Description of the attraction
The ruins of the ancient theater are undoubtedly one of the most interesting and famous sights of Plovdiv. The theater is located in the Old Town - the most ancient part of Plovdiv. It was built at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. e., during the reign of Emperor Trajan. In ancient times, this imposing building was a real decoration of the city; a huge number of people gathered here for performances. Unfortunately, around the 5th century AD. NS. during the attack of the Huns under the leadership of Attila, the theater was partially destroyed. Its ruins were discovered by accident: specialists of the Archaeological Museum carried out work here to strengthen the fortress wall. This is the only case when in Plovdiv not separate fragments were found, but the whole object. It took almost 10 years to excavate the ancient theater, which was under a 15-meter layer of earth. Despite the fact that the complex was once significantly damaged, today it is one of the best-preserved structures of this type in the world.
The visual part, or theatron, is located in the form of a semicircle. It is divided into two large sectors, each with 14 rows with long benches. On the stone seats, carved inscriptions with the names of urban districts have been preserved - with their help, the audience determined where to sit. The total capacity of the hall was about seven thousand people.
In the lower part of the theater there is a stage, behind which rises a skene - a building intended for actors. It is a three-storey building with columns, decorated with molded decorative elements.
After the completion of excavations and work on the restoration of this architectural monument in 1981, a theatrical performance was shown here, which attracted nearly five thousand spectators. Currently, the theater is equipped in accordance with modern requirements; concerts, festivals, etc. are regularly held here.
When visiting this attraction, you can book a guided tour in Bulgarian, Russian, English, German or French.
Description added:
Maria 2016-18-10
What other ruins, these are not ruins for a long time, but a completely restored, full-fledged theater, where many performances and events are held.
