Halicarnassos Theatre
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Bodrum.
Halicarnassos Theatre is an example of an early period theatre. The cavea filled with benches for spectators is carved entirely into the slope it rests on. The cavea is greater than 180 degrees as the stage building is a separate structure. The south facing theatre has a total of 46 rows. The first level has thirty rows of benches and 12 radial stairways. It is on a gradient of 30 degrees. The central walkway is 3 feet and three inches wide. The distance between the first row of benches and the orchestra is five feet and 12 inches. This section at the edge of the orchestra pit reserved for honorary seats must have been horseshoe shaped to surround the arena, as seen in the theatre of Priene. In the second century BC in the Roman era when the performance area was taken from the orchestra plain and transferred to the section in front of the stage building the honorary seats were moved back a little. Traces of their placement can still be seen. The underground burial chamber carved out of the first level of the theatre was made in the East Roman era when theatre fell from grace. The stage building is 45 feet wide and 166 feet long. The ways that lead in from the outside from two directions and open out onto the orchestra are 11 feet and five inches wide. The theatre with a radius of 37 feet and four inches seats approximately 8,300 people according to measurements taken on site. Using the calculations employed by Roman engineers based on the radius of the orchestra.The demolished stage building must have been about 49 feet in height.
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