Northern Theater, Jerasa, Jordan, 135/140 AD. It was built as a “bouleuterion”, a meeting place of the boule (council of citizens) and representatives of other administrative units of Gerasa. The bouleuterion was transformed into an odeon around 165/166 AD, a small theater… [1280×853] [OC]

…for recitations, singing and musical performances, where assemblies continued to be held. Subsequently, the seating capacity of the *cavea* (semicircular audience area) had to be substantially increased for this purpose

The *ima cavea*, the lower area of the auditorium for the dignitaries, consisting of 4 *cunei* (wedge-shaped seating blocks) with 14 rows of seats, is structurally connected to the stage building and was constructed before the building was repurposed as an Odeon . In the later expansion was added the *summa cavea* for the general public. It consisted of 8 *cunei* with at least 8 rows of seats. After the last stage of expansion, the *cavea* of the Odeon seated about 1600 people.

The *ima cavea* and the *summa cavea* are separated by the *praecinctio*, the horizontal high wall, in which niches with semicircular, shell-shaped ends are inserted. In the *praecinctio* enter 5 *vomitoria* (from *vomere* – to spit out), the upper entrances to the spectator area. Over the entire *cavea* could be drawn a *velum*, a solar sail suspended from cables.

The Odeon was used for its original purposes until the 5th/6th century.

Jerash is the site of the ruins of the Greek city of Gerasa, also referred to as Antioch on the Golden River. The Roman Empire conquered the area in 63 BC. In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Gerasa achieved great prosperity. In AD 106, Gerasa was absorbed into the Roman province of Arabia, which included the cities of Philadelphia (modern day Amman), Petra and Bostra. Pompey attached the city to the Decapolis, a league of Hellenistic cities with considerable autonomy under Roman protection. The Romans ensured security and peace in this area, which enabled its people to devote their efforts and time to economic development and encouraged civic building activity. Emperor Trajan constructed roads throughout the province, and more trade came to Jerash. Emperor Hadrian visited Gerasa in AD 129–130, and the triumphal arch known as the Arch of Hadrian was built to celebrate this occasion.

My apologies for inaccuracies and mistakes.