Jonathan Diaz

Architecture 130
Roman 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 theaters 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
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the cavea there is a colonnaded gallery with fifty-nine vaulted arches, and
they contribute to the excellent acoustics.
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 fortyone 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 diazomatas sole which its separated in two seating levels.

Parts of the Roman Theater at Aspendos

Vomitor
ia

Cavea

Orchestr

Pulpitu
m
Scaena: Stage
building

Aditus
Maximus

Diazoma