Theatre of Pompey

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Artist rendition of the front exterior of the Theatre of Pompey

The Theatre of Pompey (Latin Theatrum Pompeium, Italian: Teatro di Pompeo) is an ancient building of the Roman Republic era, built around 55 BC, once the world's largest theater. It was one of the first permanent (non-wooded) theatres in Rome. Pompey financed his theatre to gain political popularity.^[1] It was not only a theatre; the building also had a large central garden decorated with statues of great artists and actors, and a space suitable for holding public gatherings and meetings. The theatre was crowned with a temple to Venus Victrix, Pompey's personal deity (compared to Julius Caesar's worship of Venus Genetrix as his personal deity). Some modern scholars believe this was not mere piety, but essential in order that the structure should not be seen as a self-promoting extravagance as well as overcome a moratorium on permanent theatre buildings^[2]

The remains of the east side of the Portico attached to the theatre and 3 of 4 temples from an earlier period often associated with the theatre can be seen on the Largo di Torre Argentina. The 4th temple remains largely covered by the modern streets of Rome. This archaeological site was excavated by order of Mussolini in the 1920s and 30s The scarce remains of the theatre itself can be found off the Via di Grotta Pinta underground; vaults from the original theatre can be found in the cellar rooms of restaurants off this street, as well as in the walls of the hotel Albergo Sole al Biscione

During the theatres long history which stretches from 55BC to approximately 1455AD The structure endured several restorations due mainly to fire. Eventually falling into disrepair, it became a quarry for the stone that had made up the large theatre.

1 Architecture
2 Assassination of Caesar
3 The site today
4 Similar theatres that still exist
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

Model of the Theatre of Pompey showing much of the detail of the structure, including the garden area behind the stage.

The structure was built differently than Greek style theatres. All Greek theatres are built on a hillside to provide a natural slope for seating. The Romans built concrete foundations from the ground up, creating vaulted corridors underneath the seating as access to each section of the auditorium. In doing this a circular exterior was created using the Roman innovation of the arch. This innovation allowed for a much larger edifice with greater structural integrity . This also made the auditorium a structure in itself and not just simple earthen works. This is not to say that all Roman theatres were built in this manner, only that Romans could build their theatres in even the flattest lands.

The stage section of the theatre is attached directly to the auditorium making both a singular structure enclosed all around, where Greek theatres separate the two. This made for both better acoustics and limited the entrance to the building allowing tickets to be collected at central access areas. Clay pottery tickets being another Roman innovation.

This architecture was copied for nearly all future theatres and amphitheaters within the ancient city of Rome and throughout the empire. Notable structures that used this similar style are the Colosseum and the Theatre of Marcellus, both of which have ruins that still exist in Rome today.

Julius Caesar is assassinated in the Curia of the Theatre of Pompey)

Occasionally, the Roman Senate would meet at the Theatre of Pompey in its Curia located at the rear of the complex. One such meeting was on the Ides of March, 44 BC. It was during this meeting that Julius Caesar was killed. This single violent act was one of the most memorable moments in Roman history and set the stage for the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

There is a great deal of confusion about the location of this assassination. This is due mainly to the fact that Pompey's Curia was burned to the ground by angry Roman citizens after the murder.^[3] Additionally the Curia Hostilia, which, at the time, was being rebuilt by Caesar, (which was the reason the Senate had to meet at Pompey's Curia) also burned down and had to be rebuilt. Since the senate regularly met at the latter it was generally the site thought to be where Caesar was brought down by conspirators. This was perpetuated by Hollywood in film and television but is in fact not true. The Curia of the Theatre of Pompey is the actual location of Caesar's death.

Graphic of modern Rome in grey and the white overlay of the theater

Due in large part to Christian influence and the church view on theater, the site fell into disrepair and much was dismantled and carted of to build other structures throughout the city. Part of the building was made into a fortress during medieval times. Much of what is left today is located in cellars of the surrounding neighborhood of hotels, homes and restaurants.

Pieces from the structure can be located through out the city of Rome, including sculpture and other archaeological finds. The largest intact sections of the theater are found in the Palazzo della Cancelleria, which used much of the bone colored travertine for its exterior from the theatre. The large red and grey columns used in its courtyard are from the porticos of the theater, how ever they were originally taken from the theater to build the old Basilica of S. Lorenzo.^[4] .

Located in the Campus Martius a dense neighborhood of later buildings has grown in and around the area, The entire site is now covered by later buildings and streets. However, the shape of the theatre is still distinguishable in an aerial view. In some locations, buildings were built directly on top of the theatres original foundations from the curved seating. This has resulted several curved buildings and streets.

The Forma Urbis with cavea of theatrum Pompei shown

Limited archaeological work on the site has taken place over the years. Many early excavations were not documented however a few have done some work to estimate the area and map out plans based on the broken marble map that once hung in the Forum Romanum called the Forma Urbis Romae.

Luigi Canina (1795-1856) was the first to undertake serious research on the Theater. It was Canina who discovered the representation of the theater on the Forma Urbis as well as the first study of the existing remains. His are the first re-construction drawings to be attempted. It was on these drawings that Martin Blazeby based his recent 3D images.^[5]

Newer, more recent studies have been carried out just in the past few years. Because of the modern buildings and streets as well as other factors like plumbing and electrical sources, digging for theatre remains has always been difficult. Recent projects have developed more updated plans of the theatre and its location more accurately identified.

Although smaller in size we can imagine with this existing structure in France what the Theatre of Pompey would have looked like

Although the Theatre of Pompey no longer exists as a structure today, many similar buildings do survive throughout Europe and Africa. They help us to understand what the Theatre of Pompey was to the ancients, and how this single theatre had influences all over the empire. The best examples of this type of theatre can be found outside of Italy. One such theatre is in the town of Orange, Rhone Valley France, known as Théâtre antique d'Orange. The exterior of this theatre remains very well preserved. Unfortunately it was built upon a hillside and does not have the curved front. Instead the theatre is reversed with the curved seating section in the rear. Others theatres exist in Spain and Africa with remains that demonstrate the multiple arched curve of the exterior as well as better preserved stage areas.

While there is a theatre in the remains of the city of Pompeii, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, the Theatre of Pompey was located in Rome, Italy and was much larger in scale. The theatre that is located in Pompeii does however have a similar back garden area enclosed like the one that was in Rome. The theatre in Pompeii is still in use today, as are many remaining Roman theatres