Odeon

In the ancient city of Ephesus there are two theatres, the Grand Theatre (post coming soon) and this, the Odeon, Bouleuterion. Both of these structures can be explored by tourists. Let's go in.
"This building has the shape of a small theatre with the stage building, seating places and the orchestra.It had double function in use. First it was used as a Bouleuterion for the meetings of the Boulea or the Senate. The second fuction was the Odeum as a concert hall for the performances.It was constructed in the 2nd century A.D by the order of Publius Vedius Antonius and his wife Flavia paiana, two wealthy citizens in Ephesus."
"It had a capacity of 1500 spectators. It had 3 doors opening from the stage to the podium. The podium was narrow and one meter higher than the orchestra section. The stage building was two-storeyed and embellished with columns.The podium in front of the stage building and some parts of the seating were restored. The Odeon used to be enclosed with a wooden roof.

Two councils administrated Ephesus. These were Demos or the parliament which was open to the public was taken place in the great theatre and the Bouleia which gathered in this small theatre. The members of the boulea were chosen from the aristocratic class of Ephesians. The most important decisions and city matters were discussed here."




It looks well preserved, and again I must reiterate my concern about the harm that tourists like me could bring to these ancient structures.
From the seats this is the view of the street outside.

Comments

  1. fascinating place. i love historic places like this--hay, kelan pa kaya ako makakarating?!:p

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  2. «Louis» really enjoys historical posts like this.

    You can get «Louis'» e-mail from his profile. Send him a note, he'll tell you what happened to Café-Saint-Honoré. He is now selling his coffee at El Cerrito Plaza Farmer's Market on Tuesdays, Beehive Market (Berkeley Adult School, San Pablo at Virginia) Saturdays and at Emeryville Market on Thursdays 12 - 6 (Park Street at Haven).

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  3. really fascinating to learn how it was built and more to that why it was built. i think the same experience when i visited batad.

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  4. the first photo is really magnificent!

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  5. I'm surprised the Turkish government still allows tourists to clamber up the steps of this ancient theater. In Mexico and Egypt, they've stopped people from going up Chichen Itza and the Great Pyramids.

    Odeon though reminds me of a local cinema in Davao City which has long since closed - now I know where the name came from.

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  6. Now I'll think of the nicer Odeon and not the Odeon in the Philippines. =)

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  7. Such an interesting place and superb series of shots

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  8. There was an ODEON theatre on the corner of CM REcto and Avenida Rizal in Manila when I was studying there. It always featured "bold" movies if I remember that right. :)

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  9. It really IS amazing, Maria. So much history...and it has stood over time, against all the tourists who have walked by!

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  10. I am surprised, myself, to see tourists on the ruins itself. In other countries, they are cordoned off.

    Great shots.

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  11. beautiful! looks like the tourists were out in full force. great shots!

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  12. the place is really amazing no wonder people/ tourists would fall in line just to see it.

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  13. i would love to touch those stones. ^0^ beautiful!

    ps: i can't help grinning when i read your comment on top, apparently, a lot has changed already, the name odeon is still in use but now, it's full of stalls and cellphone shops. ^0^

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  14. Very interesting place of old civilization. That's a nice shot of the amphitheater.


    P.S. I felt the quake last night and I felt a little dizzy so I went to bed early. It lasted for a while.

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  15. nice shots. hey i like the look of your new theme :)

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  16. I'd like to walk and take photos among those precious stones. Amazing place and pictures.

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  17. You visited the original Odeon! Now I'm really jealous. That place looks amazing.

    Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comment. Come visit again. Have a great start to your week!

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