08/21/2025
The Stadium of Aphrodisias, located in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), truly stands out as one of the most remarkable surviving structures from the ancient world. It is widely regarded as the best-preserved stadium in the entire Mediterranean region.
This impressive athletic venue boasts significant dimensions, measuring approximately 262 meters in length and 59 meters in width. With its 22 rows of seats, it had a remarkable capacity to accommodate up to 30,000 spectators, making it one of the largest stadiums of its kind built in antiquity. Its unusually complete and intact state offers an extraordinary glimpse into Roman architecture and the design of public spaces for entertainment.
Constructed primarily in the 1st century CE, the stadium was designed specifically for athletic contests, mirroring the grand Olympic and Pythian games of Greece. Events held here included traditional Greek athletic competitions like foot races, long-jumping, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing, boxing, and the brutal pankration. Uniquely for a Greek stadium, it is closed at both ends, giving it an elliptical shape that ensured excellent views of the arena for all 30,000 spectators. Later, it was also adapted to host Roman spectacles such as gladiatorial combats and wild-beast fights.
