Amphitheatre,
theatre and little
theatre of Pompeii
There exist similarities between the theatres and amphitheatres of ancient Rome/Italy. They
were constructed out of the same material, Roman concrete, and provided a place for the
public to go and see numerous events throughout the Empire. However, they are two
entirely different structures, with specific layouts that lend to the different events they held.
Amphitheatres did not need superior acoustics, unlike those provided by the structure of a
Roman theatre. While amphitheatres would feature races and gladiatorial events, theatres
hosted events such as plays, pantomimes, choral events, and orations. Their design, with its
semi-circular form, enhances the natural acoustics, unlike Roman amphitheatres
constructed in the round.
Amphitheatre
Theatre
The Theatre/The Great Theatre
Much of the architectural influence on the Romans came from the Greeks, and theatre
structural design was no different from other buildings. However, Roman theatres have
specific differences, such as being built upon their own foundations instead of earthen works
or a hillside and being completely enclosed on all sides.
Greek theatre
• Often built into a hillside
• Not enclosed on all sides
• Spectators can see ‘outside world’
Roman theatre
• Independent structure
• Enclosed on all sides
The actors were always men
(women were not allowed to
participate). Each actor
played several roles. They
wore simple costumes that
could be changed quickly and
in public. The actors held up
happy face masks and sad
faced masks, to help the
audience understand what
was going on in the play. Over
time, masks became very
elaborate.
Mosaic depicting Roman actors
Amphitheatre of
Pompeii
• The Amphitheatre of Pompeii is the oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre.
• Built around 70 BC, the current amphitheatre was the first Roman amphitheatre to be built
out of stone, previously, they had been built out of wood.
• The next Roman amphitheatre to be built from stone would be the Colosseum in Rome,
which postdates it by over a century. It was called a spectacula and not an amphitheatrum,
since the latter term was not yet in use. It was built with the private funds of Quinctius
Valgus and Marcius Porcius.
• Around AD 59, a deadly brawl occurred between Pompeians and Nuceria residents in the
amphitheatre during games, which resulted in banning the events for 10 years.
• Amongst other events, it hosted gladiatorial games, which owing to the preservation of
Pompeii has given insights into the gladiator culture of Rome.
• The amphitheatre's design is seen by some modern crowd control specialists as near
optimal. Its washroom, located in the neighbouring palaestra has also been cited as an
inspiration for better bathroom design in modern stadiums.
• It could seat around 20,000 people and served not only the citizens of Pompeii but also the
inhabitants of surrounding towns.
The Amphitheatre at Pompeii, depicting the
riot between the Nucerians and the
Pompeians
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The Popularity of the Games in Pompeii
The arena accommodated all social classes, demonstrating the universal popularity
of the games. The 35 rows of seats which could accommodate 20000 people were
divided into three areas to accommodate three distinct social groupings of
spectators from the city and its outlying regions: the ima, media and summa cavea.
The media was kept for the general populace whilst the ima cavae ran around the
arena and was kept for well to do. Slaves and women and the lowest classes viewed
the games form the summa cavae, at a distance from the show. Protection from the
sun was provided by velaria suspended above the crowd from the top of the arena.
The external walls of the amphitheatre were covered with posters praising the
gladiators and recording the outcome of the contests. The Thracian Celadus is
described as the ‘hero’ and ‘heartthrob of the girls’. The area around the
amphitheatre developed into an area of taverns and eateries to provide pre and
post games’ refreshment. Signs painted on the arena walls marking out rented
spaces indicate that temporary booths were set up just outside the arena walls,
selling souvenirs, food and drink.
The Structure and Design of Pompeii’s Amphitheatre
In contrast to later amphitheatres, Pompeii’s is very simple and represents and
example of the earliest style of amphitheatre. It measures 135m long and 104m
wide. Its arena was a pit excavated 6m below ground level with earth from the
excavations heaped up into embankments that served as a seating area. All that
divided the audience from the spectacle below them was a 2 metre balustrade
which would have offered poor protection for those on the nearest seats during
wild beats fights
The south and east sides of the structure were contained by the city walls which
were joined by purpose built retaining walls to enclose the north and west. External
staircases built into the walls were the earliest access ways to the seating areas
which was initially wooden. There were only two entrances to the arena itself: the
Porta Triumphalis which was used for the opening ceremony procession of
gladiators and the Porta Libitinensis which was the exit point for the dead.
Improvements were made to the design and appearance of the amphitheatre
during the repairs of 62AD. A new seating area was constructed and brick
buttresses were added to support the access tunnels. A covered walkway was
added in the seating area allowing access via stairways to the internal access
corridor to allow the city’s elite to enter the amphitheatre through the main arena
entrances rather than the external stairways.The balsrade of the arena was painted
with bright panels depicting gladiator fights. Two inscribed statue niches over the
northern entrance indicate this was funded by C. Crispus Pansa and his son.
The chief difference between Pompeii’s amphitheatre and later design is the lack of
external structures. The arena is built on solid ground, without the underground
vaults and cells for the containment of gladiators and animals found in later
amphitheatres. The only internal feature was a simple corridor cut into the earth
base of the cavea. Running the circumference of the amphitheatre, it was used to
access to the arena.