Names
| Transliterated Name |
Source |
Name |
| Main Theater |
English |
|
| Petra Theater |
English |
|
| Masrah al-Batra |
Arabic |
مسرح البتراء |
Introduction
As one enters Petra through the Siq, after passing
"The "Treasury", the
Main Theater is the first structure one
encounters before entering the valley that comprises the central part of Petra. The seats are carved out of a cliff of
Nubian Sandstone.
Hammond (1964)
excavated the Main Theater over two seasons in 1961 and 1962.
Chronology
Phasing
Hammond (1964) divided up the phasing into 8 periods from bedrock to modern surface. Initial construction and use appeared to
occur during Nabatean times; likely soon after the reign of
Aretas IV who ruled from 9 BCE to 40 CE (Hammond, 1962:105-106).
Mid 4th century CE Earthquake
6th-8th century CE Earthquake
Jones (2021:3 Table 1) reports a second
potential seismic destruction of the Theater in Phase VII.
The Phase VII destruction of the Main Theatre is difficult to date, as the structure
had gone out of use long before. It may be the result of either the late 6th century earthquake or the mid-8th century earthquake.
Seismic Effects
Mid 4th century CE Earthquake
Intensity Estimates
Mid 4th century CE Earthquake
Notes and Further Reading
References
Hammond, P. C. (1965). The Excavation of the Main Theater at Petra, 1961-1962: Final Report. London, Quaritch.
Hammond, P. C. (1964). The Excavation of the Main Theater at Petra, 1961-1962, Bernard Quaritch, for Colt Archaeological Institute.
Hammond, P. C. (1962). "Petra: The Excavation of the Main Theater." The American Scholar 32(1): 93-106.
The Excavation of the Main Theater At Petra, 1961-1962
Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan 08/9
Analysis of Sandstone Weathering of the Roman Theater in Petra, Jordan
Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan 43
Theater at Petra on Archnet
Hammond, P. C. (1996:7). The Temple of the Winged Lions, Petra, Jordan, 1973-1990, Petra Pub.
The Petra Theater aka the Main Theater
