Jakob
February 17th, 2005, 07:55 PM
Building was begun in the reign of the Emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) and completed in the reign of the Emperor Trajan (98-117 A.D.). The theater could seat 24,000 people. So, it was the biggest amphitheatre in ancient history. A wide arcaded staircase led up to a columned gallery around the top of the theater.
The facade of the three-storied proscenium was richly decorated with columns, relieves and statues. The first two stories were built in the reign of Septimus Severus (193-211). There were ramps leading to the stage from the right and left and a staircase from the front. The columns which carried the marble floor of the stage are still to be seen. There were, at the front of the theater, five doors with statues above them, and three rows of columns. In early times, the Great Theater was given over to the celebrations of the Festival of Artemis (the protectress of the city) during the month of April. At this time 89 golden idols donated to the temple were brought to the theater in procession with singing and dancing, and plays were performed before a huge crowd of visitors.
http://www.grantn.eclipse.co.uk/images/turkey/ephesus.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0116.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0120.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0114.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0104.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0107.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0106.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0109.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0111.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0113.jpg
The facade of the three-storied proscenium was richly decorated with columns, relieves and statues. The first two stories were built in the reign of Septimus Severus (193-211). There were ramps leading to the stage from the right and left and a staircase from the front. The columns which carried the marble floor of the stage are still to be seen. There were, at the front of the theater, five doors with statues above them, and three rows of columns. In early times, the Great Theater was given over to the celebrations of the Festival of Artemis (the protectress of the city) during the month of April. At this time 89 golden idols donated to the temple were brought to the theater in procession with singing and dancing, and plays were performed before a huge crowd of visitors.
http://www.grantn.eclipse.co.uk/images/turkey/ephesus.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0116.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0120.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0114.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0104.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0107.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0106.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0109.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0111.jpg
http://www.worldturkey.com/gallery/data/media/48/ephesus0113.jpg