The Two Theatres
The West and North theatres on the northern slope of Laodicea — a pair, one restored and staging performances again, the other still under excavation.
The West Theatre
The West Theatre sits on the slope looking out over the Lycus Valley; the upper part of its seating tiers is of travertine. It has been raised again through a comprehensive restoration and made usable once more — the site now hosts concerts and performances from time to time.
A building constructed two thousand years ago receiving an audience again is among the most visible achievements of the Laodicea excavation.
The North Theatre
Restoration work continues at the North Theatre, the city's second and larger theatre; part of its stepped seating still carries the shape of the earth. Seeing the two theatres one after the other sums up at a glance the stages an archaeological site passes through from excavation to restoration.
Why Two Theatres
A city carrying two theatres is taken as an indicator of its population and its wealth — which is not surprising given Laodicea's commercial riches. The two are thought to have answered different periods and different needs, one complementing the other in terms of the kinds of performance staged; the precise division of function is the subject of the excavation publications.