Amphitheatre

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

1 Roman amphitheatres
2 Other amphitheatres
3 Gallery
4 See also
5 External links

The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. An amphitheatre is distinguished from an ancient theatre by the fact that it forms a complete circle or ellipse.

The best-known amphitheatre in the world is the Colosseum in Rome, which is more correctly termed the Flavian amphitheatre (Amphitheatrum Flavium), after the Flavian dynasty who had it built.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

[edit] Roman amphitheatres

In the Roman Empire, an amphitheatre was round or oval in shape, in contrast to a classical theatre, which was semi-circular and used for theatrical performances. An amphitheatre also differed from a Roman circus or Greek hippodrome, both of which were used for chariot racing and horse racing and were shaped more like a very long, narrow horse shoe. In chariot racing, two types of chariots were used. The quadriga was a four-horse drawn chariot whereas a biga was a two-horse drawn chariot. There were also four colors of racers: red, green, blue, and white.

An amphitheatre in a community became a prized symbol of Roman citizenship in the outlying areas of Italy. In the small town of Larino, in the Molise, a man who had made his fortune in far away Rome financed the construction of an oval amphitheatre that could house ten thousand spectators. In fact, the amphitheatre in Larino predates the Colosseum. The remains of some 75 amphitheatres have been located in widely scattered areas of the Roman Empire.
See also: List of Roman amphitheatres.

[edit] Other amphitheatres

The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California.

A contemporary amphitheatre is a curved, acoustically vibrant performance space, particularly one located outdoors. Contemporary amphitheatres often include standing structures, sometimes curved or "bowl" shaped, both behind the stage and behind the audience, creating an area which echoes or amplifies sound, making the amphitheatre ideal for musical or theatrical performances. Most are semi-circular in shape, and so should not properly be called amphitheatres. Notable modern amphitheatres include the Universal Amphitheatre and the Hollywood Bowl. The largest amphitheatre in North America is the Hyundai Pavilion in Devore, California with a seating capacity of 65,000.
See also: List of contemporary amphitheatres.

A natural amphitheatre is a performance space located in a spot where a steep mountain or a particular rock formation naturally amplifies or echoes sound, making it ideal for musical and theatrical performances. The term amphitheatre can also be used to describe naturally occurring formations which would be ideal for this purpose, even if no theatre has been constructed there. Notable natural amphitheatres include Echo amphitheatre in New Mexico, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

[edit] Gallery

Profile of the Colosseum	A view of the Colosseum at night. it has over about 80 entrances.	The inner layers of the Colosseum, showing the construction of the outer layers.	An interior of the Colosseum.
Pula Arena floor still in use today for music concerts and as an outdoor movie theatre.	The amphitheatre of Arles (Arelate).	Inside of Verona Arena with scenery for an opera performance, summer 1994	El Djem: the amphitheatre of Thysdrus
The Gorge Amphitheatre, a popular contemporary amphitheatre.	A corporate amphitheatre, used for presentations and meetings