Pompeii - Amphitheatre

Question 1

Who paid for its construction?

Answer 1

Quinctius Valgus and Marcuus Porcius

Question 2

How many people could it seat?

Answer 2

24,000 - almost double the population of Pompeii

Question 3

What happened in 62AD?

Answer 3

In 62AD an earthquake wrecked large parts of the amphitheatre and they had to be rebuilt. There is evidence that certain sections were still under repair at the time Vesuvius erupted.

Question 4

What events were held at the amphitheatre?

Answer 4

• Beast Hunts
• Gladiatorial Battles
• Athletics Events

Question 5

When was the amphitheatre completed?

Answer 5

Around 70BC and is the earliest known permanent stone amphitheatre in Italy.

Question 6

What happened in 59AD?

Answer 6

In 59AD there was a riot between the inhabitants of two Roman settlements, Pompeii and Nuceria, at the amphitheatre. Roman historian Tacitus tells us that fighting spilled out into the streets, as a result the amphitheatre was closed for 10 years.

Question 7

What was the structure of the amphitheatre like?

Answer 7

• The central arena was dug out and the earth was piled up to form the banked seating
• The seats closest to the arena were walled off from the rest - where the richest and most prominent Pompeiians sat
• The main banks of seating could be accessed by stairs in the outside of the amphitheatre’s main wall
• The seating closest to the arena was accessed through the archways at ground level