Roman cities and towns Gallery

Roman Theatre Verulamium EAW011295

VERULAMIUM, St Albans, Hertfordshire. This Roman Theatre is unique in Britain - the only known example of a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Started in about 140AD it was gradually extended until by about 300 AD/CE it could seat 2000 spectators. Associated with a temple, the arena would primarily have been used for religious processions and dancing, as well as staging plays, wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. By the 4th century the theatre went out of use and filled up with rubbish (which makes excellent material for archaeologists!). Although much of the masonry was robbed out in later centuries, the remaining ruins and earth banks (discovered in 1847 and fully excavated between 1930 and 1935) still give a good impression of how it may have looked. Aerofilms Collection (see Links)

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