Imagine traveling back in time to when the great Roman Empire ruled over much of this Earth. Time machines haven’t been invented (yet!), but you can still catch a glimpse of ancient civilizations through such archaeological sites as the theater at Hierapolis, in what is now Turkey.

The Roman Emperor Vespasian commissioned construction of a theater, in the 2nd century A.D.  Hollowed out from a hillside  to the east of Hierapolis, which in Greek means “Holy City,” the ruins overlook the modern Town of Pamukkale in Turkey. They currently comprise an archaeological museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, indicating that this ancient place has cultural and physical significance.

Building of the theater was not complete until 206 AD, after alterations were made by Emperors Hadrian and Severus. Workers used the remains and seats from an earlier theater destroyed by an earthquake. In the year 352, the theater underwent a thorough restoration and was adapted for water shows, which were a popular attraction of the time.

The auditorium featured stacked seating with a capacity of 15,000. The lower part originally had 20 rows and the upper part contained 25. The proscenium—an ancient Greek or Roman stage—consisted of two stories with ornately decorated niches to the sides. Statue depictions of the Roman gods Apollo, Dionysus, and Diana once graced the decor of this now ancient theater. You can view these statues in the onsite museum.

To experience this and other relics of the Western world’s antiquity, take one of our educational tours to Turkey.

Turkey tours by Explorica Educational Travel

	10-day Turkey Tour Travel outside the capital to Turkey’s ancient cities of Canakkale, Kusadasi, Pamukkale and Bursa.
	Turkey & Greece Pass through the ruins of Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus before embarking on an Aegean cruise to Athens. Once you reach the birthplace of democracy, visit the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
	Athens, Istanbul & the Aegean Tour the ancient Grecian ruins in the bustling capital of Athens, explore the city of Istanbul to wander along mosque-lined streets and haggle over silk scarves at open-air markets, then set sail to discover Greece’s idyllic Aegean Islands.