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Aspendus (2): theater
Unless otherwise indicated, pictures on this page © Marco Prins and Jona Lendering. Photos can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes, but you have to acknowledge Livius.
Exterior of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. Exterior of the theater of Aspendus. It was a gift to the city by two men, Crispius Crispinus and Crispius Auspicatus, brothers,  during the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180). The building was designed by an architect named Zeno. 
Interior of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. Interior of the theater of Aspendus. Here you can see it on a satellite photo.
Interior of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. Interior of the theater of Aspendus. The arches are made of pudding stone.
View from the top of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. View from the top of the theater of Aspendus.
Stage of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. Stage of the theater of Aspendus (including the settings for Verdi's Aida).
The stands of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. The stands of the theater of Aspendus. The forty rows of seats were made of marble. The capacity was about 15,000 people.
Detail of the cornice of the stage of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. This is the center of the pediment. It shows the god Dionysus, the patron of tragedy and comedy, between floral scrolls.
Exterior of the theater of Aspendus. Photo Marco Prins. Exterior of the theater of Aspendus.
Model of the Aspendus Theater. Photo Tineke Meinema. Finally, a model of the theater. This photograph was made at an exposition in the Colosseum in Rome, but the model itself probably is from the Museo nazionale della civiltà romana. The photo was taken by Tineke Meinema.
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