Ancient Theatre of Salamis
Restored Roman theatre in the ruined city of Salamis, the largest ancient theatre on Cyprus.
The theatre lies in the southern part of Salamis, the harbour city that was the leading settlement of Cyprus from the Archaic period until earthquakes and silting ended its life in the seventh century. Built in the reign of Augustus and enlarged under Trajan and Hadrian, it was cut into a low artificial slope rather than a hillside. Fifty rows of seating once held an audience estimated at fifteen thousand, making it the largest theatre on the island; about eighteen rows survive today, the upper tiers having been quarried away for later building.
Earthquakes in the fourth century wrecked the stage building, and its stone was reused in the nearby baths. The theatre was uncovered by excavation from 1959 and partly rebuilt so that it could again hold performances, a use it has kept intermittently since. Visitors reach it on the marked circuit through the archaeological site, which also takes in the gymnasium with its colonnaded palaestra, the Roman baths, a basilica and the agora. Statues recovered here are displayed in museums in Cyprus.
Highlights
- Cavea of about eighteen restored rows facing a semicircular orchestra
- Originally fifty rows seating an audience of some fifteen thousand
- Excavated from 1959 and rebuilt for occasional modern performances
- Part of the Salamis circuit with the gymnasium, baths and basilica
