Petra - Wadi Sabra Theater

Wadi Sabra Theater in Petra Wadi Sabra Theater in Petra Left - Fig. 13

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

Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

Right - Figure 49

View of the theater from the north:
  • below, the orchestra overgrown with vegetation
  • on the right, the stone bleachers preserved in situ
  • on the left, the wall of the large cistern behind the theatre
  • up, the cliff of the massif that borders Wadi Sabra and the natural fault from which the water comes in case of rain
(photo N. Paridaens, 2018)

Tholbecq et al (2019)


Names

Transliterated Name Source Name
Wadi Sabra Arabic وادي سابرا
Introduction
Introduction

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

Ancient Theater Glossary and Illustrations

Illustrations of Individual Components

Blockade Walls (aka analemmata)
Praecinctio

Petra - Introduction Webpage

Maps, Plans, and Drawings
Maps, Plans, and Drawings

Maps and Drawings

  • Fig. 23 - Location Map from Tholbecq et al (2018)
  • Fig. 13 - Drawing of Wadi Sabra Theater from 1828 from Tholbecq et. al. (2016)
  • Wadi Sabra Theater in Google Earth

Plans

Theater

Normal Size

  • Fig. 7 - General Plan from Tholbecq et al (2019)
  • Fig. 14 - Plan of theater from Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

Magnified

  • Fig. 7 - General Plan from Tholbecq et al (2019)
  • Fig. 14 - Plan of theater from Tholbecq et. al. (2016)

Acropolis, Sanctuary, and Baths

Normal Size

  • Fig. 24 - Plan of Acropolis, Sanctuary, and Baths in Wadi Sabra from Tholbecq (2016)

Magnified

  • Fig. 24 - Plan of Acropolis, Sanctuary, and Baths in Wadi Sabra from Tholbecq (2016)

Chronology
Phasing

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.

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.

Seismic Effects
Phase 3 earthquake - 2nd - 3rd century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description/Comments
Recycled Building Elements
suggests Collapsed Walls
Blockade Walls (aka analemmata) ?
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
destruction of the northern masonry of the orchestra - Tholbecq et al (2019)

Intensity Estimates
Phase 3 earthquake - 2nd - 3rd century CE

Effect Location Image(s) Description/Comments Intensity
Recycled Building Elements
suggests Collapsed Walls
Blockade Walls (aka analemmata) ?
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

Effect Location Image(s) Description/Comments Intensity
Displaced Masonry Blocks ?      Northern masonry of the orchestra - Soundings 2 and 7
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).

Notes and Further Reading
References

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.

Wikipedia page for Wadi Sabra River