Jerash - Theatre - North Theatre - Cavea - Auditorium 04
From the construction method, the materials used and the architectural design, the experts conclude that the building was already built in the first half of the 2nd century AD, perhaps around 135/140 AD during a period of great urban restructuring. It was built as a bouleuterion, which means as a meeting place of the boule (council of citizens) and representatives of other administrative units of Gerasa.
At the beginning of the double reign of the Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (161 - 169 AD), probably between 161 and 163 AD, a first expansion took place, during which the Corinthian stage building (scaenae frons - see below) was erected, as evidenced by a dedication above its central door on the north facade. This inscription was changed around 165/166 AD, when the bouleuterion was transformed into an odeon, a small theater for recitations, singing and musical performances, where assemblies continued to be held. Subsequently, the seating capacity of the cavea (semicircular audience area) had to be substantially increased for this purpose.
Jerash - Theatre - North Theatre - Cavea - Auditorium 04
From the construction method, the materials used and the architectural design, the experts conclude that the building was already built in the first half of the 2nd century AD, perhaps around 135/140 AD during a period of great urban restructuring. It was built as a bouleuterion, which means as a meeting place of the boule (council of citizens) and representatives of other administrative units of Gerasa.
At the beginning of the double reign of the Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (161 - 169 AD), probably between 161 and 163 AD, a first expansion took place, during which the Corinthian stage building (scaenae frons - see below) was erected, as evidenced by a dedication above its central door on the north facade. This inscription was changed around 165/166 AD, when the bouleuterion was transformed into an odeon, a small theater for recitations, singing and musical performances, where assemblies continued to be held. Subsequently, the seating capacity of the cavea (semicircular audience area) had to be substantially increased for this purpose.