The Roman amphitheatre of Italica () is a ruined
Roman amphitheatre
Roman amphitheatres are theatres – large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised seating – built by the ancient Romans. They were used for events such as gladiator combats, ''venationes'' (animal slayings) and executions. About List of ...
situated in the Roman settlement of
Italica
Italica ( es, Itálica) was a Roman town founded by Italic settlers in Hispania; its site is close to the town of Santiponce, part of the province of Seville in modern-day Spain. It was founded in 206 BC by Roman general Scipio as a settleme ...
, present-day
Santiponce
Santiponce is a town located in the province of Seville, Spain. According to the 2006 census (INE), the town has a population of 7742 inhabitants.
The town contains the ruins of the Roman city Italica
Italica ( es, Itálica) was a Roman town ...
, in
Andalusia
Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
It was built during the reign of
emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
Hadrian
Hadrian (; la, Caesar Trâiānus Hadriānus ; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was born in Italica (close to modern Santiponce in Spain), a Roman ''municipium'' founded by Italic settlers in Hispania B ...
, approximately between the years 117 and 138, and was one of the largest in the entire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
.
Architectural features
The amphitheatre had capacity of 25,000 spectators. It has an elliptical shape, with a major axis of 160 metres (525 ft) and one less than 137 metres (449 ft), it had three levels of stands. Under the level of the old wooden floor of the amphitheater there was a service pit for the different
gladiatorial
A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
shows, called ''munus gladiatorum'' and fights against wild beasts, called ''
venatio
Venatio ( la, venatio, "hunting", plural ''venationes'') was a type of entertainment in Roman amphitheaters involving the hunting and killing of wild animals.
History
Venatio was first introduced by Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, who celebrated his G ...
''.
The ''
cavea
The ''cavea'' (Latin for "enclosure") are the seating sections of Greek and Roman theatres and amphitheatres
An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performance ...
'' was divided into three sections, the ''ima'', ''media'' and ''summa cavea'', separated by annular corridors called praecinctions. The first, the ''ima cavea'', had 6 stands, with 8 access doors, and was reserved for a ruling class. The second, the ''media cavea'', was intended for the humblest population, had 12 tiers and 14 access doors. The ''summa cavea'', covered by an awning, was reserved only to children and women.
The amphitheatre also had several rooms dedicated to the cult of
Nemesis
In ancient Greek religion, Nemesis, also called Rhamnousia or Rhamnusia ( grc, Ῥαμνουσία, Rhamnousía, the goddess of Rhamnous), was the goddess who personifies retribution, a central concept in the Greek world view.
Etymology
The n ...
and
Juno
Juno commonly refers to:
*Juno (mythology), the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods
*Juno (film), ''Juno'' (film), 2007
Juno may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters
*Juno, in the film ''Jenny, Juno''
*Ju ...
.
Popular culture
The amphitheatre of Italica was used in seasons
seven
7 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
7 or seven may also refer to:
* AD 7, the seventh year of the AD era
* 7 BC, the seventh year before the AD era
* The month of
July
Music Artists
* Seven (Swiss singer) (born 1978), a Swiss recording artist ...
and
eight
8 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
8 or eight may also refer to:
Years
* AD 8, the eighth year of the AD era
* 8 BC, the eighth year before the AD era
Art
*The Eight (Ashcan School), a group of twentieth century painters associated with the As ...
of
''Game of Thrones'' as the Dragonpit of King's Landing.
See also
*
List of Roman amphitheatres
The remains of at least 230 Roman amphitheatres have been found widely scattered around the area of the Roman Empire. These are large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised 360 degree seating and not to be confused with the more common t ...
*
List of Roman sites in Spain
This is a list of existing Roman sites in Spain.
Altars
* Roman altar of Arcos de la Frontera
Archaeological sites
* Archaeological Ensemble of Acinipo
* Almoina Archaeological Centre
* Cabeza Ladrero
* Roman ruins of Calduba
* Archaeolo ...
References
External links
*
Official website of the Town council of Santiponce
Roman amphitheatres in Spain
Buildings and structures in the Province of Seville
{{DEFAULTSORT:Italica Roman_amphitheatre
History of Andalusia
Buildings and structures completed in the 2nd century