Wadi Sabra Theater

Transliterated Name	Source	Name
Wadi Sabra	Arabic	وادي سابرا

Introduction

The Wadi Sabra Theater is located ~6.5 km. south of Petra ( Tholbecq et al, 2019).

Early Exploration

from Fournet & Tholbecq (2015:34)

The Sabra site is approximately 6.5 km as the crow flies southwest of central Petra. Its ruins extend over around twenty hectares (ca. 600 x 300 m), on either side of the Wadi Sabra, a narrow valley linking the southern suburbs of Petra to the Wadi Arabah and which, therefore, constitutes the one of the major accesses to the Nabataean capital. The site has several complexes built in masonry and rock installations, in particular a theater associated with hydraulic installations built at the foot of Jabal al-Jathum. It was rediscovered in 1828 by Louis Maurice Adolphe Linant de Bellefonds (1798-1883) and by Léon de Laborde (1807-1869), returning from a visit to Petra. Several travelers reported it at the end of the 19th century and during the 20th century but it was not until the 1970s and the initiative of Manfred Lindner that archaeological exploration began, under the auspices of the Naturhistorische Gesellschaft Nürnberg (NHG).

Ancient Theater Glossary and Illustrations

Glossary

from The Ancient Theatre Archive

Illustrations of Individual Components

Blockade Walls (aka analemmata)

from The Ancient Theatre Archive

Cavea

from The Ancient Theatre Archive

Orchestra

from The Ancient Theatre Archive

Praecinctio

from The Ancient Theatre Archive

Petra - Introduction Webpage

from Petra - Introduction - click link to open new tab

Maps, Aerial Views, Plans, and Drawings

Maps

Fig. 23 - Location Map

Fig. 23

Satellite view of Petra with location of spa buildings.

Baths associated with a house in green

baths associated with a religious complex in red

(MAFP / Ifpo - Th. Fournet 2018, with a Google Basemap).

Tholbecq et al (2018)

from Tholbecq et al (2018)
Fig. 1 - Location Map

Fig. 1

Sabra site plan published by Léon de Laborde with locations of the sanctuary and baths

(LABORDE 1830, pl. 33)

Fournet & Tholbecq (2015)

from Fournet & Tholbecq (2015)

Aerial Views

Wadi Sabra Theater in Google Earth

Wadi Sabra Theater location in Google Earth

click on image to explore this site on a new tab in Google Earth

Plans

Theater

Normal Size

Fig. 7 - General Plan from

Fig. 7

General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy).

Tholbecq et al (2019)

Tholbecq et al (2019)
Fig. 14 - Plan of theater

Fig. 14

Wadì Sabrah : a partial top plan of the theatre and associated remains, 2014

(G. Dumont, N. Paridaens, S. Delcros).

Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

from Tholbecq et. al. (2016)
Fig. 3 - Plan of theater
Fig. 3

Plan of the theater and the caravanserai/fortress with the location of the sectors excavated in
- 2018 (in yellow)
- 2021 (in blue)
- 2022 (in red)
(recorded by N. Paridaens, L. Tholbecq, B. Van Nieuwenhove, P. Thiolas; background plan S. Delcros, W. Abu Azizeh, P. Rieth, L. Vallières; DAO N. Bloch, M. Kurdy & N. Paridaens).

Tholbecq et al. (2022)
and the caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)

Magnified

Fig. 7 - General Plan from

Fig. 7

General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy).

Tholbecq et al (2019)

Tholbecq et al (2019)
Fig. 14 - Plan of theater

Fig. 14

Wadì Sabrah : a partial top plan of the theatre and associated remains, 2014

(G. Dumont, N. Paridaens, S. Delcros).

Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

from Tholbecq et. al. (2016)
Fig. 3 - Plan of theater
Fig. 3

Plan of the theater and the caravanserai/fortress with the location of the sectors excavated in
- 2018 (in yellow)
- 2021 (in blue)
- 2022 (in red)
(recorded by N. Paridaens, L. Tholbecq, B. Van Nieuwenhove, P. Thiolas; background plan S. Delcros, W. Abu Azizeh, P. Rieth, L. Vallières; DAO N. Bloch, M. Kurdy & N. Paridaens).

Tholbecq et al. (2022)
and the caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)

Caravanserai/Fort

Normal Size

Fig. 3 - Plan of theater
Fig. 3

Plan of the theater and the caravanserai/fortress with the location of the sectors excavated in
- 2018 (in yellow)
- 2021 (in blue)
- 2022 (in red)
(recorded by N. Paridaens, L. Tholbecq, B. Van Nieuwenhove, P. Thiolas; background plan S. Delcros, W. Abu Azizeh, P. Rieth, L. Vallières; DAO N. Bloch, M. Kurdy & N. Paridaens).

Tholbecq et al. (2022)
and the caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)
Fig. 6 - Plan of the

Fig. 6

General plan of the caravanserai/fort with the location of the sectors excavated in 2021 and 2022

(surveys N. Paridaens, B. Van Nieuwenhove; DAO N. Paridaens).

Tholbecq et al. (2022)

caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)
Fig. 7 - Plan of the

Fig. 7

Map of the sectors excavated in 2021 and 2022 with the location of the principal (rooms ?, sectors ?)

(surveys and DAO N. Paridaens)

Tholbecq et al. (2022)

SE part of the caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)

Magnified

Fig. 3 - Plan of theater
Fig. 3

Plan of the theater and the caravanserai/fortress with the location of the sectors excavated in
- 2018 (in yellow)
- 2021 (in blue)
- 2022 (in red)
(recorded by N. Paridaens, L. Tholbecq, B. Van Nieuwenhove, P. Thiolas; background plan S. Delcros, W. Abu Azizeh, P. Rieth, L. Vallières; DAO N. Bloch, M. Kurdy & N. Paridaens).

Tholbecq et al. (2022)
and the caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)
Fig. 6 - Plan of the

Fig. 6

General plan of the caravanserai/fort with the location of the sectors excavated in 2021 and 2022

(surveys N. Paridaens, B. Van Nieuwenhove; DAO N. Paridaens).

Tholbecq et al. (2022)

caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)
Fig. 7 - Plan of the

Fig. 7

Map of the sectors excavated in 2021 and 2022 with the location of the principal (rooms ?, sectors ?)

(surveys and DAO N. Paridaens)

Tholbecq et al. (2022)

SE part of the caravanserai/fortress from Tholbecq et al. (2022)

Acropolis, Sanctuary, and Baths

Normal Size

Fig. 24 - Plan of Acropolis,

Fig. 24

Plan of surveyed areas and archaeological remains within the site of Wadi Sabra.

Tholbecq (2016)

Sanctuary, and Baths in Wadi Sabra from Tholbecq (2016)

Magnified

Fig. 24 - Plan of Acropolis,

Fig. 24

Plan of surveyed areas and archaeological remains within the site of Wadi Sabra.

Tholbecq (2016)

Sanctuary, and Baths in Wadi Sabra from Tholbecq (2016)

Drawings

Fig. 13 - Drawing of Wadi Sabra

Fig. 13

The theatre of Wâdî Sabrah in 1828, as published by L. de Laborde (1830: pl. 34)

Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

Theater from 1828 from Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

Phasing

Theater

from Tholbecq et al (2019)
There appears to be evidence for two earthquake destructions

Phase	Phase Label	Date	Comments
1	Digging and development of the cavea	no later than the 2nd century CE	This phase corresponds to the rock development of the Sabra theater; no structure or occupation prior to the building has been observed, neither under the built parts of the monument nor in its immediate surroundings. The first available surveys made it possible to restore a Greek-type horseshoe theater This phase must take place no later than the 2nd century CE, without further details for the moment.
2	Closure of the theatrical space and monumentalization of the facade	2nd century CE	This phase is better documented and corresponds to the monumentalization of the theater. an elaborate and manicured building that was built during the 2nd century CE. This dating is relatively reliable on the basis of various surveys
3	Partial destruction and reassignment	2nd-3rd century CE	During this phase, the monument was transformed without knowing whether it completely lost its functionality as a spectacle building. Various clues suggest that the theater underwent violent destruction, at least on the north side: the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats. Another hypothesis would be to see it as an intermediate phase of abandonment of the theater, with a voluntary dismantling. the chronology of this transformation [] happened no later than the 3rd century CE since the landfills were used in the 3rd and 4th centuries CE
4	Construction of a barrier wall to the south of the theater and new secondary facilities.	Late Roman or Byzantine	This phase occurs at a date still undetermined (Late Roman period or Byzantine but not later) We do not know when the destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra occurred, at the level of the old corridor, rebuilt using the stone seats during the previous phase. However, this destruction is directly posed, both in sounding 2 and in sounding 7, on the embankments of the 3rd-4th centuries CE; we can therefore deduce that this event (earthquake?) occurs shortly after the late Roman period, or even during this period. The monument will no longer be occupied after this phase, being marked only by natural horizons of aeolian and alluvial sediments.

Caravanserai/Fort

from from Tholbecq et al. (2022)
Phasing is a bit messy - gleaned from various sections in the report where chronology is not always explicitly tied to a phase

Phase	Date	Comments
1	2nd century CE -	The first phase of the building, dating from the 2nd century AD, is characterized by a massive base on a podium composed of large blocks of red sandstone and a foundation of flint stones which contained massive anthropogenic embankments . THE WEST CORNER OF THE BUILDING (SECTOR 2022.12) - Sector 12 was located in the west corner of the building where a few walls had been spotted on the surface in 2021. Four rooms were uncovered (P10 to P13) (fig. 7). Under all the masonry, a series of embankments (12045, 12053, 12056 and 12057) containing abundant ceramic furniture testify to a first occupation, prior to the building. These different horizons comprising thousands of ceramic shards are found in all of the areas excavated – including in 2021 at the southern corner – and could be interpreted as remains of meals (banquets?), prior to the building or as backfill in a secondary position used during its construction. This furniture could be dated to the end of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century AD. We will therefore place the construction of the building in this same chronological range or directly afterwards. The building appears to be constructed at the end of the 1st or beginning of the 2nd century AD. It is not yet very clear whether the first embankments encountered predate the structure or whether they were added in such a way as to raise a first ground level. In all cases, they constitute considerable dumpsites dating from the end of the 1st or the beginning of the 2nd century AD, including a large quantity of tableware. These remains of meals could be associated with important religious festivals which may have taken place at Sabra, which would be confirmed by the presence of a small theater directly to the east and the sanctuary further to the south. From the primitive phase of the building, only the peripheral walls and a few sections remain. supposed within the building. The topographical position, in the middle of the road that the valley formed during Antiquity to connect Wadi Arabah to Petra, constitutes a first-order clue to define the function of the building: probably supplied with water via the aqueduct located a few meters further to the north, it could be a caravanserai or hospitalia linked to the religious site.
Burning Event	2nd half of the 2nd century CE - beginning of the 3rd century CE	Room 11 (P11) - ... After the construction of these first architectural complexes, a series of recharges of embankments (12032, 12035, 12036, 12037) give way to a soil (12031) very rubified and loaded with coal (fig. 14), observed at the level 821.54 m. This level, also located in P12 (12030), therefore suggests a continuous open space between the two rooms. These characteristic traces of a fire were also spotted in other places, and could thus testify to a violent episode affecting the entire building. Ceramics allow us to date this event between the second half of the 2nd and the beginning of the 3rd century AD.
2		During the next phase, all levels are raised, and the interior space is divided into several small rooms by walls of varying thickness and construction. This phase could be associated with the reconstruction of the exterior masonry in blocks of yellow limestone linked to lime and ash mortar, which can be observed in the northeast corner of the building.
Burning Event	middle of the 3rd and the 4th century CE	Room 5 (P5) - ... A layer of black ash about ten centimeters thick (10054) resulting from the fire which must have ravaged the building between the middle of the 3rd and the 4th century sealed the second level of occupation. This layer was observed south of 10065.
3		phase 3 is characterized by the destruction of the staircase, a succession of ashen occupation levels dated from the 4th century AD in P3, the blocking of the drain of P1, the leveling of the dividing wall between P1 and P3 and the repair of certain masonry internal. [JW: This description could be Phase 2 or Phase 3] Significant transformations, obliterating previous occupations, are taking place in the third century. The building was extensively rebuilt and circulation levels were raised. With one floor, the building seems to be organized around a central courtyard and a large paved room. The occupation lasted until the 4th century, with a series of progressive redevelopments.Radiocarbon dating will confirm the date of a widespread fire in all the rooms. A military presence is possible during this period, which would be confirmed by other clues on the Sabra site: the presence of a tower further south at the acropolis, the transformation of the theater into a closed (fortified?) space. and the composition of ceramic assemblages. The plan, although incomplete, already offers some comparisons with other proven military fortresses in the surrounding area (Palumbo et al. 1993; Erickson-Gini & Israel 2013) [JW: This appears to refer to the military buildup in Arabia Petraea at the start of the 4th century during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian.].
Falling Event		Corridor 12 (P12) - ... In corridor 12, a final phase of occupation, corresponding to blockage 12021 of door 12020 (fig. 19), is formed by a level 8 to 10 cm thick, very compact pink beige with numerous lime nodules ( 12025). Next comes a thick compact layer of silt light brown with a heavy stony load and small sized blocks (12024), testifying to a long phase of abandonment. Located in the southern corner of corridor P12, a small charcoal pocket (12008) containing furniture dating from the 4th century AD is interspersed with large flat slabs of sandstone 1.20 m long. These could be witnesses to the occupation of the first floor in a falling position. The area is then uniformly covered with a thick layer of destruction (12009) more than a meter thick.

Phase 3 earthquake (?) - 2nd - 3rd century CE

The Phase 3 Earthquake appears to be based on rebuilding evidence. Tholbecq et al (2019) report that various clues suggest that the theater underwent violent destruction, at least on the north side where the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats. An alternative hypothesis suggested voluntary dismantling as a possibility. This happened no later than the 3rd century CE.

Phase 4 earthquake (?) - Late Roman/Early Byzantine

Based on soundings in Sectors 2 and 7, Tholbecq et al (2019) reports phase 4 destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra. They deduce that this event (earthquake?) occurred shortly after the late Roman period, or even during this period. Tholbecq (2022) suggests an association with the earthquake of 363 [the southern 363 CE Cyril Quake].

Phase 3 earthquake (?) - 2nd - 3rd century CE

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments
Recycled Building Elements suggests Collapsed Walls	Blockade Walls (aka analemmata) ? Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats - Tholbecq et al (2019)

Phase 4 earthquake (?) - Late Roman/Early Byzantine

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments
Displaced Masonry Blocks ?	Northern masonry of the orchestra - Soundings 2 and 7 Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra - Tholbecq et al (2019)

Phase 3 earthquake (?) - 2nd - 3rd century CE

Earthquake Archeological Effects chart

Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments	Intensity
Recycled Building Elements suggests Collapsed Walls	Blockade Walls (aka analemmata) ? Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		the upper parts of the walls seem to have been destroyed, then rebuilt by recycling collapsed bleacher seats - Tholbecq et al (2019)	VIII+

The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224) .

Phase 4 earthquake (?) - Late Roman/Early Byzantine

Earthquake Archeological Effects chart

Earthquake Archeological Effects (EAE)

Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224)

Effect	Location	Image(s)	Description/Comments	Intensity
Displaced Masonry Blocks ?	Northern masonry of the orchestra - Soundings 2 and 7 Fig. 7 General plan of the theater, based on a photogrammetric survey, with location of soundings (M. Kurdy). Tholbecq et al (2019)		destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra - Tholbecq et al (2019)	VIII+

The archeoseismic evidence requires a minimum Intensity of VIII (8) when using the Earthquake Archeological Effects chart of Rodríguez-Pascua et al (2013: 221-224).

References

Articles and Books

Fournet, T., & Tholbecq, L. (2015). LES BAINS DE SABRĀ: UN NOUVEL ÉDIFICE THERMAL AUX PORTES DE PÉTRA. Syria, 92, 33–44. - JSTOR

Lindner, M. (1982) “An Archaeological Survey of the Theater Mount and Catchwater Regulation System at Sabra, South of Petra, 1980 ”, ADAJ 26, p. 231-242.

Lindner, M. (2005) “Water Supply and Water Management at Ancient Sabra (Jordan)”, PEQ 137.1, p. 33-52.

Lindner, M. (2006a) "Theater, Theater, Theater ... Zu Forschungen der Naturhistorischen Gesellschaft in Sabra", Natur und Mensch. Jahresmitteilungen der Naturhistorischen Gesellschaft Nürnberg, 2006, p. 75-84.

Tholbecq, L. (2016) « Petra. Wadi Sabra Archaeological Project » in G.J. Corbett, D.R. Keller, B.A. Porter & Ch. P. Shelton (Ed.), « Archaeology in Jordan, 2014 and 2015 Seasons », American Journal of Archaeology 120.4, 2016, p. 666-668, fig. 24.

Tholbecq, L., (2016) “Petra. Wadi Sabra Archaeological Project ”, GJ Corbett et al. (Ed.), “Archaeology in Jordan, 2014 - 2015 ”, AJA 120.4, p. 666-668.

Tholbecq, L., Fournet, T., Paridaens, N., Delcros, S., & Durand, C. (2016). Ṣabrah, a satellite hamlet of Petra. Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies, 46, 277–297.

Tholbecq, L., (2022). Théâtres associés à des espaces cultuels au Proche-Orient romain : à propos de quelques travaux récents Annales du Centre scientifique de l’Académie polonaise des Sciences à Paris, 23, 2022, p. 274-278.

Excavation Reports

L. Tholbecq, T. Fournet, N. Paridaens, S. Delcros, G. Dumont & C. Durand (2015) “The Nabateo-Roman site of Wadi Sabra: inventory, survey and working hypotheses”, L. Tholbecq (Ed. ), French archaeological mission of Pétra: Report of the archaeological campaigns 2014 - 2015, Brussels, p. 63-100.

Tholbecq, L., et al. (2019). Mission archéologique française à Pétra. Rapport des campagnes archéologiques 2018-2019.

Tholbecq, L., et al. (2021). Mission archéologique française à Pétra. Rapport des campagnes archéologiques 2021.

Tholbecq, L., et al. (2022). Mission archéologique française à Pétra. Rapport des campagnes archéologiques 2022.

Websites

academia.edu page for Laurent Tholbecq

Wadi Sabra at Manar Al-Athar (Oxford University)

Al Sabra suburb at Nabateae.net

Wikipedia page for Wadi Sabra River

from Wikipedia

Petra - Wadi Sabra Theater