“Restore this theater. But do not lock the door; Give performances here, organize wrestling.”
This statement of Atatürk in 1930 is for Aspendos, the best preserved, the most beautiful acoustic and the most important Roman theater theater in the world.. Its magnificence, embroideries, structure and systematic reveal its difference between the works made in the similar period.
Ancient theater located in Belkıs town in Serik district of Antalya 2. century by Zeno. There is a very beautiful story about the construction of the ancient theater that has survived to the present day.
“The king of Aspendos had a very beautiful daughter back then and everyone wanted to marry her.. But the king does not know who to decide on, so he announces to the people: Whoever does the most beneficial and beautiful thing for our people, our city, I will give my daughter to him.. Two great works are produced on this situation, and these two works are revealed by two twin brothers.. One of these works is the aqueducts that brought water to the town, which were built as a result of a magnificent geometric calculation, miles away from the city; the other is the theater that was the best acoustically of that time and today in the world where the sound is heard even from the top when a coin is thrown to the ground in its orchestra.. Its architect is Zenon.. After seeing the aqueducts, the king wants to give his daughter to the architect who built the aqueducts, but then when he enters the theater, he hears a noise while walking around the upper part of the theater.. Voice: I must take the king’s daughter, he must give her to me. Admiring this acoustic, the king cuts his daughter in two with a big sword and gives it to the brothers.”
The theater, which tries to survive under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has hosted many concerts and events until recent years. was hosting. However, when it was revealed that the events held in the theater were damaged, the ancient theater was closed to all kinds of activities.
A highly developed entrance system has been made at the entrance of the theater compared to many cultural monuments I have visited in the region so far. Electronic turnstiles are used, where museum card holders pass by having their cards read.. In fact, for me, this was an image showing that we care carefully and sensitively by protecting our cultural and tourism works in this way.. The entrance gate, which is awaited by officials with more detail-oriented features than I have ever seen, reflects an ideal for tourism.. Such are the systems generally established abroad.
The makeshift parking lot, created by the Belkıs Municipality with wire fences around an earthen area, was arranged as a mandatory area for every guest to park their car.. Entrance to this land area is 5 Lira.
The entrance area, where those who wish can ride a camel and take pictures with animators dressed as gladiators, is enough to attract the attention of tourists.
Souvenirs. and cultural commemorative materials reflecting the period are incredibly expensive.. You can find refrigerator decorations for 5 liras in the shop, where even a postcard is sold for 1.5 liras.
After entering Aspendos, you disconnect from the outside world and find yourself in the Ancient Age.. Unfortunately, we cannot find the meaning of not being able to create areas where such large numbers of activities can be watched at the same time, even at that time, while walking on the stone structure.
