Milan amphitheatre
Encyclopedia
The Milan amphitheatre was a Roman amphitheatre
in the ancient city of Mediolanum
, the modern Milan
, northern Italy
.
Gate") in the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, when Mediolanum grew as economical and political importance while Rome declined. It remained in use until the city was one of the capitals of the Western Roman Empire
(4th or 5th centuries). Later it was abandoned after Christianism imposed the end to arena games, but also as, in the wake of the imperial crisis, animals to be used in the amphitheatre were no more imported. It became a quarry for construction stones as early as the 4th century AD, when the Basilica of San Lorenzo
was built.
The edifice was demolished during a Barbarian attack to Milan, as it was located outside the walls and could therefore be used as stronghold by the attackers. The date of the event is however uncertain: it could be 402, during the Visigoth
ic invasion of Italy, or in 452, when northern Italy was ravage by Attila, or during the Gothic Wars (6th century).
Roman amphitheatre
Roman amphitheatres are amphitheatres – large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised seating – built by the Ancient Romans. They were used for events such as gladiator combats, chariot races, venationes and executions. About 230 Roman amphitheatres have been found across the area of the...
in the ancient city of Mediolanum
Mediolanum
Mediolanum, the ancient Milan, was an important Celtic and then Roman centre of northern Italy. This article charts the history of the city from its settlement by the Insubres around 600 BC, through its conquest by the Romans and its development into a key centre of Western Christianity and capital...
, the modern Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The amphitheatre was built near the Porta Ticinese ("TicinoTicino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
Gate") in the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, when Mediolanum grew as economical and political importance while Rome declined. It remained in use until the city was one of the capitals of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
(4th or 5th centuries). Later it was abandoned after Christianism imposed the end to arena games, but also as, in the wake of the imperial crisis, animals to be used in the amphitheatre were no more imported. It became a quarry for construction stones as early as the 4th century AD, when the Basilica of San Lorenzo
Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan
The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is a church in Milan, northern Italy, dedicated to the Christian martyr St. Lawrence.- History :Various suggestions of its origin have been made, including a foundation in c.370., the Basilica of San Lorenzo was renovated and redecorated in the 16th century...
was built.
The edifice was demolished during a Barbarian attack to Milan, as it was located outside the walls and could therefore be used as stronghold by the attackers. The date of the event is however uncertain: it could be 402, during the Visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
ic invasion of Italy, or in 452, when northern Italy was ravage by Attila, or during the Gothic Wars (6th century).