Trier Amphitheater

The amphitheater in Trier (Augusta Treverorum ) is an amphitheater from the Roman period, which offered 18,000 visitors place after the completion of around 100 AD.

Since 1986, the amphitheater is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Roman Monuments, Cathedral and Church of Our Lady in Trier.

Architecture and location

Under the arena was a cellar which is still preserved. There were lifts to let the actors act. It was therefore not possible to flood the arena with water. The amphitheater was part of the Roman city wall and below the Petri mountain. One of the reasons why the amphitheater was built on Petri mountain, was that only one half had to be filled in with earth for bleachers by the slopes of Petri mountain. It is oriented to the north and has a north and a south exit. Over a hidden lift in the center of the arena could be brought in quickly animals or performer.

History

After the theater around AD 100 had been built, it quickly became a part of everyday life for many citizens of the city of Trier. There, offered local dignitaries, as well as imperial officials in late antiquity some personally present emperor and citizens Bread and Circuses: animal hunts ( venationes ) and gladiator fights took decisions on life and death, executions and important announcements were proclaimed. The amphitheater had - as an unusual feature - also has another function: it served as the Eastern Gate of Trier. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century), it was in the Middle Ages, like many other buildings Trier's also used as a quarry. It was still in use until the 5th century.

Events

In summer, guided tours of the amphitheater, where an actor takes on the role of the Gladiator Valerius and talks about his career as a gladiator. In addition, the amphitheater is in August each year during Germany's biggest Roman games, the festival bread and games, the scene of mock gladiator fights. Rare to concerts, musicals and other events there.

The transitions directly under the Arena

Bread & Games: Gladiators show in the amphitheater during the day ...

And at night ...