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After the earthquake of 60 CE, a new theatre was hollowed out of the slope of the hill further to the east during the reign of emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus with the remains and the seats of the old theatre. There were alterations during the reign of emperors Hadrian and Septimius Severus.
There is an inscription in the theatre that relates to emperor Hadrian. Emperor Septimius Severus is portrayed, together with his wife Julia Domna and his two sons Caracalla and Geta, on a relief on the scena as the god Jupiter seated on his throne. Emperor Septimius Severus also had a number of new buildings constructed in Hierapolis in gratitude for the sophist Antipater of Hierapolis, his private secretary and the tutor of his two sons.
The auditorium or seating section (cavea) consists of stacked seating with a capacity of 15,000 and is separated in two by a horizontal corridor (diazoma). The lower part had originally 20 rows, and the upper part 25 rows. But only 30 rows have survived. The auditorium is divided by eight vertical passageways with steps into nine aisles. The auditorium had also an imperial box. In 352 it underwent a thorough restoration and was adapted for water shows.
The proscenium (raised stage in front of the scene) consisted of two storeys with ornately decorated niches off to the sides. Several statues, reliefs (with myths of Apollo, Dionysios and Artemis) and decorative elements have been dug up by the Italian archaeological team and can be seen in the local museum.
The were four entrances (vomitoria) to the theatre, each with six statues in niches, flanked by marble columns.
The theatre is now under restoration. Several reliefs and statues, depicting mythological figures, have been rescued from the rubble and fragments. |
