The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre

The Roman amphitheatre was a site both of bloody combat and marvellous spectacle, symbolic of the might of Empire; to understand the importance of the amphitheatre is to understand a key element in the social and political life of the Roman ruling classes. Generously illustrated with 141 plans and photographs, The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre offers a comprehensive picture of the origins, development, and eventual decline of the most typical and evocative of Roman monuments. With a detailed examination of the Colosseum, as well as case studies of significant sites from Italy, Gaul, Spain and Roman North Africa, the book is a fascinating gazetteer for the general reader as well as a valuable tool for students and academics. "The Roman amphitheatre was a site of both bloody combat and marvellous spectacle, symbolic of the might of Empire. Yet it had significance beyond mere entertainment; to understand the importance of the amphitheatre is also to understand a key element in the social and political life of the Roman ruling classes. Generously illustrated with 141 photographs and plans, The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre offers a comprehensive picture of the origins, development, and eventual decline of the most typical and evocative of Roman monuments. With a detailed examination of the Colosseum, as well as case studies of significant sites from Italy, Gaul, Spain and Roman North Africa, the book is a fascinating gazetteer for the general reader as well as a valuable tool for students and academics." -- Provided by publisher Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of plates......Page 10 List of figures......Page 13 List of tables......Page 15 Preface......Page 16 Acknowledgements......Page 18 List of abbreviations......Page 19 THE COLOSSEUM......Page 22 THE ORIGINS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMPHITHEATRE......Page 53 IMPERIAL AMPHITHEATRES......Page 82 THE NORTH AFRICAN AMPHITHEATRES......Page 142 ENDINGS AND NEW BEGINNINGS......Page 218 Appendix......Page 249 Notes......Page 253 Select bibliography......Page 281 Index......Page 286 This book traces the origins and development of that most typical and evocative of Roman monuments, the amphitheatre. It shows how they played a central role in the social and political life of ancient Rome and looks at their origins David Bomgardner traces the origins and development of the Roman amphitheatre. This lucid and accessible work is beautifully illustrated with 141 plans and photographs In answer to the request, 'Name one example of a Roman amphitheater', most people would reply, 'The Colosseum'.