As we traveled through the southwestern part of Turkey to sites at Pergamum, Sardis, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Colossae, Aphrodisias, Didyma, and Ephesus, we were overwhelmed by the size of the theaters and stadiums that remain from Roman (and pre-Roman) times.
The well-preserved theater in Ephesus (the one mentioned in Acts 19) seated 24,000. Reminder: no sound system. They must have had amazing acoustical engineering and vocal training. Plus, I guess, no cell phones were going off to compete with the actors.
Here are some of the sites.
The theater on the hill of Pergamum (above modern Bergama):
The theater at Hierapolis:
The theater and stadium at Aphrodisias:
And the most impressive theater of Ephesus. (”The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater.” Acts 19:29)
Here’s our “team.” We’re just six people who’ve been friends for almost a quarter of a century. It was a serendipity that one of the six is something of an expert on Ephesus, ancient Greco-Roman religions, and Roman civic religion.
Think of the construction of those marvels with no power tools or heavy equipment. And some of our “modern-day wonders” that are torn down to make room for more.
It is so incredible to see things that have lasted that long.
13 days and I will!
ss
Amazing…I’m looking a the Ephesian theater and imagining Paul’s companions being dragged there and Paul wanting to rush in after them.
Thanks for sharing
Excellent pictures!
Incredible! Can’t imagine how impressive these theatres must be when you see them “face-to-face” - these pics make a great bocadillo - hopefully you’ll post the main course in the next day or so.
So pleased for you and the trip, but it’s sooooo good to have you back with us!
K
Baron, yes, it’s just you. Thankfully so.
Oh dear Baron, does one have to be stylistically superior when blogging? I have no chance…
Mike, wonderful pics. We spent one day in Ephesus on a cruise in 2006 and would love to get back to see more of Turkey.
My pics are here: http://wjcsydney.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/zucchini-fritters-and-ephesus/
Great photos. Now I’m that much more determined to go see those places.
Thank you for posting these wonderful pictures!