| The main
Stadium was located to the
south of the Vedius Stadium. The spectators'
seats on the south was resting on the slopes of
the
Mount Pion
(Panayirdag). The seats on the
northern section were placed on the heightened
vaulted galleries. There was a monumental
entrance gate to the Stadium on the west.
Other than the
sports activities and ceremonies, gladiator and
wild animal fights became very popular
especially during the 3rd and 4th centuries
(Roman Period). When it was first built in the
Hellenistic Age, it was purely used for
ceremonies and sports activities. And it was the
first of the Hellenistic Age stadiums.
It was given
its last shape and mainly enlarged during the
Roman Emperor Neron's reign in the 1st century
A.D.
During the
following centuries as the Christianity gained
momentum, the Stadium was destroyed
mainly by the Christians as a revenge to their
suffering and massacres in the past in this
Stadium by Roman rulers of the city. |
