Standing just north of the Roman Theatre in the downtown valley, the Odeon is a smaller Roman performance space built in the 2nd century AD — a more intimate venue than the 6,000-seat theatre beside it. While the Roman Theatre was used for large public spectacles, the Odeon likely hosted musical performances, poetry recitals, and smaller official ceremonies. It seats around 500 and is partly restored.
The two theatres together give a good sense of the scale of Roman Philadelphia's entertainment infrastructure. The Odeon is less visited than its larger neighbour and often uncrowded, which makes it a pleasant place to sit and read for a few minutes while exploring the downtown Roman complex.