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View looking west at the western portion of cavea (seating sections) of the theater at Perge. In the foreground is the orchestra area. Proceeding upward note beyond the orchestra area the remnants of the later wall that protected spectators from the animals and combatants when the orchestra functioned as an arena. Above the orchestra "wall" sections of the lower cavea are visible, above them is the belt/walkway (diazoma) that separated the lower cavea from a higher portion, and then the arches (that probably led into a protective walkway) at the top of the upper cavea—compare the one at Aspendos.
The theater at Perge is actually well preserved, but has not been reconstructed and is generally not open to the public. It could accommodate about 14,000 spectators. It is located south and west of the stadium - in what might be called the "entertainment district" of Perge.
Its original construction was during the Hellenistic period in the Greek style — cavea larger than a semi-circle, built into a hillside, etc. It was reconstructed during the Roman era and was in existence when Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark visited the city.
