Arènes de Lutèce

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The Arenes de Lutèce ([a.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Constructed in the 1st century AD, this theater could once seat 15,000 people and was used also as an amphitheatre to show gladiatorial combats. The terrazed sitting surrounded more than half of the arena's circumference, more typical of an ancient Greek theater other than a Roman one which was semi-circulal. The orchestra was surrounded by the wall of a podium 2.5 m (8.2 feet) high, highlighted by a parapet.

The stage was 41 m (135 ft) long. A series of nine niches were most similarly used for statues. Five small rooms were located beneath the lower terraces, some of which appeared to have been animal cages that opened directly into the arena.

One can still observe significant remnants of the stage and its nine niches, as well as the gridded cages in the wall. The stepped terraces are not original, but histrians believe that 41 arched openings punctuated the facade. Slaves, the poor, and women were relegated to the higher third while the lower sitting areas were reserved for Roman male citizens....