Description of the site: The Roman Amphitheater was built at the northeastern tip of the top of the site and at the outer facade of the city's defensive walls, which date back to the Iron Age. It is surrounded by a tower dating back to the Greeks on the south side. It is considered an essential component of the city during the Roman period. The primary role of the theater was to hold theatrical and entertainment performances for the city's residents according to Roman traditions and culture, as they were part of the daily life of Roman society. Therefore, theaters were established in all Roman cities. Although they differed in magnitude according to the city's size, they shared the same function, planning, and technical specifications in construction. Sebastia's theater is considered small compared to the theaters of major cities that could accommodate tens of thousands of attendees, while this theater could accommodate three thousand spectators.The theater was allowed to host all classes of society, and the seats were arranged in the form of suites dedicated to the groups of society, consistent with the social and political class to which each person belonged. Archaeological excavations uncovered the orchestra arena and the lower part of the terraces, and it contained fourteen rows that were divided into six suites; each suite was allocated to a specific class of society. The remains of the building and the beautiful stone decorations on the site shed light on the beauty of the design and decoration of this theater. The archaeologists estimated this theater's establishment date to be the end of the second century and the beginning of the third century AD.
It is located at the northeastern tip of the Acropolis site.
PS-NBS
Palestinian Territories