Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:52 AM Sayfa
236
Aerial view of Side.
the remains of two more fountains. The monumental arch was
blocked up in the 4 th century with a wall containing a smaller door.
Through it is Side's magnificent theater, built in the 2 nd century AD.
The two-tiered structure measures 20 m. wide and is constructed on
barrel-vaulted galleries. Once seated 15,000 spectators the stage of
the theater consisted of three tiers and was richly decorated with
statues and mythological reliefs. The auditorium is divided into 12
sections by means of 11 sets of stairs. The orchestra pit was
surrounded by a wall to protect spectators when it was used for
gladiator contests and wild animal spectacles during the late-Roman
Period. Beside the road passing by the theater is a temple to
Dionysos.
This temple is set on a podium measuring 7.23x17.55 m. and 65 cm.
high. The temple is from the early Roman Period. The colonnaded
street, proceeding the theater in the direction of the village, reaches
as far as the seashore. It is the continuation of the street entering
Side, though today it lies below the village. Down this street, a
Byzantine basilica stands on the right, while on the left are the ruins