This ancient stadium was located in the so-called 'Proasteion' (
sacred grove) of the Graeco-Roman city of Nikopolis. Together with the nearby gymnasium, theatre and hippodrome it was the location of the famous Actian Games. These games, which featured athletic, equestrian and musical events, were first held in 27 BCE to celebrate the victory of the first Roman emperor Augustus over his adversaries, Marc Antony and his Egyptian wife
Cleopatra. They were held every four years up to the mid-3rd century CE. Dating from just after the city's foundation, the ancient stadium of Nikopolis has two semicircular ends (
sphendones), typical of the amphitheatre type that was in use during the first 200 years of the principate. The stadiums of ancient
Laodikeia (near Pamukkale, Turkey) and
Aphrodisias (Geyre, Turkey) have a similar architecture. The north side of the stadium, which must have held a capacity of at least 10,000 spectators, was built on the side of a hill, while artificial deposits were used for the other sides. The walls were made of a rubble core faced with several courses of bricks. On the west side of the stadium were three apsidal entrances leading to the gymnasium, the central one larger than the others. The entrances in the
sphendone at the east led to the theatre nearby. On the
sphendone at the south side there were residential rooms and facilities for athletes and spectators (inns, shops, lodgings etc.) Locals call this stadium
to karavi, meaning 'the ship', which of course relates to the structure's shape. Archaeological investigations are still regularly undertaken in and around the stadium today. == Notes ==