Theater of Regina Turdulorum (Spain)

This afternoon, I visited the theater of Regina Turdulorum. About a 1.5 hour drive from Seville, heading north. The excavation is located in a deserted area. Only the hamlet of Reina is within walking distance. There were no other visitors, which added to the serene atmosphere.

Pliny mentioned the name of Regina as one of the 'oppida non ignobilia' (or independent community),  located in Baeturia Turdula founded in the layout of the road that runs from Augusta Emerita at Corduba. Among the reasons for founding the city is the mineral wealth of the area. Furthermore, there is political reason, control of the territory of Túrdulo people occupying this area.  

The first archeological excavations off the theater, dated mid first century AD, started in the 1970s. At that moment the ruins were known as "The thick wall", referring to the solid concrete remains. The theater was built about the second half of the first century, making use of a soft slope which was used to construct a part of the stands. The second section, or summa cave, was supported by the upper structure. You can still see its outline, but no visible traces survived. 

Inscriptions mentioning three unknown individuals of the pre-Antonine periode - so before 138 AD - were found in the orchestra.


The four accesses lead to the vomitoria by passing a corridor or deambulacro. From there you could enter the lower stand. The upper section of the stands could be reached via a staircase located both sides of the entrance of each access. 

The scaenae frons was flanked on either side by the parascanium and the basilica. A lateral passage (aditus maximus) gave access to the basilicae used as a space for receiving the public. The scaenae frons was supported by columns. Three accesses allows the entry or exit of actors onto the stage. One central (valva regis) and two lateral (valva hospilitum). There were also lateral access, which allowed actors to make surprise appearances. 

The yellow seats are made of iron as an imitation of the original seating which disappeared. 

In the 4th century the building was abandoned and the orchestra was used as a stable. The stage was occupied by the hermitage of the medieval farmstead of San Pedro de Villacorza. Remains are buried at the back of the building. 

More pictures of the theater of Regina Turdulorum can be seen here!

Populaire posts van deze blog

Polydus, champion charioteer for the reds

Afbeelding
Last week, I visited Landesmuseum Trier for the third time, which probably sounds boring but its collection is of great quality. The museum was renovated a few years ago, so a good excuse to visit it again. In my previous blog post I already wrote that the circus of Colonia Augusta Treverorum dates back to the earliest period of the cities history. The race track may have been created immediately after the city was founded. Quite some interesting finds, referring to the circus are in Landesmuseum Trier on display, including this mosaic of Polydus, a popular charioteer for the red faction (factio russata), and his lead horse Compressor. He is taking a victory lap. My picture is the centerpiece of a mosaic floor from a villa in front of the Imperial Baths in Trier. The representations on Roman mosaics of the victorious charioteer of the circus may be compared with similar representations in other forms of Roman art, both major and minor. Certain standard types were established and 
Meer lezen

Papposilenos of the band of satyrs

Afbeelding
Until recently, I didn't have much documentation about Roman or Greek Theaters or actual plays. Probably, I was inattentive, but in Berlin I found two great volumes. 'The Art of Ancient Greek Theater' by Mary Louise Hart, associate curator in the Dept. of Antiquities at the Getty Museum and a German copy of 'Teatri Greci e Romani' or 'Antike Theater' , by Umberto Pappalardo. I was happy to find more information of the statue of an actor disguised as Papposilenos, the oldest member of the band of satyrs who raised Dionysos. I saw the statue last year in the Palazzo Massimo all Terme in Rome.  The Papposilenos served as the chorus leader in the satyr play because in a sense he was the least vulgar. To some extend, Hart explained, he mitigated the obscenity and crudity of the other players as he paraphrased the heroic themes proper to tragedy. The Roman statue dates from  the 2nd century AD and was found in 1957 on the beach of Torre Astura, near a Roman vil
Meer lezen

Theater of Gytheio

Afbeelding
Although Gythio or Gytheio wasn't on my wish list, today it was nevertheless more than worthwhile the visit. Gythium was the seaport of ancient Sparta, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) north. The city used to be an important port until it was destroyed in 4th century AD, possibly by an earthquake. Also in Roman times Gythium remained a major port and it prospered as a member of the Union. As purple dye was popular in Rome, Gythium exported that as well as porphyry and rose antique marble. Evidence of the ancient Gythium prosperity can be found by the fact that the Romans built this small theatre against a hillside. Although only 8 rows in 4 cunei survived. This is also were the 'thymelic' performances used to take place. The thymelic was a song contest dedicated to Dionisos, which included a parade and a sacrifice to the Roman emperors. Today, although the site is abondoned, there are some cultural events taking place in this theatre every summer, as part of th
Meer lezen