Theatre of Clunia Sulpicia facts for kids
The Theatre of Clunia Sulpicia is an ancient Roman theatre found in the old city of Colonia Clunia Sulpicia. This city was located in what is now the province of Burgos, in northern Spain. The theatre was built on a hill called Alto de Castro, which is about 1,000 meters high. You can find it between the modern villages of Coruña del Conde and Peñalba de Castro.
This amazing building was constructed when Emperor Tiberius was in charge. It was meant to make Clunia Sulpicia look grand, as it was one of the most important cities in the Douro river area, along with Asturica Augusta. The city was part of the Roman province called Hispania Citerior Tarraconensis.
The theatre is the most important structure still standing at Clunia. It was carved right out of the rock of the hill. It could hold about 10,000 people, making it one of the biggest theatres in Hispania (the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) at that time. People would go there to watch plays from the classical period.
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History of the Clunia Theatre
The theatre was built during the 1st century AD, under Emperor Tiberius. This was part of a big plan to add impressive buildings to the city. These new structures helped Clunia show its importance as the capital of its legal district.
Later, in the 2nd century, the theatre was changed. It was adapted to be used more like an amphitheater, which was a place for gladiator fights or other public shows. Because of these changes, some parts of the lower seating area, the orchestra (the flat space in front of the stage), and the stage's platform were removed.
Archaeologists also found something interesting near the remains of the back of the stage. During excavations in 2008-2009, they discovered about thirty burials from the 5th century. Some of these showed signs of violence.
What Made the Theatre Special
The theatre's seating area, called the cavea, was built in a Greek style. It used the natural curve of the eastern side of the hill. An upper walkway and a two-story stage front were added. These were decorated with beautiful Corinthian columns.
The theatre was huge, with a total diameter of 102 meters. As mentioned, it could seat around 10,000 people. This made it one of the largest theatres in all of Hispania.
Thanks to the parts found during archaeological digs, experts have been able to figure out exactly how tall the theatre was and what its decorations looked like.
Keeping the Theatre Safe
The theatre is the best-preserved monument at Clunia. Parts of the stage front are still standing today. In the 18th century, a person named Loperráez easily recognized what kind of building it was and even drew an early map of it.
The work done to restore the theatre won an award in 2004-2005. The judges praised how respectfully the theatre was brought back to life and how well the surrounding landscape was treated. Today, different cultural events are still held at this historic site.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro romano de Clunia Sulpicia para niños
