Overview

David Bomgardner traces the origins and development of that most typical and evocative of Roman monuments: the amphitheatre. The story begins with an investigation of how the amphitheatre formed a central element in the social and political life of the ruling classes of ancient Rome, with detailed reference to the Colosseum. The origins of the amphitheatre are then explored, with a close examination of some of the earliest examples, focusing on the arena at Pompeii. Case studies are also made of some of the most significant amphitheatres from across the Empire - ranging from Italy, Gaul and Spain to Roman north Africa. The development of the spectacles and their final fall before the pressures of the late empire, not least the opposition of the Christian church, are integral to this discussion. The final abandonment of the amphitheatres and their reuse in other guises form the postscript to the story. This lucid and accessible work, illustrated with 141 plans and photographs, breaks new ground with the incorporation of sociological, psychological, historical and even ecological material into the study of this important architectural type. It will be of great interest to the general reader, as well as being a valuable reference work for students and scholars of Roman history and architecture.

Full Product Details

9780415165938

Table of Contents

Reviews

Illustrated with deatiled drawings and photographs, this book is an important contribution to social as well as architectural history and is accessible to both scholars and general readers. <br>-Religious Studies Review <br>

'This book is a welcome addition to what has thus far been a gap in the research literature ... D.L.Bomgardner has delivered a useful tool that is accessible to a wide audience.' - Daniel M. Millette, School of Architecture, University of British Columbia<br><br>'Very readable and absorbing.' - JACT Review

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available