Preliminary Report on the Theatre of Smyrna / Izmir and the Excavations (2014-2019)

The Theatre of Smyrna, whose presence in the memory of the city of Izmir dates back to the 17th century, begins to appear after the demolition of the modern houses constructed in this area since the 19th century. Excavations carried out in the last 5 years revealed the east part of the cavea and some additions of the stage building. The archaeological excavations realised in the stage building revealed the presence of many sculpture fragments and architectural blocks including friezes with masks, which provide information about the facade of the building in the 2nd century AD. The research has also revealed the existence of various epigraphic findings that shed light on the urban life. While the excavations showed that some parts of the ima cavea and the diazoma were preserved, many figurines and ceramics were also found, which gave an idea about the possible structures around the theatre.