A newly restored Hellenistic-era amphitheater in southwestern Turkey was on May 23 the venue for a free concert by the Izmir State Symphony Orchestra.
According to leaders of the restoration project, it was the first time the venue has been used for a live performance since it was severely damaged by an earthquake in the 5th century.
“After a 1,600-year hiatus, the amphitheater can once again host thousands of spectators and music lovers,” project director Celal Simsek told The Epoch Times.
Located in the ancient city of Laodicea in what is now Turkey’s Denizli province, the newly-restored amphitheater boasts a seating capacity of 15,000.
People came from all over the province to attend the concert, many of whom were bussed to the venue free by Denizli’s municipal authorities, which organized the event.
“Monday’s concert was an unqualified success,” Hayrullah Akgun, deputy director of Denizli’s Culture and Tourism Directorate, told The Epoch Times. “The amphitheater was packed to capacity.”
Restoration Efforts
Sponsored by Turkey’s Industry and Technology Ministry and the state-run South Aegean Development Agency, the ambitious restoration project took two-and-a-half years to complete. It was carried out by an all-Turkish team comprised of archaeologists, architects and engineers.“About 97 percent of the original structure was still intact; it only had to be excavated,” said Simsek, who is also the director of the Archaeology Department at Turkey’s Pamukkale University.
“We restored the remaining three percent with the addition of about 4,000 new stones.”
According to the archaeologist, the ancient city of Laodicea sits on eight square kilometers of land, making it Turkey’s largest archeological site.
“Along with two amphitheaters, the site also contains churches, temples, public baths, fountains, main streets and a stadium,” he said.
Simsek added that the recent restoration project was hardly the first time the amphitheater had to be repaired.
“Because the area sits on a major fault line, it was restored several times during the Roman period,” he explained.
‘Metropolis of Asia’ Reborn
Laodicea was founded in the third century BC by King Antiochus II of the Seleucid Dynasty, which ruled western Asia after the collapse of Alexander the Great’s short-lived empire.Antiochus named the city after his wife, Laodice, whom he later divorced in order to marry the daughter of the pharaoh of Egypt.
Laodicea was absorbed by the Romans in 133 BC, under whom it enjoyed unprecedented prosperity.
In its heyday, the city drew several distinguished visitors, including renowned orator Cicero in 50 BC and the Emperor Hadrian some 80 years later.
According to Simsek, the city’s strategic position contributed to making it an important trade hub.
“Ancient sources tell us that Laodicea collected more customs duties than any other city in the region,” he said.
“And because it was home to two of the region’s largest amphitheaters, it was also a center of art and culture.”
In 494, the city—and its iconic amphitheaters—suffered a devastating earthquake from which it never recovered. And with the arrival of the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century, Laodicea, once described as “the Metropolis of Asia,” was abandoned completely.
According to Akgun, there are now plans to hold further performances at Laodicea’s amphitheater.
“After surviving countless earthquakes, the venue has finally been restored to its former glory and is now ready to host performers and spectators in the 21st century.”
