The Odeion: Aims 2008

The Odeion or concert building of Sagalassos is situated on a terrace to the north of the Lower Agora, partly built into the slope below the Upper Agora. The construction consisted of a covered semi-circular auditorium with a radius of 24m, preceded to the south by a stage building with a facade of ca. 50m long. Part of the Odeion's back wall still stands to its full height, preserving the square beam holes for its roof structure, but showing several repairs. The auditorium may have seated up to 2,000 spectators. It could be entered from the west, where a row of steps leading down to the orchestra is still visible near the point where it abuts the Hadrianic Nymphaeum, as well as from the east, where an arched VIP entrance hall was excavated in 2005 and 2006. A large part of the excavation in 2006 was devoted to the area of the stage and orchestra, as it was the aim to obtain a better idea of the general layout of the Odeion, but much of the original construction seems to have been changed or stripped off in later centuries.

In 2008, the excavation will continue in the central and western parts of the Odeion. In general, considering the very poor state of preservation of the cavea, the excavations will not be continued in this area.

1. In the center of the concert hall, the excavation of the orchestra needs to be completed. The intended excavation area is situated between the modern caravan road, the scaena frons, and the semicircular orchestra wall. We hope that the excavations will reveal information about the later stages of use of the Odeion and its many modifications.


2. In the western part of the Odeion, the excavations are intended to expose the row of steps leading down to the orchestra and starting immediately to the west of the Hadrianic Nymphaeum. Hopefully, the excavations will reveal further aspects of the entrance and evacuation system of the monument, and possible modifications to its original layout.