It was a decisive battle fought near the present day town of Orange and the Rhone River in the larger Cimbrian War between the Roman Republic and various tribes in Europe. Roman theater at Vaison les Romains, France. The Battle of Arausio was a battle fought between the Roman Republic and the tribes of Cimbri and Teutones roughly in the year 105 BC on October 6th. (All material copyright John Nicols.)Īugustan theater at Arausio (Orange, France.)Īugustan theater at Emerita (Merida, Spain). Heading south/southeast toward the historic center of Orange about a kilometer one reaches the other major monument remaining from Arausio, the Théâtre Antique d’Orange. Images from the OSSHE Historical and Cultural Atlas Resource. See also: 'Marcellus, Theatre of' from Britannica Online. Roman losses are described as being up to 80,000 troops as well. Theater of Marcellus: view of the exterior and a nice plan of the theater, by Gabriele Gorla Quintus Caepio: Disgraced Roman General at the Battle of Arausio, 105 BCE. Pompeii: interior detail Telamon (Atlantid) figure supporting balustrade by E. Pompeii: interior view showing auditorium seating, orchestra, stage with skena Interior view showing auditorium seating, orchestra, stage with skena

Part of a votive work dedicated to Dionysus marble Roman Empire Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome Marble relief: theatre set design with three entrance portals Pictures of the material remains of some Roman theaters:ĪICT images from Ross Scaife's Roman Art page at VROMA:įragment from a mosaic Roman Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis Question: Give one reason why there are Roman theater next to a hill. Note the three entrances built into the scaena. A tarp could be rigged and moved over the top of the theater to create shade. The Roman Theatre at Arausio (Modern Orange, France) Home: Commentary: Photos: Map: Home: Bibliography: Glossary: Maps: Theatre Specification Table. It also created more of an enclosed atmosphere and may have helped keep out the noises of the city. The scaena was as high as the rest of the structure, so the audience could not look out beyond the stage. As a result, the whole structure was more integrated and entrances/exits could be built into the cavea, as is done in large theaters and sports arenas today. The Romans built theaters anywhere, even on flat plains, by raising the whole structure off the ground. Seats were often cut into the hillside and the audience looking toward the stage would also catch a glimpse of the valley beyond it. When viewing the remains of the various Roman theaters try to identify the different parts.Īn additional difference between Greek and Roman theaters is that Greek theaters were usually built on the natural slope of a hill, taking advantage of the terrain and acoustics. Place your mouse over the plan and it will reveal the plan of a Greek theater. First examine the plan of a Roman theater and learn the parts of the theater: seating, orchestra, stage, skene ('scene'). Plautus' Curculio: Images of Roman Theaters

Arausio theater