ROMAN THEATRE

Currently located between the temple of Baalat-Gebal and the sea, the Roman theatre was moved to allow for the continuation of excavations under its primitive location (north-east of the mound). Originally, it was between the door of the city and the two superimposed temples. This th century theatre remains only the first five stands, the stage adorned with small terrazzo columns and the soil of the orchestra formerly covered by a mosaic representing Bacchus.

In front of the theatre, a royal necropolis was discovered in 1922, following a landslide. These square wells about metres deep gave access to the funeral rooms located laterally. The latter contained the sarcophagus and offerings deposited with the deceased king. After burial, a wall obstruait the burial chamber and covers the well of stone, land and ash. This did not prevent the looters from digging some graves into antiquity.

The discovery of the necropolis has made it possible to update beautiful objects (mirrors, faïence, vases, precious stones…) and several sarcophagi of great value. The most interesting is certainly the sarcophagus of King Ahiram (th century BC), exhibited at the National Museum in Beirut. With four kneeling lions, it has bas-reliefs strongly influenced by Egyptian art. Visible inscriptions on the lid of the sarcophagus represent the oldest form of the Phoenician alphabet. In winding down to the castle, the ancient ramparts built around 2800 B.C. were crossed, two doors, sea and land allowed access to the city.