Bet Shean - Roman Theater

The Roman theater in Bet Shean, built in the late second century, in the reign of Septimius Severus, is the best preserved Roman theater in Israel. It had seating for 6,000 spectators. The lower part of the structure with its semicircular tiers of seating was built into the ground; the upper part is borne on massive substructures, with nine entrances (vomitoria) leading to the horizontal gangway (diazoma) half way up the auditorium. From the vomitoria short, narrow passages branch off, leading to small rooms, originally domed, of unknown function. The upper tiers of seating have been partly destroyed, but the lower rows are excellently preserved. There are substantial remains of the stage wall, which was originally richly decorated with columns and statues; behind it are numerous architectural fragments.