II.6 Pompeii. Anfiteatro or Amphitheatre.

First excavations 1748, then abandoned.

Completely excavated between 1813 and 1816.

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II.6 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards exit to the south-west of the Amphitheatre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north from exit on south side of Amphitheatre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

II.6 Pompeii. Pre-1824. Looking north from exit on south side of Amphitheatre.

Pre-1824 aquatint by Jakob Wilhelm Huber, “L’Amphitheatre”.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Exit to the south-west from Amphitheatre, looking south.

II.6 Pompeii. May 2016. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-east side leading north-east. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

II.6 Pompeii. September 2015. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-east side leading north-east.

II.6 Pompeii. September 2015. Corridor under Amphitheatre, looking towards south wall of south-east side leading north-east.

II.6 Pompeii. June 2012. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-east side leading north-east. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-east side leading north-east.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Corridor under Amphitheatre, east side.

II.6 Pompeii. May 2016. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-west side, leading north-west. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

II.6 Pompeii. September 2015. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-west side, leading north-west.

II.6 Pompeii. September 2015. Corridor under Amphitheatre, looking towards south wall of south-west side, leading north-west.

II.6 Pompeii. June 2012. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-west side, leading north-west. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Corridor under Amphitheatre, south-west side, leading north-west.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Plaque now fixed to east wall of south exit from the Amphitheatre, leading south-west.

It read -

C. QVINCTIVS C. F. VALGVS
M. PORCIVS M. F[ilius]. DVO VIR.
QVINQ[uennales] COLONIAI HONORIS
CAUSSA SPECTACVLA DE SVA
PEQ[unia] FAC[iunda] COER[arunt] ET COLONEIS
LOCVM IN PERPETVOM DEDER[unt]              [CIL X 852]

According to Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby (See www.manfredclauss.de) this expands to

C(aius) Quinctius C(ai) f(ilius) Valgus

M(arcus) Porcius M(arci) f(ilius) duovir(i)

quinq(uennales) colonia<e=I> honoris

caus{s}a spectacula de sua

pe<c=Q>(unia) fac(iunda) coer(averunt) et colon{e}is

locum in perpetu<u=O>m deder(unt)            [CIL X 852]

According to Cooley, this translates as:

“Caius Quinctius Valgus, son of Gaius, and Marcus Porcius, son of Marcus, quinquennial duumvirs, for the honour of the colony, saw to the construction of the amphitheatre at their own expense and gave the area to the colonists in perpetuity”.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, p. 21, B10.

According to Breton, two of these inscriptions were found (found 13th November 1815) buried in the earth, one near the large south doorway, the other near one of the corridors.

See Breton, Ernest. 1870. Pompeia, Guide de visite a Pompei, 3rd ed. Paris, Guerin.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Ceiling plaster and vaulting on south exit corridor of Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Exit corridor to south-west of Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii. June 2012.

Exit corridor to doorway on south-west of Amphitheatre. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

II.6 Pompeii. June 2012. South-west side of Amphitheatre, with entrance/exit corridor. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. South-west entrance/exit from Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii, May 2018. Steps at south-west end of amphitheatre. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

II.6 Pompeii. December 2006. Steps near south-west exit of Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii. 1968.

Steps near south-west exit of Amphitheatre, under repair. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Approaching the terrace, at the top of the steps on south-west side of the Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009.

South side of Amphitheatre. Looking west along the terrace, which was formed from the city wall on the south and east sides.

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. 

Vaulted vomitoria (passage) leading from the terrace to the upper seating (Summa Cavea) of the Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking east along the terrace of the Amphitheatre.

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Looking across the arena of the Amphitheatre. 

Looking north through the vomitoria (passageway leading from the terrace to the upper seating).

II.6 Pompeii. May 2000. Looking north across the arena of the Amphitheatre.  Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

II.6 Pompeii. May 2000. Looking north-west across the arena of the Amphitheatre. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Arched vomitoria of Amphitheatre. 

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Arched vomitoria of Amphitheatre. 

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Arched passageway leading through to upper seating of the Amphitheatre. 

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Double stairways to upper level from terrace of the Amphitheatre. 

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Arched entrance from terrace to upper level of the Amphitheatre. 

II.6 Pompeii. March 2009. Steps to upper level of the Amphitheatre.

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