Fethiye Ampitheatre

[Hamlet]

Here is a photo showing the latest state of play with the reconstruction.

I do think that the ice cream seller is a little early putting his umbrella up though! 

[batman]

We were there last week and my wife thinks they have ruined it ! To much new stonework.

[Jacqui Harvey]

There is a guy on T.A.  who goes mad if anyone calls it an Amphitheatre.  He corrects everyone and says it.s not an Amphitheatre.  Apparently, it is just a Theatre.  I had no idea, because this is what I always called it.

[GordonA]

Well. the guy on T.A. (Trip Advisor, I take it ?) is TOTALLY WRONG. The word Amphitheatre comes , obviously, from the Greek;  Amphi, meaning " "on both sides" , and Theatron, meaning " place for viewing ". Let him stick that in his pipe and smoke it !!  One thing that is never open to argument is the Ancient Greek language, at least not to us scholars of such things !!   

[Jacqui Harvey]

Yes Gordon, he explained all that, but he gives a long explanation on why it's not an Ampitheatre. The next time he posts I will let you know..

[IanK]

I think the guy on TA is correct.

The Greeks built theatres, the Romans built amphitheatres - as Gordon says, Amphi, means " "on both sides"  - which technically means an oval or circular theatre like the Colosseum in Rome.

However, the word amphitheatres has evolved and is now used to describe both types.

I will now take cover!

Ian

[Hamlet]

Hey! I only posted the photos to show how it was progressing not to start a war!

From now on I'll just refer to it as 'the area in which stone seating is being laid out in a curved shape' 

[JohnF]

Well. the guy on T.A. (Trip Advisor, I take it ?) is TOTALLY WRONG. The word Amphitheatre comes , obviously, from the Greek;  Amphi, meaning " "on both sides" , and Theatron, meaning " place for viewing ". Let him stick that in his pipe and smoke it !!  One thing that is never open to argument is the Ancient Greek language, at least not to us scholars of such things !! 

How can he be wrong when you have pretty much agreed with his definition?  Disregarding the modern usage of the term amphitheatre, the Telmessos theatre is only "a place for viewing" as is it neither circular/oval nor surrounded on both sides. 

JF

[scorcher]

Looks like the panto season is upon us already.  :

[GordonA]

JohnF, how the devil can one be surrounded on BOTH sides ??    Surely surrounded means totally enclosed within a circle ? If one takes a look at the Amphitheatre in Fethiye, it is blatantly obvious that it has indeed a left wing/side, a right wing/side, meeting toward the rear !!

Scorcher, " He's behind you !! "