Cirencester Amphitheatre

The remains of the Roman amphitheatre at Cirencester, in 2002

Cirencester Amphitheatre was a Roman amphitheatre located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.[1] Archeological digs have uncovered the earthworks, revealing the outline of the construction, which is still visible, with the banking reaching 25 feet from the bottom of the arena.[1] The arena itself is approximately 150 feet (46 m) by 135 feet (41 m).[2] Roman artefacts including coins and pottery have been discovered on the site.[3] It is estimated that it was constructed towards the beginning of the 2nd century.[1]

In Roman Britain, Cirencester was known as Corinium Dobunnorum, and was the second biggest town in Britannia, after Londinium (London).[1] This amphitheatre is also the second largest, which indicates the significance of the location in Roman times.[1] Although only slightly larger in diameter than the amphitheatre in Silchester, it has much higher sides.[4] The earthworks show evidence of tiered wooden seats for around 8000 people, placed upon terraces made of stone.[1] There are two entrances, located at the North-Eastern and South-Western ends of the stadium.[1]

During the 5th century, when the Western Roman Empire was under attack and soldiers returned to Rome to defend it, the amphitheatre was fortified to defend against the invading Saxons.[1][5] Wooden structures were erected within the arena itself, placed in postholes, and a portion of the North-Eastern entrance was blocked.[3]

Unlike other amphitheatres, it is aligned in parallel to the streets of the town itself.[6]

It has also been referred to as the 'Bull Ring', because the sport of bull-baiting used to take place there.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (1987), P.H. Reed, ed., English Heritage, Hampstead Road, London: English Heritage / Macdonald Queen Anne Press, p. 31, ISBN 0-356-12773-7
  2. ↑ Joan Liversidge (1968), Britain in the Roman Empire, Volume 1968, Part 2, Routledge & K. Paul, p. 377
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 C. J. Arnold (1984), Roman Britain to Saxon England: an archaeological study, Routledge, p. 37, ISBN 978-0-7099-0513-4
  4. ↑ Michael Gordon Fulford, The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of 1979-85, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1989, ISBN 978-0-907764-12-0
  5. ↑ "Cirencester Amphitheatre". English Heritage. Retrieved 1990-11-17.
  6. ↑ Michael Gordon Fulford (1989), The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of 1979-85, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, ISBN 978-0-907764-12-0
  7. ↑ History of Cirencester and the Roman city Corinium, G. H. Harmer, 1886, p. 261

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Coordinates: 51°42′41″N 1°58′20″W / 51.7115°N 1.9722°W