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Square Temple
The so-called Square temple is a small structure situated on the Southern side of the Avenue, on the crest of a rocky knoll about 50 meters from the street and the same distance west of the large temple.
Its plan and design are very simple ^ (1) ^, it is really a perfect square with walls unbroken except by a broad and lofty portal with deep but simple ^ (2) ^ mouldings. The angles are reinforced by pilasters of Ionic order which carry a very simple ^ (3!!) ^ frieze. The interior forms a perfect square, the rear wall being thicker than the others to accommodate a stair case within it. The side and rear walls are symmetrical, each being provided with three arched recesses, a broad arch between two narrow. These were doubtless to receive statues. The walls were revetted with marble and the arched recesses were provided with heavy triangular pediments in marble.
This structure was identified ^ by Marquis deVogüé ^ as a temple to Julius Marinus - The deified father of Emperor Philip. This identification was based upon inscr's on 2 brackets for statues one on either side of the portal. Not sure however.
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Theatre. This is situated immediately South of the square temple. It is an excellent example of the built theatre as distinguished from the excavated theatre. It is well preserved except in the higher portions - but the fact that it is occupied by the houses of no less than three native families, who stable their flocks and herds in its vaulted passages, renders a complete study of the structure some what difficult.
As will be seen in the plan opposite a complete restoration may be secured by careful measurements. From this everything can be determined except the exact depth of the orchestra and the method by which the upper tiers of seats were reached. The former however may be approximately estimated from the known height of the lower passages and the relative position of the stage and the seating space.
The stage buildings are completely preserved and reproduce in certain features the plan of the Oideion of Herodes Atticus built in Athens about 100 years earlier - a ^ [...] stair ^ occupies either wing of the stage buildings.
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A broad passage is curved through the theatre directly in front of the stage line, dividing the stage building from the Koilon or auditorium.
The auditorium is built up on two stories of vaulted passages ^ concentric ^ with the Semicircle of the seats - These are intersected at intervals by vaulted passages radiating from the centre of the orchestra which renders the substructure of the seats quite light and open.
The upper and lower tiers of seats are separated by a broad aisle, ^ on the level of the upper passage, ^ with a high side wall to give head room to the upper passage.
This aisle connects with the orchestra by three flights of steps one in the centre and the other two cutting semi circle on a line parallel to the diameter in an unusual and not paticularly happy fashion. At the ends of the aisle there seem to have been broad open spaces approached by the stairs in the stage wings.
In the rear of the ground level brough up to that of the upper passage upon which were 7 arched exits. While the lower story opened only through the arches at the ends of the transverse passage and through the stage buildings.
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The seats are not made after the plan of those in Greek theatres with a depression behind each seat for the feet of the person sitting in the rear but are quite level being 70cm deep. The front edge is slightly cut under and moulded - The steps are cut in stones equal in height for the seats.
There seem to have been no "poste distiute" unless the lower row which is now hidden was provided with backs, arms or some other mark of distinction.
The stage building that is the part of it facing the audience is laid up in small quadrated rough blocks in quite regular courses like the walls of the bath. This lack of finish was of course consealed from view tho' apparently not by a revetment of marble for there are no clamp brakets (sic-brackets).
It may have been plastered and richly painted or even covered with mosaic - the stage is scarcely deep enough to have afforded room for a complete facing of pilasters and architraves in marble.
