Plovdiv Roman theatre

The theater of Philippopolis was a theater of ancient Rome in the Roman city of Philippopolis; Today, this historic building in the center of Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria. The building is sometimes incorrectly referred to as an amphitheater. It lies between the south-west slope of Dschambas Hill ( Bulg Джамбаз тепе ) and the Taksim Hill ( Bulg Таксим тепе ) in the old town. The theater was then one of the most important public buildings of Philippopolis and is now one of the best preserved on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the sights of Plovdiv.

An inscription of the builder, who was attached to the architrave of the Eastern proscenium ( the facade -like stem backstage ), stating that the construction of the theater towards the end of the reign of Emperor Trajan, probably 116-117 AD was done.

Description

The audience seats were oriented to the south, to the ancient city back and towards the foothills of the Rhodope Mountains. From the ground plan of the theater is a semi-circle with an outer diameter of 82 meters.

The open spectator seating area (cavea ) comprised 28 concentric rows of marble seats ( of which 20 are still intact ), which by a corridor ( diazoma ) were divided into two levels. The top layer is interrupted by thin, radially-extending steps. These seven steps divide the spectator area into six wedge-shaped sectors ( Kerkides = wedge fields). The spectator seats surrounded the stage ( Orchestra ), which has a horseshoe- shaped plan and a diameter of 26.64 meters.

The stage building, the skene, is located south of the Orchestra and has three floors. The stage area, proscenium is 3.15 m high and its facade, which faces the Orchestra is designed with ionic marble columns and a pediment ( triangular gable ). The facade of the Skene which overlooks the auditorium consists of a two-story portico ( porch ), of which the first is executed in Ionic order and the second in Roman korithischer order. The facade is intersected by three symmetrically arranged gates.

The entrance to the Orchestra ( parodos ), which was not originally covered and was reconsidered later, connects the cavea with the stage building. An underground archway begins in the middle of the Orchestra and leads out under the stage building of the theater. Another passage runs under the Central Bank of the seating area of the upper level and connects the cavea with the territory of the three hills ( Trimontium = City of Three Hills). Above the transition the Lodge was for the dignitaries.

Similar to all other theaters in the Roman Empire carried the honor of theater seats in Philippopolis an inscription. There were inscriptions for the representatives of the city, but also for the magistrate and the friends of the emperor. Some inscriptions show honor that the building was used as a seat of the Thracian province meeting.

Probably gladiator fights against wild animals were held in the theater, after which point the remains of safety devices before the first row of spectators. These additional measures were taken AD because of the visit of Emperor Caracalla in Philippopolis in 214

The restoration of the Roman theater in Plovdiv was a major accomplishment of the Bulgarian conservators. The reconstruction was carried out strictly according to the rules of Anastylosis, the nue added building materials to be clearly distinguished. Now the theater and the three hills ( Trimontium ) is one of the symbols of the city of Plovdiv and on its stage classic dramas, dances and music are listed.

There are several theater steles and wall inscriptions in Greek language.

The theater was built with 7000 spectators. each section bears the name of a district, which is engraved in the seats, so that the former audience knew their place.

End of the 4th century, a large part of the theater was destroyed by a fire or an earthquake. During this time, the whole region was ravaged by the Huns ideas.

After a landslide, the theater was discovered and explored from the Archaeological Museum Plovdiv during archaeological excavations in the years 1968 to 1979. During the excavations, among others, had to be removed a 4.5 -meter-thick layer of soil.

Culture

During the summer months there are regular theatrical and musical performances in the theater, including the annual International Folklore Festival Plovdiv. The award ceremony for the 21st International computer science Olympiad 2009 was held in this theater.

Inscriptions in the theater

Stelae with Greek inscriptions in the ancient theater in Plovdiv

Ceremony for a Thrakarchen, ca 214 AD

Tribute to Publius Virdius