Pompeii – Amphitheater

Pompeii holds what is believed to be the first true Roman stone amphitheater. It was originally known by the term ‘spectacula’ and predates the Colosseum by over a century. Holding everything from gladiatorial games to events similar to modern day circuses, it was an early monument to Roman architecture in one of the most desirable areas of the Mediterranean. For me, the amphitheater offers an interesting insight into class relations in Ancient Rome, given the presence of sealed-off sections for government officials and the rich; it also grants an insight into Roman ideas surrounding sport, as many of the gladiatorial contests which took place here involved a clear “underdog”.