İzmir, Torbalı



Metropolis theatre has been very well protected by earth. It has shed light on the rainwater collection and drainage systems, details of the orchestra pit and seating rows, and infrastructure of other ancient theatres. In the two level theatre dating back to the first century BC there are magnificent examples of decoration on the seats for dignitaries and finely worked lions’ claw carvings at the ends of rows of benches by the radial walkways. The lions’ claws resemble those of the neighbouring theatre of Ephesus. The benches of seats at Metropolis are clad in marble in common with those at Pergamon. The benches are clad in two pieces of marble, one of which covers the facade while the other covers the seat. The decoration on the honorary seats above the water collection channel running along the edge of the Orchestra is extraordinary.

The theatre has 8 radial walkways and 25 rows of seats, 12 of which are on the first level and 13 of which are on the second level. The radius of the orchestra is 40 feet and 10 inches. The original height of the ruined stage building must have been about 53 feet.