One of the most beautiful Roman Theater’s in Europe is located in the heart of Provence.
The Amphitheatre of Orange was inagurated under Augustus Octavian’s reign in the 1st century AD.
One of the main decorations is a statue of the emperor, high on a back wall. It was so skillfully made that when the emperor changed, it was only necessary to replace the head of the statue.
It is interesting to see the color differences of the brickwork. Due to the high temperatures, part of the walls closer to the roof eventually became darker.
The facade of the theater is perfectly preserved to this day. Louis 14 even called it the most magnificent wall of his land.
The performances in the amphitheater had their own distinctive features: snippets of songs and poems were usually associated with the comedy genre of the performance, and the choir was a symbol of tragedy.
According to some sources, Christianity was introduced in the city as early as 337 AD. When Christianity was officially recognized in 391, the theater was closed because of the church’s rejection of such performances.
Theatrical performances lasted all day, so people would often skip meals so as not to lose their seat. In those times, dinner was often the only, thust most important, meal of the day (from the Latin “cena”).
This year on September 8 and 9, in memory of the classical era, a Roman Festival will take place at the Theatre of Orange. Historical re-enactors will occupy the monument to demonstrate the daily life of the legionaries who founded Orange. Click this link for more details.
Have you been in Orange? Share your thoughts !
