Roman_Theatre_at_Bosra
The Roman Theatre at Bosra (Arabic: المسرح الروماني ببصرى) is a large Roman theatre in Bosra, in the district of Dar'a in south-western Syria.[1]: 143
المسرح الروماني ببصرى | |
The Roman Theatre at Bosra | |
| Location | Bosra, Syria |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32.517°N 36.481°E / 32.517; 36.481 |
| Type | Roman theatre |
| Part of | Bosra |
| Width | 102 metres (335 ft) |
| History | |
| Cultures | Roman |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1947–1970 |
| Condition | restored |
| Ownership | Public |
| Public access | Yes |
It was built in either the second quarter[2]: 53 or the second half of the second century AD,[1]: 143 and is constructed of black basalt.[1]: 141 It is likely that the theatre was built during the reign of Trajan.[3]
The theatre was originally built outside the walls of the town, but was later completely enclosed by an Ayyūbid fortress.[1]: 141 The city of Bosra had its fortifications expanded between 481 and 1251. When later integrated into the fortifications, its role was to serve as a citadel and to guard a road leading to Damascus.[3]
The theatre is 102 metres across and has seating for about 17,000 people; it is thus among the largest of the Ancient Roman civilisation.[1]: 141 It served a city that once had 80,000 inhabitants.[3] It is also one of the best preserved both in Syria and across the Roman empire. It was substantially restored between 1947 and 1970, before which it contained large quantities of sand, which may have helped to protect the interior.[1]: 141
Syrian Civil War
As of July 2018[update], the site is still on the UNESCO's list of World Heritage in Danger. The theatre was added to the list in 2013.[3]
The site has been damaged in the Syrian Civil War by various military activities conducted nearby. For instance, snipers have been active at the site.[4][5]
- K.A. Berney, Trudy Ring (1996). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Middle East and Africa. Volume 4 of: Noelle Watson (ed.) (1996). International Dictionary of Historic Places. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. ISBN 9781884964039.
- Arthur Segal (1995). Theatres in Roman Palestine and Provincia Arabia. Leiden; New York: E.J. Brill. ISBN 9789004101456.
- "Ancient City of Bosra". whc.unesco.org. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- Porter, Lizzie (14 April 2015). "Syrian World Heritage Site used as battlefield". Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- "Syrian heritage destruction revealed in satellite images". 19 September 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2018 – via www.bbc.com.
Media related to Roman Theatre at Bosra at Wikimedia Commons- Video of the theatre – UNESCO/NHK Videos on Heritage
- Articles, videos and aerial view of Bosra Theatre
