Cirencester Amphitheatre

The remains of the Roman amphitheatre at Cirencester, in 2002

Cirencester Amphitheatre was a Roman amphitheatre located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.^[1] Archeological digs have uncovered the earthworks, revealing the outline of the construction, which is still visible, with the banking reaching 25 feet from the bottom of the arena.^[1] The arena itself is approximately 150 feet (46 m) by 135 feet (41 m).^[2] Roman artefacts including coins and pottery have been discovered on the site.^[3] It is estimated that it was constructed towards the beginning of the 2nd century.^[1]

In Roman Britain, Cirencester was known as Corinium Dobunnorum, and was the second biggest town in Britannia, after Londinium (London).^[1] This amphitheatre is also the second largest, which indicates the significance of the location in Roman times.^[1] Although only slightly larger in diameter than the amphitheatre in Silchester, it has much higher sides.^[4] The earthworks show evidence of tiered wooden seats for around 8000 people, placed upon terraces made of stone.^[1] There are two entrances, located at the North-Eastern and South-Western ends of the stadium.^[1]

During the 5th century, when the Western Roman Empire was under attack and soldiers returned to Rome to defend it, the amphitheatre was fortified to defend against the invading Saxons.^[1][5] Wooden structures were erected within the arena itself, placed in postholes, and a portion of the North-Eastern entrance was blocked.^[3]

Unlike other amphitheatres, it is aligned in parallel to the streets of the town itself.^[6]

It has also been referred to as the 'Bull Ring', because the sport of bull-baiting used to take place there.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (1987), P.H. Reed, ed., English Heritage, Hampstead Road, London: English Heritage / Macdonald Queen Anne Press, p. 31, ISBN 0-356-12773-7 
2. ^ Joan Liversidge (1968), Britain in the Roman Empire, Volume 1968, Part 2, Routledge & K. Paul, p. 377 
3. ^ ^{a b} C. J. Arnold (1984), Roman Britain to Saxon England: an archaeological study, Routledge, p. 37, ISBN 9780709905134 
4. ^ Michael Gordon Fulford, The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of 1979-85, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1989, ISBN 9780907764120 
5. ^ "Cirencester Amphitheatre". http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/cirencester-amphitheatre/. Retrieved 1990-11-17. 
6. ^ Michael Gordon Fulford (1989), The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of 1979-85, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, ISBN 9780907764120 
7. ^ History of Cirencester and the Roman city Corinium, G. H. Harmer, 1886, p. 261 

External links

• English Heritage details of the amphitheatre