A Theatre with a View
Roman culture was well-known for its popular spectacles. Politicians and emperors gave the masses what they wanted: bread and games. The quintessential Roman institutions were the amphitheatre for gladiatorial combat and circus for chariot racing. together with the theatre for plays and the stadium for athletic performances. In the historical region of Pisidia mainly the latter two were common.
By and large, the theatre of Sagalassos remained faithful to the cultural and architectural traditions of the Greek world, providing a place for entertainment, assembly and religious events. The seats were arranged in a bowl-shaped cavea, partly built against a natural slope and partly supported by substructures, allowing efficient circulation of throngs of visitors. The stage building had a single-storey architecturally articulated backdrop. This setting exploited the dramatic panoramic setting, which was a trend in ancient Pisidia.