The large theater in Ephesus still stands today, located just across the street from the commercial marketplace. It was first built during the Greek (Hellenistic) period and later changed into a Roman-style theater.
Roman Expansion and Size
The theater was made bigger during the reigns of Emperors Claudius (A.D. 41–54) and Nero (A.D. 54–68), around the same time that the apostle Paul was in the city. The first two levels of the Roman-style stage were built while Nero was emperor. The seating area, called the cavea, could hold around 24,000 people. It had three tiers, each with 22 rows of seats, and reached nearly 100 feet (30 meters) high. By the time the apostle John was in Ephesus, the stage wall had been expanded to three stories tall Private Bosphorus Tours.
The Protest Against Paul
A big protest took place in this theater because of Paul’s preaching. He spoke against idol worship, which upset the local silversmiths. These craftsmen made and sold silver statues of the goddess Artemis (also known as Diana in Roman religion). Because fewer people were buying the idols, the silversmiths were losing money, and they blamed Paul.
The Goddess Artemis and Her Statues
Two beautifully made statues of Artemis were found in the town hall. They are now in a museum in the nearby town of Selçuk. These statues show Artemis as a fertility goddess. On her chest, she has either many breasts or eggs, symbolizing fertility and life. The larger of the two statues, which is twice the size of a human, was made during the rule of Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81–96), when John was in Ephesus The State Agora A Public Square for Civic Life.
The Theater’s Role in Civic Life
The theater wasn’t only used for performances and protests—it was also a place for city meetings. A Greek and Latin inscription found there tells how a Roman official donated a silver statue of Artemis and other figures. These statues were displayed during civic events held in the theater, as was the custom at the time.
