Turkey: Take Your Place in a Small Theatre on the Mediterranean

The Small Theatre at Phaselis

 

 



The Phaselis theatre, just off a 24 meter-wide, ancient street that runs through the city, began as a Greek Theatre, perhaps during the time of Alexander the Great.  Later the Romans blocked the beautiful view of the Bey Mountains (a Mount Olympus stand-in) with a typical Roman superstructure behind the stage area.

 

 

Along with the theatre, on the beautiful, ancient main street of Phaselis, are the ruins of shops, baths, an aquaduct and sarcophagi.  Fragrant pine forests and the lapping of the Mediterranean add to the appeal of Phaselis.

 

 

 



Phaselis, a city with three harbours on the Mediterranean, began life as a colony of Rhodes in 690 BC.  It quickly grew to become an important trading centre and attracted the attention of the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Egyptians, the Romans and pirates, to mention a few of those who wished to control this well placed centre of commerce.  In 42 BC, Brutus had the city linked to Rome.  During the Byzantine period, the city became a bishopric, but by the 3rd century AD, its great harbours were threatened by pirates once again and suffered further losses at the hands of Arab ships.  By the 11th century, it was commercially impoverished.  But for us, it is a site with ruins that tell its ancient and rich story.