Pompeii: Amphitheater

 As we approached the amphitheater, number 60 on this map, I noticed this field of Italian poppies springing to life in the bright sunshine...

 ...and then there it was. The Pompeii amphitheater that I had read about for so long. Those seated nearest ground level would have entered through the taller arches via a ground-level passageway. Those seated near the top would have used the stairs to either side.

 Let's enter via the passageway, shall we? Here is a quote from a document from Roman times: "In honor of Safety of the Emperor Vespasian Caesar Augustus and his House, on the occasion of the dedication of the altar, the gladiator troupe of Gnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius will give games at Pompeii on July 4. Beast hunt. There will be awnings."

 As with modern stadiums, there are halls that lead visitors around under the seats. I wonder where modern stadiums got the idea? Here they are looking to the left in the passageway.

 ...and to the right. A quote from another document: "A hunt, and 20 pairs of gladiators belonging to Marcus Tullius will fight at Pompeii on November 4-7."

 ...let's keep walking into the center of the amphitheater.

 Beautiful! This stone amphitheater was built in 70 BC, or approximately 150 years before the eruption. Soil excavated from the arena was used to form the seating area which backed up to the city walls on the south and east sides.

 There is no underground structure here, unlike the Colosseum in Rome that was built 150 years later. A third quote, from another city: "Twenty pairs of gladiators belonging to Aulus Suettius Antenio and his freedman Niger will fight at Puteoli on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th of March. There will also be a beast hunt and athletic contests."

 The inscription that dedicated this amphitheater refers to it as a "spectacula" - it wasn't until the time of Augustus that the word "amphitheatrum" became common.

 At this amphitheater in 59 AD, several people died during a fight by spectators to a game with a neighboring town. The Senate promptly banned any further games here for ten years.

A wonderful shot I took after exiting the amphitheater. The Romans must have seen a similar view 2,000 years ago.