Plovdiv Roman amphitheatre
Encyclopedia
The Plovdiv Antique theater is a historical building in the city center of Plovdiv
, Bulgaria
. Although this structure is commonly referred to as an amphitheatre
, it is actually a traditional Roman theatre
. It stands between the south-western slope of the Dzhambaz Tepe and the Taxim tepe hill within the old town, and is a major tourist attraction for travelers coming to the area.
The theatre was built in the 2nd century AD under the orders of emperor Trajan
, and is one of the numerous surviving Roman constructions in Bulgaria today. There are several stele
s and wall inscriptions in Greek
language in the amphitheater.
Built with around 7,000 seats, each section of seating had the names of the city quarters engraved on the benches so the citizens at the time knew where they were to sit.
The theater was damaged in the 5th century AD by Attila the Hun
.
The theater was only found in the early 1970s due to a landslide, this caused a major archeological excavation, including the removal of some 4.5 m of earth covering what was left hidden by the landslide.
The prize award ceremony of the 21st International Olympiad in Informatics
was held in the amphitheater.
Inscription1-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg|Stele
with Greek
inscription from Plovdiv Antique Theater
Inscription2-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg
Inscription3-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg
Inscription4-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Although this structure is commonly referred to as an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
, it is actually a traditional Roman theatre
Roman theatre (structure)
The characteristics of Roman to those of the earlier Greek theatres due in large part to its influence on the Roman triumvir Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. Much of the architectural influence on the Romans came from the Greeks, and theatre structural design was no different from other buildings...
. It stands between the south-western slope of the Dzhambaz Tepe and the Taxim tepe hill within the old town, and is a major tourist attraction for travelers coming to the area.
The theatre was built in the 2nd century AD under the orders of emperor Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
, and is one of the numerous surviving Roman constructions in Bulgaria today. There are several stele
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
s and wall inscriptions in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
language in the amphitheater.
Built with around 7,000 seats, each section of seating had the names of the city quarters engraved on the benches so the citizens at the time knew where they were to sit.
The theater was damaged in the 5th century AD by Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun
Attila , more frequently referred to as Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in 453. He was leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea. During his reign he was one of the most feared...
.
The theater was only found in the early 1970s due to a landslide, this caused a major archeological excavation, including the removal of some 4.5 m of earth covering what was left hidden by the landslide.
Culture
During the summer months, the theatre hosts theatrical plays and musical shows.The prize award ceremony of the 21st International Olympiad in Informatics
International Olympiad in Informatics
The International Olympiad in Informatics is an annual computer science competition for secondary school students. The first IOI was held in 1989 in Pravetz, Bulgaria....
was held in the amphitheater.
Inscriptions from the theatre
Inscription1-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg|Stele
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
with Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
inscription from Plovdiv Antique Theater
Inscription2-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg
Inscription3-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg
Inscription4-from-Plovdiv-Antique-Theater.jpg