The Bosra Roman Theater is an ancient theater in Bosra, Syria. It was built in the second quarter of the second century. It is the largest, most complete, and best-preserved theater of all the Roman theaters in the Middle East, and it was one of the largest theaters built in the Roman world.
The theater was built at the beginning of the second century, after Bosra became the capital of the new Roman province of Arabia Pétrea. The theater was built outside the city walls because there was no suitable place for it inside; however, it was integrated into the city's road network by means of a colonnaded street. In the Middle Ages, a Muslim fortress was built around the theater, which explains the excellent state of preservation of the latter; however, the colonnaded street, along with other structures near the theater, were destroyed when the fortress was built.
The theater presents an unusual characteristic in that it was not built on a natural slope, a supporting hill, but on a completely flat terrain. The theater was built to the north. Its structure was divided into three horizontal sections: the first ("ima cavea") had thirteen rows of seats; the middle section ("media cavea") had sixteen rows of seats; the last section ("summa cavea") only had six rows of seats, so the first section corresponded to visitors or travelers; the intermediate, to the population of the city; and the last, to the upper class.
The theater was 102 meters wide with a capacity for about 15,000 spectators The semicircular orchestra is 21 meters in diameter, surrounded by a decorative parapet and entered through two doors. Above the entrances were the seats usually reserved for distinguished guests.
The scale of the construction shows the prosperity achieved by the city of Bosra, which had 50,000 inhabitants.
By the early 20th century, most of the interior of the theater had been filled with sand, which acted as a natural preservative. The theater was restored between 1947 and 1970. The main restoration work was carried out in the stage area and the upper rows of seats. Part of these works were made with pink Egyptian granite.
The theater serves as the main venue for the Bosra Festival, a national music festival.
The theater was built at the beginning of the second century, after Bosra became the capital of the new Roman province of Arabia Pétrea. The theater was built outside the city walls because there was no suitable place for it inside; however, it was integrated into the city's road network by means of a colonnaded street. In the Middle Ages, a Muslim fortress was built around the theater, which explains the excellent state of preservation of the latter; however, the colonnaded street, along with other structures near the theater, were destroyed when the fortress was built.
The theater presents an unusual characteristic in that it was not built on a natural slope, a supporting hill, but on a completely flat terrain. The theater was built to the north. Its structure was divided into three horizontal sections: the first ("ima cavea") had thirteen rows of seats; the middle section ("media cavea") had sixteen rows of seats; the last section ("summa cavea") only had six rows of seats, so the first section corresponded to visitors or travelers; the intermediate, to the population of the city; and the last, to the upper class.
The theater was 102 meters wide with a capacity for about 15,000 spectators The semicircular orchestra is 21 meters in diameter, surrounded by a decorative parapet and entered through two doors. Above the entrances were the seats usually reserved for distinguished guests.
The scale of the construction shows the prosperity achieved by the city of Bosra, which had 50,000 inhabitants.
By the early 20th century, most of the interior of the theater had been filled with sand, which acted as a natural preservative. The theater was restored between 1947 and 1970. The main restoration work was carried out in the stage area and the upper rows of seats. Part of these works were made with pink Egyptian granite.
The theater serves as the main venue for the Bosra Festival, a national music festival.
