Roman theatre of Bosra
Encyclopedia
The Roman theatre of Bosra is an ancient Roman theatre
in Bosra
, Syria
. It was built in the second quarter of the 2nd century CE. It is the largest, most complete and best preserved theatre of all the Roman theatres in the Middle East
, and was one of the largest theatres ever constructed in the Roman world.
of Arabia
. The theatre was built outside the city walls since there was no suitable place for it inside. Nonetheless, it was integrated into the city's street network by a colonnade
d street. In the Middle Ages
a Muslim
fortress was built around the theatre, which explains the excellent state of preservation of the theatre. However, the colonnaded street, along with other structures around the theatre, were destroyed when the fortress was built.
is divided into three horizontal sections. The first ("ima cavea") had thirteen rows of seats. The middle section ("media cavea") had sixteen rows of seats. The last ("summa cavea") had only six rows of seats. The theatre was 102 metres (334.6 ft) wide with room for about 15,000 spectators.
The semicircular orchestra is 21 metres (68.9 ft) in diameter, enclosed by a decorative parapet
and entered by two barrel-vaulted gates. Above the entrances were the seats usually reserved for distinguished guests.
The theatre now serves as the main venue for the Bosra Festival, a national music festival.
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...
in Bosra
Bosra
Bosra , also known as Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra, Busra Eski Şam, Busra ash-Sham, and Nova Trajana Bostra, is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. It was built in the second quarter of the 2nd century CE. It is the largest, most complete and best preserved theatre of all the Roman theatres in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and was one of the largest theatres ever constructed in the Roman world.
History
The theatre was built early in the 2nd century AD after Bosra became the capital of the new Roman provinceRoman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
of Arabia
Arabia Petraea
Arabia Petraea, also called Provincia Arabia or simply Arabia, was a frontier province of the Roman Empire beginning in the 2nd century; it consisted of the former Nabataean kingdom in modern Jordan, southern modern Syria, the Sinai Peninsula and northwestern Saudi Arabia. Its capital was Petra...
. The theatre was built outside the city walls since there was no suitable place for it inside. Nonetheless, it was integrated into the city's street network by a colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
d street. In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
fortress was built around the theatre, which explains the excellent state of preservation of the theatre. However, the colonnaded street, along with other structures around the theatre, were destroyed when the fortress was built.
Architecture
The theatre is unusual in that it was not constructed using a natural slope of a hill for support but on completely level ground. The theatre was built facing north. Its caveaCavea
In Roman times the cavea were the subterranean cells in which wild animals were confined before the combats in the Roman arena or amphitheatre....
is divided into three horizontal sections. The first ("ima cavea") had thirteen rows of seats. The middle section ("media cavea") had sixteen rows of seats. The last ("summa cavea") had only six rows of seats. The theatre was 102 metres (334.6 ft) wide with room for about 15,000 spectators.
The semicircular orchestra is 21 metres (68.9 ft) in diameter, enclosed by a decorative parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
and entered by two barrel-vaulted gates. Above the entrances were the seats usually reserved for distinguished guests.
Restoration and modern use
By the start of the 20th century most of the interior had become filled with sand, which acted as a natural preservative. The theatre was restored to its former glory between 1947 and 1970. The main restoration work was directed at the stage area and the upper rows of seats. Some of that work was done in pink Egyptian granite.The theatre now serves as the main venue for the Bosra Festival, a national music festival.