What is an amphitheatre?
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue with tiered seating arranged in an oval or circular shape around a central performance area (the arena). The word comes from the Greek amphitheatron — “theatre on both sides” — reflecting its design of seating that surrounds the stage on all sides, unlike a traditional semicircular theatre.
History and origins
- Roman invention — the amphitheatre is primarily a Roman building type, developed from around the 1st century BC
- Earliest examples — the amphitheatre at Pompeii (c. 70 BC) is one of the oldest surviving stone amphitheatres
- The Colosseum — built in Rome between AD 70-80, it is the largest Roman amphitheatre ever constructed, seating approximately 50,000 spectators
- Widespread construction — the Romans built amphitheatres across their empire, from Britain (e.g. Chester) to North Africa (e.g. El Jem, Tunisia)
Structural design
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Arena | The central flat area where events took place; the floor was often sand-covered (Latin arena = sand) |
| Cavea | The tiered seating area, divided into sections (maeniana) by social class |
| Vomitoria | Entrance and exit tunnels allowing rapid movement of large crowds |
| Podium | A raised wall around the arena protecting spectators from animals or combatants |
| Velarium | A retractable canvas awning providing shade for spectators |
| Hypogeum | Underground chambers and tunnels beneath the arena floor for staging, animals and equipment |
Construction methods
Roman amphitheatres demonstrate remarkable engineering:
- Foundations — deep concrete foundations, often built into hillsides or on flat ground with massive substructures
- Arches and vaults — the structural skeleton uses repeated radial arches and barrel vaults in concrete and stone, distributing the weight of the seating tiers
- Materials — a combination of opus caementicium (Roman concrete), travertine, tufa and brick
- Facade — exterior walls typically feature multiple storeys of arched openings framed by engaged columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian from bottom to top)
- Drainage — sophisticated systems channelled rainwater away from the seating and arena
Dimensions of notable amphitheatres
| Amphitheatre | Location | Arena size | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colosseum | Rome, Italy | 86 x 54 m | ~50,000 |
| El Jem | Tunisia | 65 x 39 m | ~35,000 |
| Arles | France | 69 x 40 m | ~20,000 |
| Verona | Italy | 75 x 44 m | ~30,000 |
| Chester | England | 61 x 41 m | ~7,000 |
Modern amphitheatres
The amphitheatre concept lives on in modern construction:
- Outdoor performance venues — concert bowls and festival stages with semicircular or full-circle tiered seating
- Sports stadiums — modern oval stadiums are direct descendants of the Roman amphitheatre
- Landscape amphitheatres — terraced seating built into hillsides for parks and public spaces
Related terms
- Arena
- Colosseum
- Theatre
- Vaulting
- Roman concrete
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