ANTIQUE ENTERTAINMENT

Last month, I learned that there are much more Roman theaters in Judea (Israel, Palestine and Syria) than the five I was aware of. Next to Herodium , Caesarea , Beth She'an (Scythopolis), Zippori (Diocaesarea) and Shuni , ten (sic!) more theaters have been excavated. Elussa (1), Antipatris (2), Dora (3), Gadara (4), Hippos (5), Samaria Sebaste (6), Jericho (7), Tiberias (8), Legio (9) and Mamas (10). I received some pictures from the internet, among the one of Antipatris. At this old picture, excavations were still going on. The small theater, unearthed at Aphek-Antipatris, is located at the southern part of the ancient tell on which Roman Antipatris was built. The theater faces east, with its stage building parallel to the southern part of the cardo which traverses the city north to south. Because of its small dimension, the excavators of Antipatris have called it an odeon. Since, in their opinion, it was never completed and because of its poor state of preservation, a full plan...

This summer, I passed the Palestinian National Theatre in Jerusalem (PNT). PNT is a Palestinian non profit cultural institution which "strives to create and to develop a unique cultural life in Jerusalem, by way of producing and presenting artistic, educational and entertaining programs that reflect the aspirations of the Palestinian people". Due to financial problems and the tensions within the city, the theater is hardly in use anymore. Another theater in Judaea which is out of duty, is the Roman theater in Nablus at the West Bank, or Flavia Neapolis . It is the largest theater in this once Roman province, but in very poor shape. The Palestinian Authority does not have the funds to restore this great site. When I compare this rubble with the splendid restored theater at Beth She'an , hardly 15 kilometers away to the northeast, but in Israel, I want to establish a special fundraising Foundation to get the restoration of this theater done! Who is in? I have not visit...