An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both /ˈæmfɪˌθiːətər/)[1][2] is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greekἀμφιθέατρον (amphitheatron),[3] from ἀμφί (amphi), meaning "on both sides" or "around"[4] and θέατρον (théātron), meaning "place for viewing".[5][6]
The Colosseum, an amphitheatre in Rome (built 72–80 AD)
Ancient Roman amphitheatres were oval or circular in plan, with seating tiers that surrounded the central performance area, like a modern open-air stadium. In contrast, both ancient Greek and ancient Roman theatres were built in a semicircle, with tiered seating rising on one side of the performance area.
Modern parlance uses "amphitheatre" for any structure with sloping seating, including theatre-style stages with spectator seating on only one side, theatres in the round, and stadia. They can be indoor or outdoor.
Naturallandforms and rock formations of similar shape are sometimes known as natural amphitheatres.
About 230 Roman amphitheatres have been found across the area of the Roman Empire. Their typical shape, functions and name distinguish them from Roman theatres, which are more or less semicircular in shape; from the circuses (similar to hippodromes) whose much longer circuits were designed mainly for horse or chariot racing events; and from the smaller stadia, which were primarily designed for athletics and footraces.[8]
Roman amphitheatres were circular or oval in plan, with a central arena surrounded by perimeter seating tiers. The seating tiers were pierced by entrance-ways controlling access to the arena floor, and isolating it from the audience. Temporary wooden structures functioning as amphitheaters would have been erected for the funeral games held in honour of deceased Roman magnates by their heirs, featuring fights to the death by gladiators, usually armed prisoners of war, at the funeral pyre or tomb of the deceased. These games are described in Roman histories as muneracode: lat promoted to code: la , gifts, entertainments or duties to honour deceased individuals, Romes' gods and the Roman community.[9]
Some Roman writers interpret the earliest attempts to provide permanent amphitheaters and seating for the lower classes as populist political graft, rightly blocked by the Senate as morally objectionable; too-frequent, excessively "luxurious" muneracode: lat promoted to code: la would corrode traditional Roman morals. The provision of permanent seating was thought a particularly objectionable luxury.[10]
The earliest permanent, stone and timber Roman amphitheatre with perimeter seating was built in the Campus Martiuscode: lat promoted to code: la in 29 BCE.[11] Most were built under Imperial rule, from the Augustan period (27 BCE–14 CE) onwards.[12] Imperial amphitheatres were built throughout the Roman Empire, especial in provincial capitals and major colonies, as an essential aspect of Romanitas. There was no standard size; the largest could accommodate 40,000–60,000 spectators. The most elaborate featured multi-storeyed, arcaded façades and were decorated with marble, stucco and statuary.[13] The best-known and largest Roman amphitheatre is the Colosseum in Rome, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (Amphitheatrum Flaviumcode: lat promoted to code: la ), after the Flavian dynasty who had it built. After the ending of gladiatorial games in the 5th century and of staged animal hunts in the 6th, most amphitheatres fell into disrepair. Their materials were mined or recycled. Some were razed, and others were converted into fortifications. A few continued as convenient open meeting places; in some of these, churches were sited.[14]
Aerial photograph of the Hollywood Bowl, showing the seating after the 2005 renovation.
In modern usage, an amphitheatre is a circular, semicircular or curved, acoustically vibrant performance space, particularly one located outdoors. Contemporary amphitheatres often include standing structures, called bandshells, sometimes curved or bowl-shaped, both behind the stage and behind the audience, creating an area which echoes or amplifies sound, making the amphitheatre ideal for musical or theatrical performances. Small-scale amphitheatres can serve to host outdoor local community performances.
A natural amphitheatre is a performance space located in a spot where a steep mountain or a particular rock formation naturally amplifies or echoes sound, making it ideal for musical and theatrical performances. An amphitheatre can be naturally occurring formations which would be ideal for this purpose, even if no theatre has been constructed there.
^ Dodge, Hazel, Amphitheaters in the Roman World, pp.545-553, Ch. 37 in "Blackwell companions to the Ancient World", edited by Christesen, P & Kyle, Donald, Wiley Blackwell, 2014
^See Appian, The Civil Wars, 128; Livy, Perochiae, 48.
^Kyle, Donald G. (2017). "Ancient Greek and Roman Sport". In Edelman, Robert; Wilson, Wayne (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Sports History. Oxford Handbooks Online. p. 89. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199858910.001.0001. ISBN978-0-19-985891-0.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amphitheatre.
Look up amphitheatre in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Bomgardner, David Lee (October 2000). The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre. Routledge. ISBN0-415-16593-8.
May 20, 2023
amphitheatre, other, uses, disambiguation, amphitheatre, british, english, amphitheater, american, english, both, open, venue, used, entertainment, performances, sports, term, derives, from, ancient, greek, ἀμφιθέατρον, amphitheatron, from, ἀμφί, amphi, meanin. For other uses see Amphitheatre disambiguation An amphitheatre British English or amphitheater American English both ˈ ae m f ɪ ˌ 8 iː e t er 1 2 is an open air venue used for entertainment performances and sports The term derives from the ancient Greek ἀmfi8eatron amphitheatron 3 from ἀmfi amphi meaning on both sides or around 4 and 8eatron theatron meaning place for viewing 5 6 The Colosseum an amphitheatre in Rome built 72 80 AD Ancient Roman amphitheatres were oval or circular in plan with seating tiers that surrounded the central performance area like a modern open air stadium In contrast both ancient Greek and ancient Roman theatres were built in a semicircle with tiered seating rising on one side of the performance area Modern parlance uses amphitheatre for any structure with sloping seating including theatre style stages with spectator seating on only one side theatres in the round and stadia They can be indoor or outdoor Natural landforms and rock formations of similar shape are sometimes known as natural amphitheatres Arles Amphitheatre France a Roman arena still used 7 for bullfighting plays and summer concerts Contents 1 Roman amphitheatres 2 Modern amphitheatres 3 Natural amphitheatres 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesRoman amphitheatres EditMain article Roman amphitheatre Pula Arena CroatiaAbout 230 Roman amphitheatres have been found across the area of the Roman Empire Their typical shape functions and name distinguish them from Roman theatres which are more or less semicircular in shape from the circuses similar to hippodromes whose much longer circuits were designed mainly for horse or chariot racing events and from the smaller stadia which were primarily designed for athletics and footraces 8 Roman amphitheatres were circular or oval in plan with a central arena surrounded by perimeter seating tiers The seating tiers were pierced by entrance ways controlling access to the arena floor and isolating it from the audience Temporary wooden structures functioning as amphitheaters would have been erected for the funeral games held in honour of deceased Roman magnates by their heirs featuring fights to the death by gladiators usually armed prisoners of war at the funeral pyre or tomb of the deceased These games are described in Roman histories as munera code lat promoted to code la gifts entertainments or duties to honour deceased individuals Romes gods and the Roman community 9 Some Roman writers interpret the earliest attempts to provide permanent amphitheaters and seating for the lower classes as populist political graft rightly blocked by the Senate as morally objectionable too frequent excessively luxurious munera code lat promoted to code la would corrode traditional Roman morals The provision of permanent seating was thought a particularly objectionable luxury 10 The earliest permanent stone and timber Roman amphitheatre with perimeter seating was built in the Campus Martius code lat promoted to code la in 29 BCE 11 Most were built under Imperial rule from the Augustan period 27 BCE 14 CE onwards 12 Imperial amphitheatres were built throughout the Roman Empire especial in provincial capitals and major colonies as an essential aspect of Romanitas There was no standard size the largest could accommodate 40 000 60 000 spectators The most elaborate featured multi storeyed arcaded facades and were decorated with marble stucco and statuary 13 The best known and largest Roman amphitheatre is the Colosseum in Rome also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre Amphitheatrum Flavium code lat promoted to code la after the Flavian dynasty who had it built After the ending of gladiatorial games in the 5th century and of staged animal hunts in the 6th most amphitheatres fell into disrepair Their materials were mined or recycled Some were razed and others were converted into fortifications A few continued as convenient open meeting places in some of these churches were sited 14 Modern amphitheatres EditSee also List of contemporary amphitheatres This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Aerial photograph of the Hollywood Bowl showing the seating after the 2005 renovation In modern usage an amphitheatre is a circular semicircular or curved acoustically vibrant performance space particularly one located outdoors Contemporary amphitheatres often include standing structures called bandshells sometimes curved or bowl shaped both behind the stage and behind the audience creating an area which echoes or amplifies sound making the amphitheatre ideal for musical or theatrical performances Small scale amphitheatres can serve to host outdoor local community performances Notable modern amphitheatres include the Shoreline Amphitheatre the Hollywood Bowl and the Aula Magna at Stockholm University The term amphitheatre is also used for some indoor venues such as the by now demolished Gibson Amphitheatre Natural amphitheatres Edit Bryce Canyon Amphitheatre from Sunrise Point A natural amphitheatre is a performance space located in a spot where a steep mountain or a particular rock formation naturally amplifies or echoes sound making it ideal for musical and theatrical performances An amphitheatre can be naturally occurring formations which would be ideal for this purpose even if no theatre has been constructed there Notable natural amphitheatres include the Drakensberg Amphitheatre in South Africa Slane Castle in Ireland the Supernatural Amphitheatre in Australia and the Red Rocks and the Gorge Amphitheatres in the western United States See also EditAncient theatres Theatre of ancient Greece List of ancient Greek theatres Arena Thingplatz List of Roman amphitheatres List of contemporary amphitheatres List of indoor arenasNotes Edit New Oxford American Dictionary 3rd ed Oxford University Press 2010 Definition of Amphitheatre in Oxford dictionary Meaning pronunciation and origin of the word Oxford Dictionaries Oxford University Press 2014 Archived from the original on 13 July 2012 Retrieved 23 February 2014 ἀmfi8eatron Henry George Liddell Robert Scott An Intermediate Greek English Lexicon on Peseus ἀmfi Henry George Liddell Robert Scott A Greek English Lexicon on Perseus 8eatron Henry George Liddell Robert Scott A Greek English Lexicon on Perseus Hoad T F 1996 The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology Oxford University Press pp 14 489 ISBN 0 19 283098 8 Michel Tournier Le coq de bruyere W D Redfern Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press 1996 p 69 Bomgardner 37 Dodge Hazel Amphitheaters in the Roman World pp 545 553 Ch 37 in Blackwell companions to the Ancient World edited by Christesen P amp Kyle Donald Wiley Blackwell 2014 See Appian The Civil Wars 128 Livy Perochiae 48 Kyle Donald G 2017 Ancient Greek and Roman Sport In Edelman Robert Wilson Wayne eds The Oxford Handbook of Sports History Oxford Handbooks Online p 89 doi 10 1093 oxfordhb 9780199858910 001 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 985891 0 Bomgardner 59 Bomgardner 62 Bomgardner 201 223 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amphitheatre Look up amphitheatre in Wiktionary the free dictionary Bomgardner David Lee October 2000 The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre Routledge ISBN 0 415 16593 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amphitheatre amp oldid 1154862931, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
