Next we look at the impressive council building and theatre at the ancient site of Aphrodisias.

'Bouleterion' is the name given to the building where the local administration met – whether that was a 'parliament' or a 'council'.

These buildings look like mini ampitheatres and were sometimes used for performances that wouldn't fill the huge ampitheatre.

The bouleterion at Aphrodisias, as you can see from the photo, had water from the winter rains when we visited – though as the weather heats up we know the space will soon be dry.

And compare with the theatre to get an idea of the difference in size between these two structures.

The grass had taken hold here too but the man you can see in the image was spraying weed killer so the theatre should be pristine stone again now.

An inscription on the stage building states that this theatre was endowed by G. Julius Zoilos, a former slave of Octavian. The theatre was built 39 – 27BC and had a capacity of 8,000.

Unusually the backstage area has been preserved here, and one wall back there contains inscriptions recording decrees from various emperors, all granting special status to Aphrodisias.