Amphitheatre at Pompeii

It was first built shortly after 70 BCE, and repaired after 62 CE when it was damaged in an earthquake, and then finally buried in the eruption of Vesuvius on August 24th 79 CE (Bomgardner 2001: p. 39, 40, 53). Walls of the arena were most likely decorated with frescoes in imitation of more expensive marble reliefs (Bomgardner 2001: p.43). These frescoes, dating originally to c. 62-79 CE, were discovered in 1815 and have since been destroyed; the images included victors, wreaths, the preparation of gladiators, and exotic beasts fighting (Dunbabin, 2016: p.177) Two large tunnels acted as entrances at the north and south, which entrances at the east and west had dedicatory inscriptions. The seating capacity of the whole amphitheatre was approximately 24,257 spectators (Bomgardner 2001: p.47). This amphitheatre is one of the oldest known stone amphitheatres (Starac, 2015: p.9).