VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Teatro Grande, ingressi ai livelli superiori, tra cui ingressi non numerati dal Foro Triangolare.

Large Theatre. Entrances to upper levels including unnumbered entrances from the Triangular Forum. Also see VIII.7.20 for other photos.

Excavated 1764, 1767, 1769, 1771, 1791, 1808 and 1812.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Plan of Large Theatre

In the area of the theatre and the porticus sixty-three bodies were found.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau, p. 391.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1959. Entrance doorway on Via Stabiana with Wilhelmina Jashemski and Tatiana Warscher in a deserted roadway.

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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VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2015. Entrance doorway to ramp.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway to ramp with steps at far end.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1968. Entrance doorway to ramp with steps at far end. 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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VIII.7.21 (on right) and VIII.7.20 (on left), Pompeii. 1968.

Looking west towards entrances. 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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VIII.7.21 (on left) and VIII.7.20 (on right), Pompeii. April 2018. Looking east across upper level of entrance corridors.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

VIII.7.21 (on left) and VIII.7.20 (on right), Pompeii. April 2014. Looking east across upper level of entrance corridors.

Looking east across top of Via Stabiana towards Reg. I.  Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 (on left) and VIII.7.20 (centre). Pompeii. June 1962.

Looking east from entrance corridors towards Reg. 1, insula 3. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 (on left) and VIII.7.20 (on right). Pompeii. 1959.  Looking east. 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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VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Looking north-east towards Large Theatre from Triangular Forum.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. Pre-1875. Photo by Alphonse Bernoud., no. CDV 142.

Looking north-east from Large Theatre, the Temple of Isis can be seen on the lower right. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Dedication plaque on wall by the entrance from the large theatre to the small theatre.

C QVINCTIVS C F VALG

M PORCIVS M F

DVO VIR DEC DECR

THEATRVM TECTVM

FAC LOC AR EIDEMQ PROB

C(aius) Quinctius C(ai) f(ilius) Valg(us)

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

duovir(i) dec(urionum) decr(eto)

theatrum tectum

fac(iundum) locar(unt) eidemq(ue) prob(arunt)    [CIL X 844b]

Gaius Quinctius Valgus, son of Gaius, and Marcus Porcius, son of Marcus, duumvirs, by decree of the town councillors awarded the contract for the construction of the covered theatre and also approved it.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.20, B9). CIL X 844=ILS 5636.

A Theatrum Tectum was a covered theatre; in this case it refers to the Small Theatre or Odeon in Pompeii.

According to Cooley, two copies of this inscription were set up near the main entrances to the Covered Theatre.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, B11, p. 29-30.

This one is from the entrance from the Large Theatre to the small theatre and a second was from the entrance on Via Stabiana.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2017. Identical dedication plaque above entrance VIII.7.19 on Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

C QVINCTIVS C F VALG

M PORCIVS M F

DVOVIR DEC DECR

THEATRVM TECTVM

FAC LOCA R EIDEMQ PROB

C(aius) Quinctius C(ai) f(ilius) Valg(us)

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

duovir(i) dec(urionum) decr(eto)

theatrum tectum

fac(iundum) locar(unt) eidemq(ue) prob(arunt)          [CIL X 844a]

According to Mau, the names of the builders of the Small Theatre are known from an inscription found in the building.

C. Quinctius C. f. Valg[us], M. Porcius M. f. duovir[i] dec[urionum] decr[eto] theatrum tectum fac[iundum] locar[unt] eidemq[ue] prob[arunt]

“Gaius Quinctius Valgus the son of Gaius, and Marcus Porcius the son of Marcus, duumvirs, in accordance with a decree of the city council let the contract for building the covered theatre and approved the work”.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan, (p.153).

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Plaque on wall between theatres.

M(ARCVS) ARTORIVS M(ARCI) L(IBERTVS) PRIMVS

ARCHITECTVS

M(arcus) Artorius M(arci) l(ibertus) Primus / architectus

Marcus Artorius Primus, freedman of Marcus, architect.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.67, D52). CIL X 841=ILS 5638a.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2018. Entrance doorway to upper level in west wall of Large Theatre.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2011. Large Theatre, view from the top, looking south-west. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 2004. Large Theatre, view from the top, looking south-west.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 1934.

From an album of the Nierhoff family vacation. Large Theatre, looking south-west. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Late 19th century photo by Mauri, no. 022. West side of Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2014. Looking west across top of Theatre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2014. Looking west/north-west across top of Theatre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21. Large Theatre, Pompeii. June 1962. Looking west/north-west. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2011. Looking north-east from top of Theatre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.23 Pompeii, 7th August 1976. Looking towards east side.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2018. Looking south-east across Large Theatre, from upper level.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2011. Looking south-east from top of Theatre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 1934. From an album of the Nierhoff family vacation.

Looking south-east across Large Theatre, from upper level. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1920’s. Looking south-east from top of theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 1903. Looking south-east across Large Theatre, from upper level. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2018. View of stage from top of theatre, looking south-east.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. July 1980. Looking south-east towards stage area.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.7.21, Pompeii. 7th August 1976. Looking south-east towards stage, from top of theatre.

In the background, top right, are the columns in the Gladiator’s Barracks.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. July 2012. Looking south in Large Theatre.

Photo courtesy of John Vanko.

His father took the identical photo in February 1952, see below.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. February 1952. Looking south in Large Theatre.

Photo courtesy of John Vanko.

His father took this photo in 1952, identical to the one above.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2011. Looking south from top of theatre, towards seating and stage area. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 2004. View of stage from the top of the theatre.

VIII.7.21 May 2002. Looking south to stage from the top of the theatre. Photo courtesy of David Hingston.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1950s. Looking south from upper theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 1934.

From an album of the Nierhoff family vacation. Looking south towards stage, from upper area. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1959. View of stage from the top of the theatre, looking south-west. 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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VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1940. Looking south/south-west from top of Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1933. Looking south-east to stage, and Gladiator’s Barracks, from top of Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VII.7.21 Pompeii. Looking south towards stage and Gladiator’s Barracks from top of Large Theatre. 

Photo by permission of the Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford. File name instarchbx208im085. Resource ID. 44411 

See photo on University of Oxford HEIR database

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1920s. Looking south towards stage and Gladiator’s Barracks from top of Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VII.7.21 Pompeii. Undated postcard, 19th century? Looking south towards stage area. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1838. Drawing by Mazois. View of stage from the top of the theatre.

See Mazois, F., 1838. Les Ruines de Pompei: Quatrième Partie. Paris: Didot Frères. Planche XXX.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 2004. Entrance to the Large Theatre from the Triangular Forum.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Entrance to the Large Theatre from the Triangular Forum.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Entrance from Triangular Forum.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. December 2005. Entrance from Triangular Forum.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. July 1980. Looking east from Triangular Forum towards Large Theatre.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.7.21, Pompeii. 7th August 1976. Entrance from Triangular Forum (VIII.7.30) through arch.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

Part 2      Part 3      Plan of Large Theatre