#84 – Visit Düzce – Small City in Turkey | Prusias ad Hypium Coliseum

Düzce is one of suburban city in Turkey.

THE ANCIENT THEATRE OF PRUSIAS AD HYPUM The ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium , which is located near Hypios (Melen) river, is probably found in the 5th century BC ( ? ) on the slope of a hill overlooking the plain on the south by the Greek immigrants ( from Megara and Boeotia in Mainland Greece ) who found the ancient city of Heraclea Pontica . The city which was named Kieros when it was first founded was included within the borders of Bithynian Kingdom by Prusias I ( 228-182 BC ) the king of Bithynia after the struggles with Heraclea Pontica . After this time , city is known as Prusias pros to Hypio which means Prusias near Hypios . This name was changed to Prusias ad Hypium in Roman period . When the lands of Bithynian Kingdom were left to the Romans with the testament of Nikomedes IV in 74 BC , Prusias ad Hypium had also entered into Roman domination and from this moment its name has been mentioned as one of the 12 Bitnhynian cities ( civitas / city – state ) of Bithynia Province. The most powerful and magnificent period of the city was during the Roman Empire and the city was extended to the plain on the south at this time . In Byzantine period , the city was one of the most important cities in Honorias province and later , it was joined to the Ottoman lands by Konuralp Gazi , one of the commanders of Osman Bey. The city , known as Üskübü ( Eskibağ ) in the Ottoman era, is now located within the borders of the Konuralp District of the Düzce Province . The best preserved and the most magnificent building of the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium is the theatre. The building , which has been named as Kirk Basamaklar ( forty Stairs ) by indigeneous people , is one of the best preserved ancient theatre building not only in Turkey but also in the world. The theatre was built between the 1st cent. BC – 1st cent. AD , under the reign . Emperor Augustus . It has the semi – circle orchestra , the theatron (auditorium) & a scene building which has two storeys scaenae frons decorated with doors , niches , columns and probably some statues . The theatre is considered to have approximately about 9000 audience capacity . The sand stones and the lime stones have been used for building of the theatre , although marble was only used for its decoration . All decorative elements including the lion’s feet which are seen on sitting rows , show the good quality of stoneworks in ancient city of Prusias ad Hyplum . As it is understood from ancient inscriptions , apart from artistic performances such as tragedy and comedy , sports competitions (such as boxing) were also exhibited . While an inscription mentions an tragedian from Athens who died in Prusias ad Hypium , another inscription from Akçakoca mentions the victory of an boxer named M. Aelius Aurelius Menander from Aphrodisias in the theatre . The theatre had probably lost its function towards the end of the 4th cent . AD and from this moment, it had been used most likely as a workshop area. The excavation of the ancient theatre of Prusias ad Hypium has been conducted since 2013 with the permissions of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of the Cultural Heritages and the Museums , under the directorate of Konuralp Museum and scientific advisory of Duzce University. Besides , this excavation is supported by MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM , GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGES AND THE MUSEUMS , DUZCE MUNICIPALITY , DUZCE UNIVERSITY RECTORATE and TURKISH HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

THEATER KUNO PRUSIAS AD HYPUM Kota kuno Prusias ad Hypium, yang terletak di dekat sungai Hypios (Melen) , kemungkinan ditemukan pada abad ke – 5 SM (?) di lereng sebuah bukit yang menghadap ke dataran di sebelah selatan oleh Imigran Yunani (dari Megara dan Boeotia di Daratan Yunani) yang menemukan kota kuno Heraclea Pontica. Kota yang saat pertama kali didirikan bernama Kieros ini termasuk dalam perbatasan Kerajaan Bitinia oleh Prusias I (228-182 SM) raja Bitinia setelah pertikaian dengan Heraclea Pontica.  Setelah waktu ini , kota ini dikenal sebagai Prusias pro ke Hypio yang berarti Prusias dekat Hypios .  Nama ini diubah menjadi Prusias ad Hypium pada periode Romawi.  Ketika tanah Kerajaan Bitinia diserahkan kepada Romawi dengan wasiat Nikomedes IV pada tahun 74 SM, Prusias ad Hypium juga telah masuk ke dalam dominasi Romawi dan mulai saat ini namanya disebut sebagai salah satu dari 12 kota Bitnhynian ( civitas / kota – negara bagian ) Provinsi Bitinia .  Periode yang paling kuat dan megah dari kota itu selama Kekaisaran Romawi (terutama di abad ke-2 SM) dan kota itu diperluas ke dataran di selatan saat ini.  Pada periode Bizantium, kota ini adalah salah satu kota terpenting di provinsi Honorias dan kemudian bergabung dengan tanah Ottoman oleh Konuralp Gazi, salah satu komandan Osman Bey.  Kota , yang dikenal sebagai skübü ( Eskibağ ) di era Ottoman , sekarang terletak di dalam perbatasan Distrik Konuralp di Provinsi Düzce.