Two Roman
auditoriums at Lugdunum (the open-air Theater, and the enclosed Odéon)
may be seen on the Fourvière ("old forum," from Latin
forum vetus), on a hill overlooking the modern city of Lyon.
Two Roman
auditoriums at Lugdunum (the open-air Theater, and the enclosed Odéon)
may be seen on the Fourvière ("old forum," from Latin
forum vetus), on a hill overlooking the modern city of Lyon.
This view shows the larger open Theater, built by Augustus in. 17-15 BC, and later expanded by Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. Nearly 110 meters wide, the Theater could seat 10,000 spectators. Excavations beneath the Theater found remnants of a cryptoporticus or basement which underlay the old forum, both of which were destroyed when the Theater was built. Nearby is the smaller Roman Odéon, a roofed performance hall with a marble stage, whose massive walls still retain small traces of paintings.
[Fig.1: The Roman Theater at Lyon (photo: Athena Review).]
Athena Review Image Archive | Images of Ancient Gaul | Sources and Publishing Index | Ad rates |
Main index of Athena Review | Subject Index | Travel Pages | Galleries and Museums |
Copyright © 1996-9 Athena Publications, Inc. (All Rights Reserved).