Theater Skene Reliefs 2

Theater Skene Reliefs 2

View looking northeast at the amazingly well–preserved reliefs still in place on the skene of the theater at Perge. Unfortunately details cannot be made out in the image, but representations of stories associated with Cestrus (river god) and of Dionysus (god of entertainment and wine) are well preserved.   Portions of this skene are in the museum in Antalya.


The theater at Perge is actually well preserved, but has not been reconstructed and is generally not open to the public.  It could accommodate about 14,000 spectators.  It is located south and west of the stadium - in what might be called the "entertainment district" of Perge.

Its original construction was during the Hellenistic period in the Greek style — cavea larger than a semi–circle, built into a hillside, etc.  It was reconstructed during the Roman era and was in existence when Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark visited the city.