The Great Theater at Pompeii, which could seat up to 5,000 spectators, dates from the end of the 3rd century BCE. It was built in the Greek style, which took advantage of the natural slope of the terrain and had a U-shaped orchestra. During performances of comedies and tragedies, long lengths of colored cloth were … Read more
This ancient Roman amphitheater in Pompeii, Italy was completely buried by the ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was so well designed and built that, since being excavated, it has been used for present day concerts and events, including a concert film made by the band Pink Floyd in 1971.
Walking through the Italian town of Torre Annunziata, one would never suspect that some of the most luxurious villas of the Roman Empire lie buried some 25 feet beneath its streets. The only indication that earlier structures existed comes from a notation on the Tabula Peutingeriana, a twelfth-century copy of an ancient map of the … Read more
The Roman amphitheater of Pompeii, built around 80 BCE, is the world’s oldest surviving stone amphitheater. It was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which also covered the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under tons of ash and pyroclastic volcanic mud. Prior to the eruption, the stadium was used for gladiatorial … Read more
Capped columns mark one end of the Forum at Pompeii, the Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. No carriages were allowed in this great open space, which was reserved for public gatherings and markets.
