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Near East: Restoration of Laodicea's Hellenistic theatre to be completed in 3 years

The restoration and excavation work of a 2,200-year-old theatre located in the ancient city of Laodicea in Turkey's southwestern Denizli province is expected to be completed within three years, an archaeologist leading the restoration works said on Saturday.

Restoration of Laodicea's Hellenistic theatre to be completed in 3 years
Restoration of Laodicea's Hellenistic theatre to be completed in 3 years

The Chair of Pamukkale University Archaeology Department and the Head of Laodicea Excavation Committee Professor Celal Şimşek said that the ongoing work at the ancient city currently focuses on two crucial findings, including a temple and the theatre.

"Laodicea was a great metropolis and had two ancient theatres," Şimşek said and added that they are currently working on the restoration of the western (Hellenistic) theatre and aim to complete it in three years.

Şimşek noted that the restoration of the ancient city has been carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Pamukkale University since 2003 and with the contribution of the Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, they were able to continuously carry out excavations for twelve months.

The Hellenistic theatre is 94 metres in diameter, while the northern theatre constructed in the second century AD is 124 metres in diameter. Furthermore, the Hellenistic theatre was constructed about 2,200 years ago and has a capacity of 15,000 people.

Şimşek said that the inscriptions found in the northern theatre reveals that people held important trade meetings in the establishment, which could hold up to 20,000 people.

He also noted that the 35,000 square metre temple was destroyed during the period of Constantine the Great and it was used as a market square instead. The remains of the temple and the market square were then buried following an earthquake in the fifth century AD.

Şimşek and his team aim to add Laodicea to the UNESCO World Heritage List in five years.

Laodiciea is currently on the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey.​

In March, the restoration - currently being conducted in the ancient city- was awarded the European Union Cultural Heritage Jury's special award.

Regarded as one of the most important ancient cities in Anatolia, Laodicea is home to one of the Seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Source: Daily Sabah [September 18, 2016]