Discover Roman Amphitheatres
How to find, visit and appreciate surviving arenas.
Romans, Gladiators & Lions were here.
Roman Amphitheatres
There are currently close to 250 known Roman Amphitheatre sites in locations reflecting the extent of the Empire at its height. From Great Britain, through Northern and Southern Europe to North Africa, they range from faint traces and lost remains, to almost complete and still functional structures.
An Amphitheatre is oval or circular in shape with 360 degree seating. Not to be confused with a Theatre in the Greek tradition which is ‘D’ shaped with a raised stage on the flat side. Simple guide: Theatre - (D shaped, stage…. plays) Amphitheatre - (Oval… gladiators, lions, blood and sand)
The Imperial Eye
Amphitheatres performed an important function in the administration of Imperial Roman Political and Colonial power. They were locations used to entertain, inform, control and sometimes execute people. It is likely that almost every major population centre or military base had one, from the very centre of Rome to the outermost reaches of a vast geographical area.
If you find an amphitheatre site using satellite mapping and zoom into it, it’s not hard to imagine that what you see in the ubiquitous oval is the baleful eye of an all-powerful Emperor looking back at you.