Research Article

The Location and Significance of the Theater at Nicaea in the Context of Roman Theaters

Volume: 7 Number: 2 September 25, 2025
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The Location and Significance of the Theater at Nicaea in the Context of Roman Theaters

Abstract

The ancient city of Nicaea, located the Iznik district of Bursa, borders of the Ancient Bithynia. The city is located on important roads, made it an important center from the Hellenistic Period to the Ottoman Period. In the city where the Roman ruins under modern settlement, the only structure that has survived to this period is the theatre. The first information about the construction is taken from the Pliny letters. According to the letters, it is stated that the construction of the main units of the theater, the cavea and scaena, was completed in 111 AD, and new additions were planned to be made with the financial aid from sponsors. It represents the only example in Anatolia built completely independent of the ground, with its rows of seats raised using vault and arch technology, without any slope. In the theatre, which is thought to have been approximately 24 m. high and had a capacity of 10 thousand people, the trapezoidal vaults carrying the ima cavea, some of the barrel vaults carrying the media cavea, the substructure plan of the scaena, the piers carrying the summa cavea or portico, and the ambulacrum have been preserved. The differences it contains, when compared to other contemporary theaters built within the borders of the Roman Empire, put the building in a special location among Roman theatres. The Nicaea Theater, which was built with meticulous workmanship and has a hybrid plan, is a structure unique to Turkey and has the character of an architectural heritage in this respect.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Dokuz Eylül Üniversity

Project Number

Project Number: 2018.KB.SOS.012

Ethical Statement

I declare that this study is an original work; that I have acted in accordance with the principles and rules of scientific ethics at all stages of the study, including preparation, data collection, analysis and presentation of information; that I have cited sources for all data and information not obtained within the scope of this study and included these sources in the bibliography; that I have not made any changes in the data used and that I comply with ethical duties and responsibilities.

Thanks

We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Aygün Ekin Meriç, Head of Excavation, and Dokuz Eylül University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit for their support.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Archaeological Science , Greek and Roman Period Archeology

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

September 17, 2025

Publication Date

September 25, 2025

Submission Date

January 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 17, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 2

APA
Kardoruk, N., & Öz, A. K. (2025). The Location and Significance of the Theater at Nicaea in the Context of Roman Theaters. OANNES - International Journal of Ancient History, 7(2), 248-271. https://doi.org/10.33469/oannes.1617075

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