers seating for up to 20.000 visitors and is well known because of its marvellous acoustics. 

Even after 2000 years the acoustics are so good that you can hear a person talking to you from the other side of the theatre even when they are talking in a normal voice. Today the Aspendos Theatre is still used for wrestling, live music concerts or dance shows. The lines of marble seats are built like the rings of an onion, in a perfect semicircle. There is an open stage and behind that the three–storey, Corinthian-style stage building. All around it are a gallery of arcades – and everything is still in excellent condition. The clear, deep–blue sky can be seen. All of this is more than 1800 years old.