Roman Amphiteater - Amman, Jordan
Posted by: 
Torgut
N 31° 57.097 E 035° 56.362
36R E 777838 N 3538846
This amphitheater was built in the 2nd Century, with a capacity of 9.000 seats.
Waymark Code: WMF3A7
Location: Jordan
Date Posted: 08/15/2012
Views: 12
From Wikipedia (
visit link)
"The theatre was built during the reign of Antonius Pius (138-161 CE). The large and steeply raked structure could seat about 6,000 people: built into the hillside, it was oriented north to keep the sun off the spectators.
It was divided into three horizontal sections (diazomata). Side entrances (paradoi) existed at ground level, one leading to the orchestra and the other to the stage. Rooms behind these entrances now house the Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions on the one side, and the Amman Folklore Museum on the other side.
The highest section of seats in a theatre was (and still is) called "The Gods". Although far from the stage, even there the sightlines are excellent, and the actors could be clearly heard, owing to the steepness of the cavea."
By visiting the amphitheater (tickey is ridiculously cheap (one will gain access to at least a museum (usually, more, but when I visited the others were temporarily closed) which happens to be small but very interesting.
It's nice to watch the locals: as they don't pay entrance fee they use the place as a meeting place. Kids will be hanging around, and older people too, having a chat about the latest gossips.