Scene friezes in the Roman period theathers in Anatolia

The first Greek theater in the 5th and 4th century BC. occur in Greece. There are two views on how Greek theater was born and developed. According to the first view, the ceremonies for the death and rebirth of Dionysus were repeated every year, revealing the advanced Greek tragedy. According to the second view, the source of the Greek theater plays is not attributed to the festivities for Dionysus but to the celebrations for the deified heroes. As a reflection of this, the friezes of Dionysus, which decorate the stage buildings of many theaters, are examples. The architectural decoration elements in the stage buildings of the theaters were blended with local understanding and artistic styles specific to Rome, and richness, aesthetics and visuality were prioritized. The Asian theater is a sacred and public building where the Greek, Roman and Anatolian cultures come together and their magnificent reliefs and architectural decoration are integrated. The local gods and cults in the Roman city pantheon were depicted in the friezes of the stage building of the theaters and gained importance. The use of these figures in the stage building emphasizes that the theater is used as a station in the events organized. The friezes that adorn the stage buildings of the theaters (Ephesus, Hierapolis, Nysa, Miletus, Perge, Side) dated to the Roman period in Anatolia, which I have discussed in the scope of the study, were interpreted as stylistic, iconographic and meaning. At the same time, considering the religious, political and local elements in these cities, the subjects and figures on the stage buildings of the theaters of these cities are represented and their connections with the city have been given a symbolic meaning.