Anazarbus (Antiquity), Theatre

1. The Ancient Theatre at Anazarbus of Cilicia

The theatre of Anazarbus in Cilicia, is located outside the city walls and looks out on the plain. Its ground plan follows the Roman style. The theatrical building must have been quite large, as the orchestra was 58 m in diameter. The northernmost part of the cavea is carved in the natural rock, taking advantage of the slope, while ancillary structures were used for constructing the southern part so that the effect of the sloping ground could be eliminated. There are still some pillars of the external stoa of the concave as well as the parodoi, which supported semicircular arches, and the tribunalia. The method of cast masonry (opus caemanticium) was employed in the construction of the arches. Only traces of the facade of the scene have survived. Some parts of the columns, which were made of red granite, have also survived as part of the facade. Fragments of the relief frieze have been traced. The theatre dates to the Imperial period, while very few parts of the scene building and the cavea survive today.