Roman Theatre at Palmyra
Roman, Palmyrene | |
| Site notes | |
|---|---|
| Condition | Largely intact |
| Ownership | Public |
| Public access | Inaccessible (in a war zone) |
Arab States | |
| Endangered | 2013–present |
The Roman Theatre at Palmyra (
Overview
The second-century CE theatre was built in the center of a semicircular
The proscenium wall is decorated with ten curved and nine rectangular niches placed alternately.[3] The stage measures 45.5 by 10.5 metres (149 by 34 ft) and is accessed by two staircases.[5] The scaenae frons had five doors:[6] the main entrance, or valve regia, built into a broad curved niche; two guest doors on either side of the valve regia, or valve hospitalis, built into shallow rectangular niches; and two extra doors, at either end of the stage.[5] Emperor Nero is known to have placed his statue in the niche of the regia of the theatre at Palmyra.[7] The columns at the stage are decorated in the Corinthian order.[5]
In the 1950s the theatre was cleared from the sand and subsequently underwent restoration works.[8]
The theatre hosted folk music performances for the annual Palmyra festival.[9]
Partial destruction and restoration
Syrian Civil War
ISIL occupation
The
Recapture by Syrian government
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Following the recapture of Palmyra by the Syrian Army with Russian air support in March 2016, drone footage showed that the theatre remained largely intact.[15]
On 5 May 2016, the 100th anniversary of Syria's
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson
Second ISIL occupation: partial destruction
ISIL took control of Palmyra once again in December 2016. Shortly after that, they completely destroyed the facade of the theater according to Mamoun Abdulkarim, Director of the Syrian government agency of antiquities and museums.[23] Syrian authorities reported that satellite images showed signs of intentional destruction.[24] Mikhail Piotrovsky, a scholar of the Arabic and the director of the Hermitage Museum, argued that it was an act of reprisal. In May 2016, ISIL radio had promised to stage a new "concert", in response to the classical concert staged by Russia.[25] Drone footage shot by the Russian Ministry of Defense showed that the theater was partially destroyed. The proscenium, the central part of the stage, suffered severe damage. UNESCO head Irina Bokova characterized the destruction as a "war crime."[26] Palmyra was retaken by Syrian government forces in early March 2017.[27]
Restoration
On 23 July 2023, the Syrian Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums and the Institute for the History of Material Culture of Russian Academy of Sciences signed an agreement to start the comprehensive restoration of theatre.[citation needed] Completion of the works was set before the end of 2023.
Gallery
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Panoramic view of the theater from the cavea in 2010 -
Panoramic view of the cavea from the stage in 2010
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Sear 2006, p. 21.
- ^ Ball 2000, p. 296.
- ^ a b c d Sear 2006, p. 321.
- ^ Finlayson 2012, p. 312.
- ^ a b c Sear 2006, p. 322.
- ^ Sear 2006, p. 108.
- ^ Kernodle 1989, p. 127.
- ^ Carter, Dunston & Thomas 2008, p. 208.
- ^ Nair, Radhika P. (May 2008). "Calendar". Outlook Traveller. 8 (5). New Delhi: 34.
The ancient city of Palmyra in Syria comes alive each year during the Palmyra Festival. The enchanting Roman theatre is the venue for the soulful folk music performances in the evenings.
- ^ "Islamic State seizes Syria's ancient Palmyra". BBC News. 21 May 2015.
- ^ Hutcherson, Kimberly (5 July 2015). "ISIS video shows execution of 25 men in ruins of Syria amphitheater". CNN.
- ^ "Islamic State Releases Gruesome Video Showing Mass Execution of Syrian Soldiers in Palmyra". Vice News. 4 July 2015.
- ^ "IS 'executes' 20 in Palmyra Roman theatre". Middle East Eye. 28 May 2015.
- ^ "آزادسازی شهر تاریخی تدمر - سوریه" (in Persian). Tasnim News Agency. 28 March 2016.
- ^ Shaheen, Kareem; Graham-Harrison, Emma (27 March 2016). "Syrian regime forces retake 'all of Palmyra' from Isis". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016.
- ^ Simpson, John (6 May 2016). "Syria Palmyra concert: Canny Putin puts himself centre stage". BBC News.
- ^ Luke Harding (5 May 2016). "Palmyra hosts Russian concert after recapture by Syrian forces". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016.
- ^ "Soft power in Syria: A Russian orchestra plays Bach and Prokofiev in the ruins of Palmyra". The Economist. 6 May 2016.
- ^ Kramer, Andrew E.; Higgins, Andrew (5 May 2016). "In Syria, Russia Plays Bach Where ISIS Executed 25". The New York Times.
- ^ "Daily Press Briefing". state.gov. 5 May 2016.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary statement on reports of air strike on Syrian refugee camp". gov.uk. 5 May 2016.
- ^ Bazenkova, Anastasia (6 May 2016). "Britain and Russia in Diplomatic Spat Over Palmyra Concert". The Moscow Times.
- ^ "ISIS Destroys Another Roman Monument in Palmyra, Syria: Official". NBC News. January 20, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ Karadsheh, Jomana; Khadder, Kareem; Said-Moorhouse, Lauren; Pleitgen, Frederik (20 January 2017). "Reports: ISIS destroys facade of Roman theater in Syrian city of Palmyra". CNN.
- Russian News Agency TASS. 20 January 2017.
- Washington Post.
- ^ "Atop Palmyra's damaged theatre, Syrian musicians sing of return". Al-Monitor via AFP. 5 March 2017.
Bibliography
- Ball, Warwick (2000). Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire. Routledge. ISBN 9780415113762.
- Sear, Frank (2006). Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198144694.
- Finlayson, Cynthia (2012). "New Excavations and a Reexamination of the Great Roman Theater at Apamea, Syria, Seasons 1–3 (2008–2010)". .
- Kernodle, George Riley (1989). The Theatre in History. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 9781557280121.
- Carter, Terry; Dunston, Lara; Thomas, Amelia (2008). Syrian & Lebanon 3. ISBN 9781741046090.