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The Amphitheatre of Pompeii
The amphitheatre of Pompeii was used for gladiatorial combat and is the oldest one of its kind in existence. Built 150 years before the Colosseum in 70 BCE, it could hold up to 20,000 spectators not only from Pompeii but also from neighbouring...
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Salona Amphitheatre, Croatia
The remains of the amphitheatre of Salona (Solin, Croatia), erected in the latter half of the 2nd century (c. 170 CE). The fights in the arena could be watched by some 17,000 spectators.
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Roman Architecture
Roman architecture continued the legacy left by Greek architects and the established architectural orders, especially the Corinthian. The Romans were also innovators and they combined new construction techniques and materials with creative...
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Amphitheatre of El Jem (UNESCO/NHK)
The impressive ruins of the largest colosseum in North Africa, a huge amphitheatre which could hold up to 35,000 spectators, are found in the small village of El Jem, Tunisia. This 3rd-century A.D. monument illustrates the grandeur and extent...
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The Splendours of Roman Algeria
Algeria, Africa's largest country, stretches from the Mediterranean coastline to the Saharan desert interior. The country has some of the finest and most diverse Roman sites, including Timgad and Djémila, both well-preserved and UNESCO-listed...
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Roman Games, Chariot Races & Spectacle
If there was one thing the Roman people loved it was spectacle and the opportunity of escapism offered by weird and wonderful public shows which assaulted the senses and ratcheted up the emotions. Roman rulers knew this well and so to increase...
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Roman Gladiator
A Roman gladiator was an ancient professional fighter who usually specialised with particular weapons and types of armour. They fought before the public in hugely popular organised games held in large purpose-built arenas throughout the Roman...
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A Roman Trail in the Moselle Valley
The Moselle Valley is Germany's oldest winegrowing region. The Romans brought viticulture to this area and planted vines along the Moselle River 2000 years ago. After settling the region c. 50 BCE and establishing the city of Trier (Augusta...
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Mythological Re-Enactments in Ancient Roman Spectacle
To this day the ancient Romans remain infamous for their dramatic use of spectacle and other forms of entertainment. A lesser known variation of Roman spectacle is the mythological re-enactments that took place during the ludi meridiani (midday...
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A Visitor's Guide to Pompeii
Visitors to Naples and its surrounding area could be overwhelmed by the number of archaeological wonders to see. Buried for centuries beneath tons of volcanic ash and debris, the archaeological sites scattered along the coast of Naples are...