Odeum Restored

View looking southeast from the upper cavea down into the orchestra and stage/podium area of the Restored Odeum-Bouleuterion at Laodicea. The excavation of this structure began in 2024, under the direction of Professor Celal Şimşek, and its restoration and excavation has continued to the present day (2026, when this picture was taken).

The Odeum was probably built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (r. 27 BC–14 AD). It remained in use through the seventh century AD. It could seat approximately 600 people. It was built into the hillside and probably had entrances from above. In addition, notice the three doorways that lead on to the stage area. Almost all of the area visible in this photograph has been reconstructed from materials found in the excavation—a process known as anastylosis.

As an Odeum it would have been covered and used for lectures and concerts. It probably also served as a bouleuterion, that is, a council chamber for the elected officials of the city known as the boule.