Top Amphitheaters in the World
Today connoisseurs of antiquity can visit about 200 amphitheaters – majestic buildings, which with their power and grace “decorate” many corners of the globe. Amphitheaters created by the Romans were the place of mass gatherings and entertainment: competitions, performances, gladiatorial fights and celebrations.
Centuries of volcanic devastation, earthquakes and wars have taken their toll on these monuments. But “lived up” to our days the great Roman creations, still, carry the spirit of a bygone and so distant era.
Pompeii (Italy)
The majestic construction was created in 80 BC. At that time the length of the stadium was 135 meters and its width was 104 meters. Today Pompey is considered to be one of the oldest Italian amphitheaters, built exclusively from stone.
The grand staircases began at the top tier, so that the spectators had to go down to the first seats. They were also intended for the entrance of the gladiators, who demonstrated incredible battles in the arena, each ending in the death of one of the participants.
In the very center of the arena was a rather narrow and low door that was used to remove the dead warrior. A distinctive feature of Pompeii was the absence of underground labyrinths and rooms.
On the outside, the walls were decorated with posters on which the names of gladiators and the final result of the past battle were written. Around the stadium were refreshment rooms and taverns where spectators could eat between the battles and executions.
Colosseum, Rome (Italy)
The Colosseum is an incredibly grandiose creation of the Roman Empire, which has no analogues in the history of mankind. It is the biggest amphitheater, which never fails to excite the blood of tourists with its grandeur and power.
The first gladiatorial battle in its arena was held in 80. In ancient times the Colosseum was the center of entertainment of the Roman public, so even the placement of seats for spectators paid special attention. Each row corresponded to the social status of the citizens – the seats near the arena were for the rich and noble, and the farthest ones were for the poor.
Every day about 50,000 people could enjoy the atmosphere of gladiatorial fights, shows, animal trampling and executions. Underneath the arena there were storerooms for weapons, decorations, cages housing animals, etc. Today the Colosseum delights, amazes and fills with its powerful age-old atmosphere that will always remain in the heart of every visitor to this majestic site.
Ephesus, Asia Minor Peninsula (Turkey)
In the ancient Turkish city of Ephesus there is one of the world’s sights – the ruins of an amphitheater which was created by the ancient Romans. Today, the remains of the mighty structure are an architectural monument, seeing which you are involuntarily transported back to the times of antiquity.
The emperor Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus “gave life” to the amphitheater. At the time it was one of the most prominent and popular theaters, which could accommodate about 25,000 people. The highest tier with seats, and there were three, was thirty meters high. Its width was 50 meters.
The aesthetics of the arena were complemented by tall majestic columns, bas-reliefs and statues. But the amphitheater became famous not only for its performances and gladiatorial fights, but also for being a place of confrontation between pagans and supporters of Christianity, which was just emerging. Today everyone can see its beauty and enjoy the elegance of the great structure.
Theater of Herod Atticus (Herodion), Greece
In one of the most beautiful places in Athens, not far from the Acropolis, in 161 AD the Herod Atticus amphitheatre “grew” and was the “brainchild” of Herod Atticus. Every day he could accommodate about 5 000 people.
Today the theater “personifies” the Roman style, despite the fact that it is located on Greek territory. Once upon a time most of the amphitheater was reserved for the audience. There was also a backstage area, which consisted of a pair of wings on the sides and the main building.
At that time, its walls were decorated with the best marble and many exquisite statues. The building’s aesthetics were also enhanced by semi-circular arched niches, giving it incredible elegance and charm.
Above the auditorium there was a huge fifty-meter roof, which had no analogues in antiquity. Inside the structure were thirty-two rows of seats which formed a “crescent” shape.
Taormina, Sicily (Italy)
In the Italian lands in one of the colorful cities of Sicily in Taormina there is an architectural creation created by the hands of ancient Greek masters supposedly in 3000 BC – the Taormina Amphitheatre. It is a majestic construction made of brick and has a width of 120 meters.
In former times it could accommodate about 10,000 spectators. Their seats were directed towards the grandiose stage, behind which there was an incredibly beautiful view of the Ionian Sea. Most of the spectator seats have unfortunately not survived to this day. Also the decorations that were used during the performances could not resist the centuries of destruction.
The amphitheater was once decorated with Corinthian ornaments and majestic columns. Also next to it, the ruins of an ancient Greek temple rise proudly to the sky. Taormina was once the site of gladiatorial fights, which were viewed with admiration and excitement by the citizens.
Delphi, Greece
A truly great architectural monument that impresses with its scale is located in Greece in the city of Delphi and it is the Delphic Amphitheatre. The huge construction was intended for 5000 spectators, who, sitting on stone seats, watched with delight on the stage.
It was a place where various creative competitions, celebrations and theme nights were held. It was here that the first tragic and comic plays were performed before an audience of many thousands, as well as town meetings where famous Greek orators gave their speeches.
The Delphic Amphitheatre has been able to “survive” to this day without losing the beauty and integrity of its decorative elements, the stage and spectator seating, despite the fact that it was built 2,500 years ago. The acoustics requires special attention, which even the world-famous Roman Colosseum could not surpass.
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a small Spanish town with many historical landmarks, but the most majestic of them is the amphitheater. The mighty structure was created by the Romans, presumably in the 3rd century BC.
The auditorium, with 6,000 seats and divided into three sections, is situated directly in the rock. The rock acted as a protection for the spectators from precipitation, who could continue to enjoy the performance despite bad weather. Each spectator area was also divided into “ray” sectors, flanked by stairs.
The stage of the ancient structure was 43.6 meters long. Its aesthetics were incredibly beautiful and graceful. In the background were three deep semicircular niches, as well as two rows of majestic columns, made with an exquisite base of pink travertine and marble capitals. Behind the stage is a colorful garden and a covered double gallery.
Arles, France
The Amphitheatre at Arles is a majestic and powerful structure, the sight of which stirs the blood with delight and admiration. This architectural creation, whose “appearance” is quite similar to the world-famous Colosseum, was created presumably in the first century by the Romans.
In former times, the length of the theater was 136 meters, width – 107 meters, and height – 20 meters. Within its walls it could seat about 25,000 people a day. The incredible construction of the ancient structure consisted of 60 arches, 4 of which were five meters high and were used as main entrances.
Inside the theater there were 34 tiers with seats for spectators. Numerous gladiatorial fights, fights with wild animals, performances and, of course, executions were held on the arena. In the 19th century the Roman amphitheater was restored and today it is not only a tourist attraction in Arles, but also an arena for concerts and operas.
Verona, Italy
The Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheater that, despite centuries of “torture,” was able to appear before its contemporaries in all its antique beauty and power. It is assumed that in the year 30 the construction of the colossus was finished and it was intended for gladiatorial fights and performances.
The construction of the amphitheater consisted of elliptical rings: internal and external. “The exterior of the structure was lined with pink and snow-white limestone, which gave it an incredible beauty and antique luxury. The façade was created from pebbles, perfectly smooth stone, cement and crushed bricks.
The theatrical cave was able to “survive” to this day in its original form. At one time this grandiose construction with 44 tiers had a capacity of about 30,000 people within its walls. The Arena di Verona is a combination of Roman and Greek styles.