Roman Theatre (Mérida)

Roman Theatre of Mérida

Teatro Romano de Mérida
Location	Mérida (Badajoz), Spain
Coordinates	38°54′55.4″N 6°20′18.6″W / 38.915389°N 6.338500°W / 38.915389; -6.338500
Type	Roman theatre
Europe and North America
Spanish Cultural Heritage
Official name	Teatro Romano
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	13 December 1912
Reference no.	RI-51-0000107

The Roman Theatre of Mérida is a construction promoted by the consul

). It was constructed in the years 16 to 15 BCE. One of the most famous and visited landmarks in Spain, the Roman Theatre of Mérida is regarded as a Spanish cultural icon and was chosen as one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.

The theatre has undergone several renovations, notably at the end of the 1st century or early 2nd century CE (possibly during the reign of Emperor

, it was slowly covered with earth, with only the upper tiers of seats (summa cavea) remaining visible. In local folklore the site was referred to as "The Seven Chairs", where, according to tradition, several Moorish kings sat to decide the fate of the city.

It was built as part of an entertainment complex together with the

in 1993.

Enclave

The theatre is located in the

adjacent the city walls. Some of the seating was built into a hill called the Cerro de San Albin.

Structure

Constructed in faithful accordance to the rules of the treatises of

.

Stands and orchestra

The semicircular shape of the grandstands cavea is incorporated into the gradient of San Albin hill. In its time it had a seating capacity of 6,000. The diameter is about 86 meters (282 feet). The stands are divided into three areas: the innermost ima cavea, (22 rows) media cavea (5 rows) and summa cavea, the latter being severely deteriorated today. The first rows ima cavea, where the wealthier social classes were seated, is divided into five radial sectors cunei, delimited stairs, a horizontal level, and a corridor praecinctio that separates it from the upper bleachers. Six doors at the top give access to a corridor covered by a semicircular dome ring that serve as entry and exit doors at the two extremities. The middle and upper caveas have five rows of seats each and are supported by a complex system of arches and

. In total, thirteen outside doors facilitate access and entrance to the theatre.

The orchestra is a semicircular space paved with white and blue marble intended for the chorus. It is surrounded by three tiers of honour for authorities and separated from the stands by a marble parapet, of which fragments remain. In the front there is a low wall with alternating straight and curved sections and separated from the stage.

Stage

The leading edge of the stage

and other characters with togas and armour that have been interpreted as imperial portraits. Three doors allow the entry of actors onto the stage, one central valva regia and two lateral valva hospitalium. On the sides and back are several units that were used by the performing actors and technicians. It is unknown how the original stage front was, as the present one seems to have been built under Emperor Trajan.

Peristyle

Behind the stage is a garden area surrounded by columns and a quadrangular

pilasters and several rooms, some topped with an apse

and most with murals depicting life-size human figures.

Excavation and restoration

Until the late 19th century, the only visible remains of the theater were the so-called "Seven Chairs", remains of the tops of the bleachers and a formed concrete base covered with granite blocks that made up the

statues

and other building materials, especially the front stage.

The excavated theater was first used to stage a production in 1933.^[2]

In the 1960s and 1970s the front stage was rebuilt under the direction of the architect and archaeologist José Menéndez Pidal y Álvarez.

Current use

Besides being the most visited monument in the city, it has been home to the development of the Festival de Mérida (Festival of Classical Theatre of Mérida) since 1933. The Mérida Classical Theatre Festival is the oldest of its kind celebrated in Spain.

See also

• Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
• List of Roman sites in Spain
• List of Roman theatres

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ancient Roman theatre in Mérida.

References

1. ISBN 978-0-203-50801-5
   . Retrieved Sep 27, 2019.
2. ISBN 0-7190-5975-5
   .

External links

• The museum where the original statues are housed http://museoarteromano.mcu.es/index_en.html
• Reconstruction criteria of archaeologist José Menéndez Pidal y Álvarez http://institucional.us.es/revistas/arte/25/vol_II/art_15.pdf
• Mérida Classical Theatre Festival information in English http://marcaespana.es/en/educacion-cultura-sociedad/cine-artes-escenicas/destacados/73/merida-classical-theatre-festival
• Official website of the Mérida Classical Theatre Festival http://www.festivaldemerida.es/