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Ancient Amphitheaters can be found around the world. In a first article a week ago, called ‘The 5 Oldest Amphitheaters in the World’, we travelled together through magnificent venues of old in Greece, Spain, and France. Yet there are so many more beautiful, ancient performance spaces, it warranted following up with a second article to continue our journey around the world. Here are 5 more venues for you.
Located in Athens, Greece, it was built between 160 and 174 AD by the wealthy Herodes Atticus, a philosopher from an old Athenian family, in memory of his wife Regilla.
The venue is also known as the ‘Herodeon.’ It is located on the southern slopes of the Acropolis and easily accessible due to its location in the heart of the city.
A typical Roman Odeon, large and exceptionally well-appointed, it was primarily used as a music venue. Its marble auditorium extends slightly beyond a semi-circle. It had a diameter of 80 meters and seated 4’800 spectators.
The venue offers great natural acoustics and spectacular scenic vistas.
Archeological finds suggest that the theatre was covered, at least in part, by a wood and tile roof.
Since the inception of the Athens Festival around 60 years ago, the Odeon has hosted almost all the leading artists of Greek and international post-war music, dance, and theatre. The Festival runs from May through October each year.
This Roman amphitheater is part of the Caesarea National Park in Israel. The park encompasses the remains of the ancient port city capital of Roman Judea. The city was established by Herod the Great in 25 BC on a stretch of coast between Haifa and Tel Aviv.
Allegedly, the theatre was built outside the city because its often obscene and bawdy performances may have been offensive among religious Jews.
In Herod’s day, the venue seated approximately 4’000 spectators.
Today, the Theatre of Caesarea is Israel’s most ancient theatre. It is used for open-air concerts by top-tier international and Israeli talent.
Incredibly, as in so many other amphitheaters as well, the natural acoustics are amazing. And, from the auditorium, the view over the ocean is in itself already a performance worth showing up for.
It is in the eastern part of Sicily, Italy, and is also known as the Graeco-Roman Theatre of Taormina.
The venue is constructed in a particularly scenic and awe-inspiring location. Spectators do not only see the performance. From the auditorium they have an unobstructed view of the Etna Volcano on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.
The theatre was built in the 2nd century BC. It was first constructed by the Greeks and later extended by the Romans. It is 120 meters (390 ft) in diameter.
The proscenium with the back wall of the scena and its appendages are astonishingly well preserved.
Currently, the venue hosts the annual Taormina Art Festival. It is also used for other performances throughout the year.
The city of Leptis Magna is in modern-day Libya. It was founded by the Phoenicians in the 10th century BC and became part of the Roman empire after the defeat of Carthage in 146 BC.
The Roman amphitheater of Leptis Magna dates from 56 AD and lies about a kilometer east of the city center.
Unlike most Roman amphitheaters it is built below ground. The structure was excavated in a natural depression, or former quarry, in the rocky terrace to the southeast of the city, close to the sea.
This large venue was capable of seating 16’000 spectators.
The oval arena measures 57 x 45 meters. The lower ranks were reserved for members of the upper class. Going by ancient inscriptions, it seems the high society preferred the southeastern side of the theatre where they could enjoy a smooth wind.
In the arena and scattered all over the auditorium you can still see the stone slabs that were once on the seats.
Unfortunately, this venue is not in use nowadays, due to its protected archeological status.
The Verona Arena in Italy is the world’s second-largest amphitheater (after the Colosseum in Rome) to survive from Roman antiquity. It was built in 30 AD and could host 30,000 spectators.
It’s outer ring of white and pink limestone was almost completely destroyed during a major earthquake in 1117. But the inner part is still amazingly well preserved.
The Roman amphitheater has been used continuously throughout the centuries to host shows and games: gladiator fights during Roman times, jousts, and tournaments in the Middle Ages.
From the 18th century until the present day the arena has been and is the setting for Verona’s spectacular opera performances.
The first interventions to recover the arena’s function as an opera venue began during the Renaissance.
Some opera performances were later mounted in the building during the 1850s, owing to its outstanding acoustics.
Nowadays, at least four productions (sometimes up to six) are mounted each year between June and August.
Spectators are advised that admission tickets to sit on the arena’s stone steps are much cheaper to buy than tickets giving access to the padded chairs available on lower levels.
Candles are distributed to the audience and lit after sunset around the arena. A truly unforgettable, romantic sight and experience.
Every year, over 500,000 people see productions of the popular operas in this arena. In which many of the world’s most notable opera singers have been featured.
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Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. Liam has always been engaged in creative pursuits, ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories and poetry, to working in theatre and shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, 'Paralian'.
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