Arènes de Cimiez
The Amphitheater of Cimiez (French Arènes de Cimiez ) is a Roman amphitheater in Nice . The building in the district of Cimiez , the ancient Cemenelum, is classified as a monument historique on the basis of a decree of May 13, 1965 .
description
The amphitheater forms an ellipse with a length of 67 meters and a width of 56 meters. In the 2nd century a simple arena was first built, which served as a practice site for the cohorts stationed in Cemenelum . The building was expanded in the 3rd century by adding rows of seats.
Games to entertain the people of Cemenelum, the capital of the province of Alpes Maritimae , were held in the building. The amphitheater was equipped with a velarium , of which some anchor points can still be seen.
Although the amphitheater of Cemenelum is quite considerable, it is one of the smallest of the Roman amphitheatres known in France today. It offered space for 5,000 spectators and was located immediately northeast of the Roman thermal baths on the northeastern edge of Cemenelum.
Decay and restoration
In post-Roman times, a drivable path led directly through the arena for a long time. Significant damage to the structure occurred over the centuries, but a large part of it has been preserved. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, restoration work was carried out to counteract further deterioration.
Excavations and finds
The finds made in the arena have been preserved and are exhibited in the archaeological museum of Nice-Cimiez. The last excavations took place in 2007 and 2009; In 2008 restoration measures were carried out.
Events
As in ancient times, the amphitheater has also been used for events in the recent past. The Nice Jazz Festival concerts took place here for years until 2011 when the festival was moved to the city center.
Remarks
- ↑ Arènes de Cimiez in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- ^ INRAP: L'Amphithéâtre de Cimiez.
- ↑ Les Arènes de Cimiez. (PDF, p. 7).
Web links
- Musée d'Archéologie site de Cimiez et de Terra Amata . Website of the city of Nice.
- Ministère de la Culture - DRAC PACA - Banque d'images: Arènes de Cimiez
- Cenemelum, Nice-Cimiez. In: Amphi-Theatrum .
Coordinates: 43 ° 43 ′ 12 " N , 7 ° 16 ′ 31.1" E