The theater of the 2,400-year-old ancient city of Alexandria Troas, located in Dalyan village, Çanakkale’s Ezine district, is poised to be fully uncovered in upcoming excavations. Excavation work at Alexandria Troas, which commenced on July 1, will continue until the year’s end. Led by Professor Erhan Öztepe from the Department of Archaeology at Ankara University since 2011, a team of about 40 people is carrying out this year’s excavations. Among the findings is an inscription dating to the reign of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D., providing details on festival schedules and the rewarding of winners. This inscription, currently preserved in the Troy Museum, is significant because it begins with the phrase “Addressed to the Dionysian Artists.”
“The use of this phrase is important as it indicates the presence of a resident theater troupe in the ancient city of Alexandria Troas. Like today, we find many ancient theaters across Anatolia, including in Troy, Parion, Assos, and here in Alexandria Troas,” said Öztepe.
Though the theater has not yet been fully excavated, Öztepe explained, “Surface traces indicate a facade of approximately 100 meters and a stage building nearing 20 meters. It appears to be located on the slope of a hill, typical of early Greek theaters, where seating was carved into the slope.”
He further noted that while the theater underwent renovations during Emperor Hadrian’s reign, it dates back to the city’s foundation. “Though of Greek origin, based on current data and wall techniques, it’s clear the theater was renovated during Hadrian’s reign. Preliminary estimates suggest its seating capacity ranges from 10,000 to 12,000. Ongoing and future excavations may reveal more about its structure and history.”
In addition to the excavation work in the city center, the theater — believed to be the largest in the region — overlooks the North Aegean Sea and Bozcaada, a popular tourist destination, and is located about 200 meters away amidst olive groves.
Öztepe also mentioned that Roman cities in Anatolia had many structures for cultural activities, and Alexandria Troas was no exception. “The city also contains an Odeon, a roofed structure for cultural events, which we have started excavating. A significant inscription found here mentions a musician from Lesbos who achieved success in a competition held in this Odeon, though the musician’s statue has not survived,” he added.
