Pompéi. Les Nouvelles Fouilles et l'Amphithéâtre

On June 4, I celebrated my 52th anniversary and received a very special gift from my friend Marty. An old travel guide: "Pompei: Les Nouvelles Fouilles (Maisons et Habitants) et l'Amphithéâtre. Ouvrage illustré de 47 Figures". This small treasure dates from 1944 and once belonged to the 'Direction des Antiquites de l'Algerie'.


A special section is dedicated to the amphitheater. Herewith, I quote a part of the paragraph 'L'Amphithéâtre', of this lovely booklet:

"L'Amphithéâtre de Pompéi ne se trouve ni parmi les plus grands, ni parmi les plus remarquables des édifices de ce genre, main c'est le plus antique. Il a été construit en effect peu après l'an 80 avant J.C. par deux riches magistrats Caius Quintius Valgus et Marcus Porcius à la suite de leur victoire aux élections. Ils supportèrent tous les frais de sa construction et en firent don à la Cité pour y présenter des spectacles de gladiateurs. Il était accessible par les deux grandes entrées du Sud et du Nord; le mur de l'arène (podium) était décoré de grandes peintures représentant des luttes et combats de gladiateurs. Durant les spectacles, de tentes (vela) protégeaint les assistants des ardeurs du soleil; leur montage nécessitait la présence d'équipes spécialisées dans ces manoeuvres fatigantes; elles étaient portées par une série de piquets qui se dressaient tout autour des tribunes superieures, réservées aux femmes et aux enfants."

An earlier blogpost on the amphitheater of Pompei you can find here and when you are interested in more of my pictures of Pompei, please look here!
Locatie: 80045 Pompeii Napels, Italië

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