THEATER & STADIUM

Aphrodisias is 'one of the most impressive ancient cities of Anatolia' with well preserved buildings and magnificent sculptures from 2nd century B.C. to Roman times ie 2200 years ago. With an estimate population of 100,000+ a sprawling spread of spectacular structures still stands from public plazas, council chambers, baths to the mind boggling amphitheater and the stadium that could hold 30,000 ! Just close your eyes for a moment, bring yourself back to that era and imagine what it must be like back then. Can you hear the chorus behind the stage at the theater? Can you hear the thunderous cheers from the stands at the stadium? I can, loud and clear, but I go beyond that. I can even hear the moans and groans from the thousands of slaves who spent practically their entire work life on one project, the regimen of anxious engineers trying to line up the arches and support pillars, the army of skilled craftsmen who decorated the stone columns with marble slabs and, lastly the middle management task masters who drove everyone insane, right? It may be the Cecil DeMille version from Hollywood but it was vivid, it was uncanny. All of a sudden these folks came to life around me, they took my breath away as I sat in their midst in Aphrodisias, totally mesmerized.