Roman Theater (Zaragoza) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Teatro romano de Zaragoza |
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| Native name Spanish: Teatro romano de Zaragoza |
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| Location | Zaragoza, Spain |
| Official name: Teatre romano | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0010689 |
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The Roman Theater of Zaragoza is an ancient theater from the Roman times. It was built almost 2,000 years ago, in the early 1st century AD. This happened when emperors Tiberius and Claudius ruled. The theater could hold about 6,000 people. This was a lot, as the city only had around 18,000 residents back then. Its design was similar to the famous Theatre of Marcellus in Rome. The theater was used for shows until the 3rd century.
Later, its stones were taken to build city walls and other structures. In 1973, archaeologists found the theater again. Today, you can visit it as part of the Cesaraugusta Theater Museum. In 2001, it was named a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's a very important historical site.
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History of the Roman Theater
The building of the Roman theater in Caesaraugusta (which is now Zaragoza) started in the early 1st century. This was during the time of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. It was finished under Emperor Claudius by the middle of the 1st century AD. This theater was huge, covering about 7,000 square meters. It had a diameter of 106 meters. This made it one of the largest theaters in Roman Hispania (ancient Spain). It could seat around 6,000 people. At that time, the city had about 20,000 residents.
How the Theater Was Built
Unlike many other theaters, this one was not built on a natural hillside. Instead, it was built on flat ground. Builders used a strong type of Roman concrete called 'opus caementicium'. Its design copied the Theatre of Marcellus in Rome. It had many round walls, one inside the other. These walls created the seating areas, called the cavea. These seats were covered with marble slabs. The stage area, known as the orchestra, was also covered in marble.
The front of the theater was decorated with large, cut stone blocks. This style is called 'opus quadratum'. The facade was very tall, reaching three stories high and 22 meters (about 72 feet). The theater had a special entrance. This entrance went directly from the main door to the orchestra. It was only for important officials. They could go straight to their special seats. This unique entrance is also seen in theaters in Turin and Minturno. But it is special among Roman theaters in Spain. This design might have been for different types of performances, not just plays.
What Happened to the Theater
The theater started to fall apart in the 3rd century. Its stones were reused to make the city walls stronger. They were also used for other buildings. Because of this, only the strong Roman concrete structure is left today.
Over many years, the theater was buried under new buildings. It stayed hidden until the 1970s. That's when digging work brought it back to light. After it was found, it was fixed up for people to visit. Now, it has a museum that shows what archaeologists found there.
Visitors can walk on special paths to see the old seating areas and the stage. A large clear roof protects these ancient parts. Next to the ruins, there is a building that has been restored. This building is the Interpretation Center. It teaches visitors about the theater's history. You can also learn about the types of plays and the daily life of people back then.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro romano de Zaragoza para niños
- List of Roman theatres
- List of Bienes de Interés Cultural in the Province of Zaragoza
- Caesaraugusta
