The theatre in Hierapolis is of an impressive size and occupies four blocks. The cavea is divided into two parts by the central diazoma and vertically by 8 staircases into 9 kerkides. Above was the gallery of the summa cavea. In the centre of the ima cavea (the lower seats) is a large marble exedra with seats having lion paw terminals and high backs for persons of high status. The stage building is divided into a logheion (the stage itself) and a scaena. The scaenae fons was divided into three superimposed orders, sitting upon a podium decorated with a figurative cycle dedicated to Apollo and Artemis. This building was erected in the third century AD during the reign of Septimus Severus, enveloping and cancelling an earlier theatre, perhaps of Flavian date. The theatre was used into late Roman times; an inscription dating to 352 AD cites the restoration of the scaenae frons.

I here group pictures from several visits, so changes may be spotted. The sculptural reliefs, displaying mythological subjects, on the scaenae frons, that one can now see in the theater are (very good) replica's, the originals one can see in the museum.