Roman amphitheatre: Did you mean...?

If there was one thing the Roman people loved it was spectacle and the opportunity of escapism offered by weird and wonderful public shows which assaulted the senses and ratcheted up the emotions. Roman rulers knew this well and so to increase...

The Amphitheatre of Durrës (Roman Dyrrachium) in Albania was built in the 2nd century CE and held 15,000 to 20,000 people. It is among the largest monuments of antiquity to have survived on Albanian territory.

Roman amphitheatre of Avenches, Switzerland, built in the early 2nd century CE, in use until the 4th century CE, used as a stone quarry afterwards. In the 11th century, a fortified tower was built on its eastern entrance and today it serves...

The exterior of the Roman amphitheatre of Mediolanum Santonum (Saintes, Charente-Maritime), France. The arena could hold 15,000 spectators and was built 40-50 CE.

The remains of the amphitheatre of Salona (Solin, Croatia), erected in the latter half of the 2nd century (c. 170 CE). The fights in the arena could be watched by some 17,000 spectators.

Fourth Style fresco depicting a riot that broke out in Pompeii in 59 CE during games held in the arena involving Pompeians and inhabitants of Nuceria. On the orders of Nero, this event led to the closure of the amphitheatre for ten years...

The Trier amphitheatre was built towards the end of the 2nd century CE, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is estimated that it once held up to 18,000 spectators for gladiator tournaments and animal fights. The arena measured...

A Roman gladiator was an ancient professional fighter who usually specialised with particular weapons and types of armour. They fought before the public in hugely popular organised games held in large purpose-built arenas throughout the Roman...

The Roman Empire and its predecessor the Roman Republic produced an abundance of celebrated literature; poetry, comedies, dramas, histories, and philosophical tracts; the Romans avoided tragedies. Much of it survives to this day. However...

The Romans controlled such a vast empire for so long a period that a summary of the art produced in that time can only be a brief and selective one. Perhaps, though, the greatest points of distinction for Roman art are its very diversity...