JERUSALEM, 17 October (BelTA - Xinhua) - An ancient Roman theater-like structure was uncovered for the first time on Monday in excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the Western Wall tunnels of Jerusalem.
At a press conference held beneath Wilson's Arch where the building was found, archaeologists said the theater, which dates back to 1,700 years ago, contained around 200 seats.
The finding coincides with historical writings that described a theater near the Temple Mount, according to the press conference.
Wilson's Arch is the only well-preserved structure remained from the Temple Mount compound of the second Temple period.
The arch, built of enormous stones, was the last of a series of such arches that once constituted a gigantic bridge leading to the Temple Mount from the west.
The arch stands high above the foundations of the Western Wall, and it served, among other purposes, as a passageway for people entering the Temple Mount compound and the Temple. A huge aqueduct also passed over the arch.
Archaeologists said the theater is relatively small compared with known Roman theaters, such as the ones at Caesarea, Bet She'an and Bet Guvrin.
"Its location under a roofed space - in this case under Wilson's Arch - leads us to suggest that this is a theater-like structure of the type known in the Roman world as an odeon," they said.
In most cases, such structures were used for acoustic performances and alternatively, this may have been a structure known as a bouleuterion, they added.
From the very beginning of archaeological research in Jerusalem over 150 years ago, scholars have been seeking the public buildings mentioned in historical literature, particularly theater-like structures.
However, the archaeologists believed that the theater was never used and it was abandoned before it was put into operation. The reasons were unknown but believed to be insignificant.
"The exciting finding from the excavations beneath Wilson's Arch enhances the importance of expanding the archaeological excavations in this region," said Israel Hasson, director-general of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
