Archaeologists Completed the Restoration Of Ancient Laodiceia's Theatre

Restoration works on the 2,200-year-old theatre in the ancient city of Laodiceia, located in southwestern Turkey, have been completed.

Professor Celal Simsek of the University of Pamukkale (ancient Hierapolis) and his archeological team have been working in ancient Laodiceia since 2003, managing to complete the restoration of the ancient theater (with capacity over 15,000 seats) within 15 years!

Noting that the team applied the restoration techniques of international criteria, he said, "This is the most extensive project whose restoration has been completed in such a short time."

A general view from the restoration of the theatre in the ancient city of Laodikea, Denizli,
western Turkey [Credit: Anadolou Agency]

Simsek added that 10 academics, a specialist architect, 12 archaeologists, four restoring personnel and 20 workers participated in the faithful project, managing to carry out the work thanks to the contributions by the South Aegean Development Agency and the metropolitan municipality of Denizli.

‘Laodicea’ on the Lycus

Laodicea on the Lycus (Greek: Λαοδίκεια πρὸς τοῦ Λύκου Laodikia pros tou Lykou; Latin: Laodicea ad Lycum, also transliterated as Laodiceia or Laodikeia) (modern Turkish: Laodikeia) was an ancient city built on the river Lycus (Çürüksu). It was located in the Hellenistic regions of Caria and Lydia, which later became the Roman Province of Phrygia Pacatiana. It is now situated near the modern city of Denizli, Turkey. In 2013 the archaeological site was inscribed in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in Turkey.

It contained one of the Seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation.