The theater complex, built perpendicularly on the western slope of the upper city, is one of the most significant structures shaping the silhouette of the ancient city. In addition to the theater building group, the complex also includes terraces set on different levels and structures, such as the Temple of Dionysos. The positioning of the structures and their connections to one another indicate that the complex was planned as a single architectural unit. This planning is estimated to have occured during Eumenes II’s reign (197–159 BCE).
The theater, with a capacity of approximately 10,000 people, consists of an orchestra and a stage building. Instead of a permanent stage building, a wooden stage that could be assembled and dismantled when necessary was preferred to protect the view from the main terrace and to maintain the Dionysos Temple’s integrity. The theater hosted theatrical performances, public assembly meetings, and processions, and it was also used for cult ceremonies at the Temple of Dionysos.
During the Roman period, some renovations were carried out within the complex while remaining faithful to its original design. This indicates that the structure was actively used until the early Roman period. However, as the lower city developed over time, theater performances shifted there, and the theater complex gradually lost its significance. During the Byzantine period, the construction of a church and the establishment of a cemetery led to a fundamental functional transformation of the complex, which was likely completely abandoned by the late 13th century.
In the late 19th century, excavation work led by German architect Richard Bohn uncovered the complex. Since then, many archaeologists and architects have conducted and continue to conduct research in the area.