Aspendos

Aspendos is a few miles down the road and a bit inland...the usual Greco/Roman city ruins, most in a more ruinous state. But it has one thing not ruined: its theatre, which is everywhere recognized as the most complete and best preserved instance of a Roman theatre anywhere.

It is a two camel site; note muzzles

Interestingly, these camels were capped at

both ends

From the outside, the theatre looks like an ordinary 2,000
year-old 5-story building (built during reign of Marcus
Aurelius)



Inside, you need a really big lens; ancient theatres are like

this, steep, nearly surrounding the stage, no seat more than

perhaps 150 feet from the action; no need to burn a 50 amp

fuse here



Vicki center stage



From where I was in the sky-boxes

In the high arcade...popcorn, peanuts, hot dogs, cold beer...

Sky-boxes



View from proscenium



Proscenium, the part that is best preserved at Aspendos



Deus ex machina?

View from the hill above



Hill-top ruins



Countryside around Aspendos

The parking fee at Aspendos was 8YTL ($5), which entitled us, we thought, to an overnight stay. It was a very quiet night. But the internet connection was good.