Roman Theatre, Benevento
Encyclopedia
The Roman Theatre is an ancient Roman edifice in Benevento
, southern Italy
. It was built in the 2nd century by emperor Hadrian
near the city's cardo maximus (126 AD). Abandoned in Lombard times
, it is now surrounded by the medieval Rione (district) Triggio.
The structures is still used for concerts, representations and other spectacles.
The exterior had 25 arcades on three orders, of which only the lower one remain, with Tuscan columns (these gave access to the interior alternatively through corridors and stairs) and part of the second one.
The cavea
has mostly survived. The large scene features remains of three monumental gates which led to the orchestra
; at the latter's side are the remains of the parodoi
, of which the right one has kept the pavement mosaic and the polychrome marble walls, which likely characterized most of the theatre originally. Above this hall, in the 18th century, the small church of Santa Maria della Verità was built. Behind the scene, three staircases led to a lower level, which was perhaps used an entrance for artists.
The entrance alley is decorated by masks similar to those used by the actors. Some edifices around the theatre which are still under excavation included perhaps a dancing school and an association of artists.
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, southern 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...
. It was built in the 2nd century by emperor Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
near the city's cardo maximus (126 AD). Abandoned in Lombard times
Duchy of Benevento
The Duchy and later Principality of Benevento was the southernmost Lombard duchy in medieval Italy, centred on Benevento, a city central in the Mezzogiorno. Owing to the Ducatus Romanus of the popes, which cut it off from the rest of Lombard Italy, Benevento was from the first practically...
, it is now surrounded by the medieval Rione (district) Triggio.
The structures is still used for concerts, representations and other spectacles.
Description
The theatre has a semicircular plan with a diameter of 90 meters: it could originally house some 10,000/15,000 spectators.The exterior had 25 arcades on three orders, of which only the lower one remain, with Tuscan columns (these gave access to the interior alternatively through corridors and stairs) and part of the second one.
The cavea
Cavea
In Roman times the cavea were the subterranean cells in which wild animals were confined before the combats in the Roman arena or amphitheatre....
has mostly survived. The large scene features remains of three monumental gates which led to the orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
; at the latter's side are the remains of the parodoi
Parodos
Parodos is a term used in Ancient Greek comedy and tragedy. A parodos is both the first entrance of the chorus into the orchestra and the choral ode that they sing and dance as they enter...
, of which the right one has kept the pavement mosaic and the polychrome marble walls, which likely characterized most of the theatre originally. Above this hall, in the 18th century, the small church of Santa Maria della Verità was built. Behind the scene, three staircases led to a lower level, which was perhaps used an entrance for artists.
The entrance alley is decorated by masks similar to those used by the actors. Some edifices around the theatre which are still under excavation included perhaps a dancing school and an association of artists.