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A ("curtain") was a type of
Text
.
A ("curtain") was a type of awning
An awning or overhang is a secondary covering attached to the exterior wall of a building. It is typically composed of canvas woven of acrylic, cotton or polyester yarn, or vinyl laminated to polyester fabric that is stretched tightly over a lig ...
used in Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
times. It stretched over the whole of the , the seating area in amphitheater
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 ...
s to protect spectators from the sun. Precisely how the awning was supported is a matter of conjecture.Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; c. AD 69 – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era of the Roman Empire.
His most important surviving work is a set of biographies ...
, '' Life of Caligula'' 26Text
.
History
Retractable awnings were relatively common throughout the Roman Empire, including on the wooden amphitheater that preceded the Colosseum.The Colosseum
TheColosseum
The Colosseum ( ; it, Colosseo ) is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world to ...
being the biggest amphitheater of Roman times, the that covered it was the biggest that ever was as well. It provided shade from the sun for up to one third of the arena. The also created a ventilation updraft, creating circulation and a cool breeze.
It is believed that sailors from the Misenum fleet
The ''Classis Misenensis'' ("Fleet of Misenum"), later awarded the honorifics ''praetoria'' and ''Pia Vindex'', was the senior fleet of the imperial Roman navy.
History
The was founded by Caesar Augustus in 27 BCE, when the fleet of Italy, ...
, with their background in sail
A sail is a tensile structure—which is made from fabric or other membrane materials—that uses wind power to propel sailing craft, including sailing ships, sailboats, windsurfers, ice boats, and even sail-powered land vehicles. Sails may ...
making and rigging
Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sail boat's masts—''standing rigging'', including shrouds and stays—and which adjust the position of the vessel's sails and spars to which they are ...
were employed to build, maintain and operate the .
In modern times
ThePuy du Fou
Puy du Fou () is a historical theme park in Les Epesses in the Pays de la Loire region of western France. It receives more than 2 million visitors every year, making it one of the most popular theme parks in France. In 2019 and 2020, it is the fo ...
theme park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
, in France, has a Roman-style amphitheatre built for some of its shows, complete with an antique-style velarium.
References
Ancient Roman architectural elements Shading (Architecture) {{stagecraft-stub