Antalya, Demre, Yavu village

From Kyena theatre there is a distant view of the sea over Demre from the top of the southwest slope of a small hill. On the plateau behind the stage, there are many water cisterns and some magnificent monumental tombs with saddle-shaped roofs. The city ruins and the walls of the inner citadel are on the hill above.

The central section of the cavea of the theatre leans on the hill, with supporting walls on the right and left encircling the more than hemispherical cavea. The support wall encircling the cavea turns markedly inwards to resist pressure from the cavea. Most of the rows of benches are intact. It is possible to observe the arrangement of the rough base stones beneath the benches from the edges of the stairways, which have been carved down by rainwater.
C. Bayburtluoğlu, who estimates that the stage edifice of this theatre consisted of one level, is of the following opinion: “I believe that it was built during the times of Jason of Kyaneai and Opramoas of Rhodiapolis, who were both were wealthy Lycians living in the same era. Without going into detail, it is possible to claim that the architectural decorations within and in the vicinity of the theatre are from the era of Antoninus Pius subsequent to the earthquake of 141. .”[1]

The theatre has two levels and a central walkway. The uppermost row of the first level, the stone bench with a backboard along the edge of the central walkway, helped the sound to travel up to the second level by reducing the damping effect of the void of the central walkway. There are 12 rows and 6 radial stairways in the first level and 14 rows and nine radial stairways in the second level. The orchestra has a radius of 29 feet. The height of the stage edifice must have been approximately 38 feet.

According to the measurements taken on site, Kyenai theatre has a capacity of around 2,500 people.

[1] Lykia, C.Bayburtluoğlu, AKMED Publ., 2004, p. 218