The Theatre at Ephesus

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selcuk, within the Province of Izmir, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek Period. In Roman Times, circa the 1st Century BC, Ephesus had a population of more than 250,000 citizens, making it the second largest city in the world. Destroyed by the Goths in 263 AD, Ephesus still remained an important city during the Byzantine period. Ephesus was partially destroyed by earthquakes several times. Built originally during the reign of Lysimachos (circa 306–281 BC) on the slope of Mount Pion (Panayir Dagi), the Ephesus monumental Theater underwent renovations circa 41-54 AD (Reign of Emperor Claudius), circa 54-68 AD (reign of Emperor Nero) and circa 98-117 AD (reign of Emperor Trajan). In the Roman Imperial Era, circa 3rd-4th centuries AD, wild beast fights and gladiator games were introduced into the Theater. The largest of its kind, the Ephesus Theater could accommodate some 24,000 spectators after its Roman-Era enlargements.