- Greek: amphitheatron, a double theater/li>
A building where the scene of performance is entirely surrounded by seats for spectators, similar to the bowls and stadiums of today. That of Pompeii was built 80 B.C., the Roman Coliseum, A.D. 80. Remains of other Roman amphitheaters are at Verona, Capua, Pozzuoli and Pola, Italy; Nimes, Arles, Frejus, and Tours, France; Seville and Tarragona, Spain. Many of these were scenes of Christian martyrdoms.
In art the amphitheater is often associated with