Nabatean-Roman Theater, 1st Century AD. Petra, Jordan. Dug out from the sandstone mountainside next to the main street of Petra, the cavea could seat up around 8,000 spectators after the Romans enlarged it slicing through some of the existing tombs. The stage wall was also Roman… [1920×1280] [OC]
by WestonWestmoreland
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…Nabateans gathered here to attend cultic or cultural performances. In the absence of documentation, we can only guess. There was an altar in the orchestra that may have been linked to rituals.
Although the structure largely follows the model described by Vitruvius for the construction of Roman theatres, its rock-cut cavea, masonry technique, and rainwater drainage system still visible in some parts along the praecinctio and the upper gallery (I cannot find those traces in the picture), are considered Nabataean.
The theater faces east. Its cavea has about forty-five seat rows divided in three horizontal galleries separated by a semicircular walkway or praecinctio, and accessed through seven radial stairways (scalaria). Social rank dictated the seating order, being the ima cavea, the lowest tier close to the scene reserved for the distinguished audience. The media cavea was for respectable citizens, whereas the summa cavea, the highest rows, for the lowest classes. The semicircular orchestra between seatings and stage, usually for the chorus in dramatic plays, was also hewn out of the rock and had a hard mortar floor.
The scaenae or stage building was built of ashlar and faced with marble. The floor of the three stage entrances can be seen on the partially reconstructed structure. The center curved “royal” door or valva regia, reserved for royalty or for the main actor, is flanked by two smaller “guest” doors, the porta hospitalis. The scaenae frons, the architectural background, was typically ornamented with one to three tiers of columns, balconies, and sculptures. Fragments of statues of Aphrodite, Hermes and Heracles that used to be placed during Roman times, were unearthed during excavations.
Two barrel-vaulted entrances on either side under the seating area are connected to an efficient network of passageways and exits for the audience.
As usual, my apologies for inaccuracies and mistakes.
Grandma always wanted to be on the stage but not like this.
Not like this!