Amphitheater of Nîmes
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The Arènes de Nîmes is a Roman amphitheater in the French city of Nîmes .
In Nîmes, the colonia Nemausus in the Gallia Narbonensis province of the Roman Empire , the amphitheater was built between 90 and 120 AD based on the model of the Roman Colosseum. It served as a refuge during the Great Migration . In 1863 it was converted into a bullring and today other events are also held there.
history
The current building comes from the second half of the 1st century based on the model of the Roman Colosseum . With a capacity of 25,000 spectators, the amphitheater was divided into four areas. Inside there were 34 rows of seats. The oval-shaped building is 133 m long and 101 m wide and 21 m high. The main axis of the arena measures 69 m, the minor axis 38 m. Originally, its facade was adorned with two floors, each with 60 arches ( arcades ), which were surmounted by an attic. In ancient times, the names of the owners whose seats were reserved were engraved on the first rows of seats.
In late antiquity , the population fled to the protection of the curtain wall of the building that became a fortress, with two churches, 220 houses and a small castle complex.
Today the Arènes are among the best preserved in the world. Since 2006 the site has been managed by a private operator on behalf of the public ( Culturespaces ); Since then, educational measures such as display boards and audio guides have been introduced that deal with the history of gladiators and bullfighting.
Current usage
Around 20 corridas and courses camarguaises as well as various cultural events (such as concerts or history games) are held there every year.
Bands like Rammstein and Metallica also appeared in this theater as part of the “Festival de Nîmes” - after their first appearance in 2005, the German band Rammstein played there on three consecutive days in July 2017 in front of a sold-out house.
Today the seating capacity is 13,000. Apart from these events, the amphitheater is open to tourists all year round.
literature
- Dominique Darde, Victor Lassalle: Nîmes antique. Monuments and sites . Nouvelle edition. Imprimerie Nationale, Paris 2005, ISBN 2-85822-797-7 , ( Guides archéologiques de la France 40).
- Victor Lassalle: Les Arènes de Nîmes . SAEP, Colmar-Ingersheim 1979.
Web links
- Arènes de Nîmes website (French)
- Website of the ferias in the amphitheater of Nîmes (French)
- Nemausensis description of the Arènes de Nîmes (French)
- Nîmes, amphitheater. In: Amphi-Theatrum .
Coordinates: 43 ° 50 ′ 6 " N , 4 ° 21 ′ 36" E