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Roman Theatre - Caesarea Maritima

 

Roman Theatre was built by Herod and it is located at the southern side of the city at the Caesarea Maritima. It is a popular destination for a day trip from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for tourists. Now, it is a national park but in the ancient past it was an administrative capital and a port city. After the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Caesarea became the provincial capital of the Judaea Province, before the change of name to Syria Palaestina in 135. The Caesarea National Park is located on the Mediterranean coastline.

 

To get inside the theatre,a an arch was the entrance of this well preserved Roman theatre as it was used for the same purpose many centuries ago. The theatre measures 100m in diameter and its semi-circle of stone seating can accommodate an audience of 4,000. For the next 500 years the theatre was used to present classic Greek and Roman plays, sporting events and gladiator fights. This theatre provides fabulous acoustic for concerts which occur here from time to time.

The walls of the Roman theatre at Caesarea Maritima
The walls of the Roman theatre at Caesarea Maritima
This wooden bridge gives access to the theatre
This wooden bridge gives access to the theatre
This arch was the entrance of this well preserved Roman theatre
This arch was the entrance of this well preserved Roman theatre
Seating area of the theatre seen from the stage
Seating area of the theatre seen from the stage
Middle part of the seating area of the Roman theatre
A stage was being erected on the site - it is a popular venue for concerts and shows
Tourists at the site - it was an overcast morning and it started to drizzle
Tourists at the site - it was an overcast morning and it started to drizzle
Roman Theatre - Caesarea Maritima
An old stone from the ruins of Caesarea
These marble stones are few centuries old and possibly date back to theatre's original construction
These marble stones are few centuries old and possibly date back to theatre's original construction
This photo shows how theatre had looked in the past
This photo shows how theatre had looked in the past