Phespirit goes to Syria
tour     March 2004

THE THEATRE AT BOSRA Amidst the ruins of any ancient Roman city there will usually be a theatre. The one at Bosra is in an excellent state of preservation. The thirty-seven rows of seats can still accommodate 15,000 patrons. The stage acoustics are perfect. Indeed, this is arguably the best preserved Roman theatre anywhere in the world.
THE THEATRE AT PALMYRA The theatre built at the city of Palmyra was designed for smaller audiences than that of Bosra; the latter being at the crossroads of important trade routes, not stuck out in the middle of the desert somewhere. The centuries have been less kind here but the archaeologists and restorers have done their jobs well.
THE THEATRE AT APAMEA Most of Apamea's theatre has been dug up for use in a post-earthquake restoration job on the hilltop citadel behind it. It remains significant, however, as its stage (or what's left of it) has been measured and declared the world's largest, at 139m.