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The Trier Amphitheater is a Roman amphitheater in
Trier Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...
, Germany. It is designated as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site as a testimony to the importance of Trier as a major Roman city north of the Alps.


History

Trier and its
amphitheatre An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...
resembled many Roman cities of its time in that many infamous gladiatorial contests occurred there. The structure which was dug into the side of a hill was erected around the 2nd century A.D during the rule of
Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius ( Latin: ''Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius''; 19 September 86 – 7 March 161) was Roman emperor from 138 to 161. He was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors from the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. Born into a senatori ...
. Measuring 120 by 145 meters, the amphitheatre could accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators and is the 10th largest Roman amphitheatre still intact. It was built into what was at the time the city's wall, to the east of the modern and Roman city centre. When
Constantius Chlorus Flavius Valerius Constantius "Chlorus" ( – 25 July 306), also called Constantius I, was Roman emperor from 305 to 306. He was one of the four original members of the Tetrarchy established by Diocletian, first serving as caesar from 293 ...
moved to Trier, Germany around 293 during the
Tetrarchy The Tetrarchy was the system instituted by Roman emperor Diocletian in 293 AD to govern the ancient Roman Empire by dividing it between two emperors, the ''augusti'', and their juniors colleagues and designated successors, the '' caesares'' ...
he renovated the amphitheater.


Usage

The multiple usages of the arena included gladiator events and animal shows in which a cellar under the arena was utilized to store the animals and sentence prisoners to death. Remnants of wood and 1200 coins from the late 3rd century onward have been found in the cellar, suggesting that the cellar and other subterranean galleries were built after the original amphitheatre. On the eastern bank of the amphipheatre, a small burial ground was discovered in 1996, containing the graves of 46 people. Today, the amphitheatre is used for simulated gladiator fights and performances.


Gallery

Amphitheatre Trier 1.JPG Trier Amphitheater BW 2013-07-08 12-48-48.JPG Trier Amphitheater BW 2013-07-08 13-29-29.JPG


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 ...


References


External links

* Buildings and structures in Trier History of Trier World Heritage Sites in Germany Amphitheaters in Germany Ancient Roman buildings and structures in Germany Roman amphitheatres {{AncientRome-stub