Stadion Laodikeia

The stadium at Laodicea ad Lycum is one of the largest ancient stadiums in Anatolia, carved into a cliff edge in the ancient Phrygian city near modern Denizli, Turkey. Built around the 2nd century AD during Rome's expansion, it measures approximately 229 meters long and 30 meters wide, with tiered seating hewn directly from rock accommodating up to 20,000 spectators. Adjacent stood a large bath complex, one of the biggest in Anatolia. Over 13 years of excavation have yielded nearly 4,000 artifacts, including inscriptions documenting athletic victories and gladiatorial combat.