Perge Theatre excavations were carried out by a Turkish team between 1985 and 1993. During excavations, besides the Dionysos frieze existing in its original location now, Kentauromakhia and Gigantomakhia friezes were found and also numerous architectural structures were discovered.
There are two main building stages at Perge Theatre. It was discovered that the stage building was designed as a two storey building in the beginning, then the third storey was added; and during that period “proskenion” were reexamined, when architectural construction and decorations were reconsidered. It is understood that decorations were completed within certain times and re-decorated during other periods.
Due to characteristics of architectural composition and superiority, the gods were located on the third floor of the Gigantomakhia frieze, and on the second floor of the Kentauromakhia frieze. The sacrifice scene is on the “Porta Regina”.
Construction and repair stages of Perge Theatre have not been dated other than according to style characteristics of the structures in Anatolia through comparison, as no record about the building has been discovered. According to this comparison the first stage building’s construction was started about A.D. 170’s, and completed during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus in A.D. 193-211. Then one more floor was added to this building. As almost all decorations of the third floor have characteristics of the Severus period, the second building stage is believed to have been conducted during the reigns of Emperor Severus Alexander (A.D. 222-235) or Maximinus Thrax (A.D. 235-238).
It is seen that detailed work continued between A.D. 235-240 and 260-265 during reign of Emperor Gallienus. Due to war state treasures were brought to Perge by Emperor Tacitus during A.D. 275-276, the economical condition improved and the theatre was reexamined and stage building details and “changes made for water sports” were designed during that period.
“Proskenion” and collected material on the first floor indicate that the stage building was repaired during Late Roman period. The collected materials are of the latest A.D. 450-475 period, which causes archaeologits to think that the building was repaired later. In addition, architectural similarity of the locationwholly renewed during Emperor Iustinianus’ reign but not having too high embossing leads scientists to date it to earlier periods, and therefore last building activities must have been conducted during the periods of Emperor Marcianus (A.D. 450-457) and Iustinianus (A.D. 527-565).
The sculptures discovered during excavations were located in niches in the stage building according to their specific location and are indicated in the board.
HISTORY OF PERGE THEATRE:
I. Building Stage : A.D. 170-211
II. Building Stage : A.D. 222-238
Continuance of detailed studies : A.D. 235-265
Continuance of detailed studies and changes : A.D. 275-300/305
Restorations : A.D. 450/475-527
