Theatre of Marcellus
Marcus Marcellus | |
| Founded | 13 BC |
|---|---|
The Theatre of Marcellus (
, once again provides one of the city's many popular spectacles or tourist sites.Construction and Roman period use
Space for the
The theatre was 111 m in diameter and was the largest and most important theatre in Ancient Rome;[2] it could originally hold between 11,000 and 20,000 spectators.[1][2] A catalogue compiled at the end of the 4th century recorded that the theatre's seating capacity was 17,580 persons.[3] It was an impressive example of what was to become one of the most pervasive urban architectural forms of the Roman world. The theatre was built mainly of tuff, and concrete faced with stones in the pattern known as opus reticulatum, completely sheathed in white travertine. However, it is also the earliest dateable building in Rome to make use of fired Roman brick, then a new introduction from the Greek world.[4]
The network of arches, corridors, tunnels and ramps that gave access to the interiors of such Roman theatres were normally ornamented with a screen of engaged columns in Greek orders: Doric at the base, Ionic in the middle. It is believed that Corinthian columns were used for the upper level but this is uncertain as the theatre was reconstructed in the Middle Ages, removing the top tier of seating and the columns.[1]
Like other Roman theatres in suitable locations, it had openings through which the natural setting could be seen, in this case the Tiber Island to the southwest. The permanent setting, the scaena, also rose to the top of the cavea as in other Roman theatres.
Later use
The theatre fell out of use in the early 4th century and the structure served as a quarry, e.g., for the Pons Cestius in 370 AD. However, the statues located inside the building were restored by Petronius Maximus in 421 and the remaining structure still housed small residential buildings. In the
Now the upper floors are divided into multiple apartments, and its surroundings are used as a venue for small summer concerts; the Portico d'Ottavia lies to the north west leading to the Roman Ghetto and the Tiber to the south west. The Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Holy See is located in the premises of Casa Litta – Palazzo Orsini, in Teatro Marcello.[5]
Influence
In the 17th century, the English architect Sir Christopher Wren explicitly acknowledged that his design for the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford was influenced by
Copies
A 1:100 scale model of the theatre is found in Room IX of the Museum of Roman Civilization in Rome.[6]
Gallery
-
The arcade wall exposed -
Along the arcades -
Appearance in 1575 -
G.B. Piranesi's etching of a Doric bay
See also
- Circus Maximus – Ancient Roman stadium, a landmark of Rome, Italy
- List of ancient monuments in Rome
- List of Roman theatres
References
- ^ ISBN 0-06-430158-3 and Cassius Dio53.30.5., pp 230-31
- ^ a b Cartwright, Mark. "Theatre of Marcellus". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ Gregorovius, Ferdinand, History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages, Vol. 1, (1894), pg. 45
- ^ Blagg, T.F.C., "Brick and tile" section, in "Architecture, 1, a) Religious", section in Diane Favro, et al. "Rome, ancient." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed March 26, 2016, subscription required
- ^ "Sovereign Order of Malta Embassy to the Holy See". Sovereign Order of Malta. Retrieved 11 Sep 2022.
- ^ "Room XI: Augustus", Museo della Civiltà Romana
External links
- High-resolution 360° Panoramas and Images of Theater of Marcellus | Art Atlas
Media related to Theater of Marcellus at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Stadium of Domitian |
Landmarks of Rome Theatre of Marcellus |
Succeeded by Theatre of Pompey |