Greek Theatre of Miletus

The Theatre of Miletus was an ancient Greek theatre located in Miletus, in Asia Minor, in present-day Turkey. Today, the ruins of the theatre are one of the most notable and best preserved sites of the archaeological zone of Miletus.

History

It was built in several phases during the Hellenistic period, around 300-133 BC. It was used not only for theatrical performances, but also as a meeting place of the ekklesía, or eclesiaststerion, and possibly also as a meeting place of the boulé (citizen council), before the Bouleuterion was completed.

In total, four different phases of the Hellenistic stage of the building are distinguished between the auditorium and the stage building. The construction phases have been dated, among other things, by comparing details of the theatre with other Greek theatres of Asia Minor, such as the Theatre of Priene. Phase 1 dates to around 300 BC. It is possible that an episkenion then existed and it is assumed that there was also a proskenion, although no remains of it are preserved. Phase 2 dates to shortly thereafter, around 300-250 BC. The skené building was expanded, with four doors on the ground floor and three doors on the upper floor. The proskenion was wider than the skené and is thought to have had 16 columns.

Phase 3 dates from the first half of the 100s BC. The skené was substantially modified again with the addition of new doors, including a central door on the lower floor, and side wings. It is believed that the changes were related to the requirements of New Comedy, in which performances were moved from the orchestra to the upper level, in front of the stage, and the second floor of the stage became the back wall of the plays, which required doors for the entrance and exit of the actors. The proskenion could be widened. Phase 4 dates from around 133 BC. The skené was modified to add a logeion, or proskenion, which served as a stage. The building was also widened again and the redundant doors on the ground floor were blocked up, except for the central door.

During the Roman period, the theatre was renovated again. The auditorium was modified, so that barely any remains of the Hellenistic phase are left, and the scenic building was decorated. In addition, stone stairs leading to the logeion were added, among other things. The surviving ruins reflect the Roman‑period form of the theatre. Today, the remains of the theatre are the most notable ruins of otherwise poorly preserved Miletus, together with the Baths of Faustina.

In the Byzantine era, a fortress was built on the hill of the Theatre. Its stones were used to build fortifications.

Description

It was built on the southern slope of the hill that bears its name, between the Lion Port and the Theatre Port. Given the phased history of the building, the form of the building in its mainly final, Roman phase, whose ruins are still preserved, is shown below.

The theatre was a typical semicircular building, originally with a circular orchestra in the centre. The auditorium had 60 rows of seats. It was divided by two transverse aisles (diazomata) into three sections, each with 20 rows of seats. The lower part was divided by four vertical stairs into five sectors (kerkides), the middle part by nine stairs into ten sectors and the upper part by 19 stairs into 20 sectors. From the front, the theatre was about 140 metres wide. At its peak, the auditorium could hold about 15000 people. This makes it one of the largest in Asia Minor.

The width of the skené in phase 1 was about 15.7 m, the depth about 7.3 m and the height about 6.2 m. In phase 2 its width was about 28.2 m, in phase 3 about 31.5 m and in phase 4 about 39.9 m. The semi‑columns of the proskenion were of Doric order. From the Hellenistic phases of the skené parts of the carvings that represent Macedonian shields and other weapons and hunting scenes have been preserved.

In the Roman period, the stage had three levels. In the centre of the lowest part the so‑called imperial gallery was built, supported by four columns from the roof.