Side Theatre
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Antalya, Manavgat, Side
Side theatre was constructed in the middle of the city, not set into a hillside but on flat land. The cavea rising from level ground is a testament to the advanced state of Roman engineering. The theatre was raised on arched support walls developed by Roman engineering. The cavea of the two-tiered theatre faces east. The spectators coming from outside reached the circular horizontal walkway via covered arched passages. 22 stepped entrances opening onto the central walkway from large arched passages below the second tier of benches provide this access. The theatre has 28 rows of benches in the first tier and 21 in the second. In the first echelon there are 12 radial stairways and in the second echelon there are 23. The boundary of the orchestra pit has been raised approximately 10 feet for the safety of spectators during gladiator fights. A section of the ruins of the stage building are in situ. The water collection ditch at the edge of the orchestra and some pieces of carved marble relief on the facade of the stage building have survived. The orchestra is 49 feet and 13 inches wide. Accordingly, the finished height of the stage building must have been approximately 66 feet.
The theatre has a capacity of approximately 9,700 people.
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