Israel's oldest theater was built during the reign of King Herod the Great in Caesarea. This grand structure, impressive even by today's standards, can accommodate up to five thousand spectators. Two tiers with stone seats were arranged for them, with arched vaults serving as their base.
In the past, behind the stage there was a wall three stories high, supported by columns. The theater was located not far from the king's own palace. The presence of a stage for performances was mandatory in any city of the Roman Empire.
The Roman Theater operated for several hundred years, delighting audiences with dramas, comedies, and concerts. When antiquity faded, the grandeur of Caesarea also dimmed, which led to the suspension of the theater's activities for more than a thousand years.
For a long time, the building was used as a fortification, where the semicircular outer wall served as a fortress wall. With the arrival of the Crusaders, the theater was completely abandoned and forgotten.
The restoration work carried out made it possible to restore the complex of the Roman Theater in Caesarea to its original appearance. Nowadays, performances and concerts by famous contemporary artists are constantly held here, but on other days the theater also looks very impressive, because it is more than two thousand years old.
