The theater leans against the southern slope of Göktepe, which was used as a necropolis in the north of the ancient city of Halicarnassus. It is a magnificent building with a splendid view of the city and the sea as far as the island of Kos and the Datça peninsula. Dating back to the 4th century BC, the building has all the characteristics of the theaters before the Roman Imperial Age. It is presumed that the theater could accommodate approximately 10,000 spectators. The theater is comprised of three parts: the rows of seats (cavea), the orchestra in the center of the theater, which is larger than a semicircle corresponding to the rows of seats, and the stage structure in the south. The lower part of the theater has been preserved until today. In 2002, the theatre underwent a comprehensive cleaning and restoration process, which enabled it to reopen to the public with a capacity of approximately 3,100 individuals. In 2006, during the excavation and cleaning works carried out by the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, tunnels and rooms carved into the soft rock behind the seating steps were discovered. The theatre continues to host a diverse range of significant artistic and cultural events, as it did in ancient times. Notable figures from the cultural and artistic communities meet with art lovers in this special historical place in approximately 30 different events held every year.
BODRUM ANTIQUE THEATRE
