Roman Theatre of Orange – SHORT – Orange France – ECTV

Roman Theatre of Orange – SHORT – Orange France – ECTV

This is Eric Clark Travel Videos and I’m in Orange, France. And this is the Theater of Orange and it is over 2,000 years old and it is absolutely amazing and still in use today. Incredible. Wow.

The ancient theatre of Orange, built during the reign of Augustus in the 1st century BC by the veterans of Julius Caesar’s IIlegion, is one of the best preserved Roman theatres in the world, along with that of Bosra in Syria. It still has an impressive outer wall with the original elevation (104 m long and 35 m high).

Exterior wall or postcænum. The two rows of brackets supporting the velum masts are well preserved. The higher one is pierced by an opening through which the mast passed, the lower one by a smaller hole into which the pivot penetrated.
The outer wall or postcænum is 104 m long and 35 m high[1]. “It is the most beautiful wall in my kingdom,” Louis XIV said during a visit[2]. Originally, it was preceded by a portico, of which an arch remains on the west side. With a very sober appearance, in large stone construction, the façade is divided into three levels. On the ground floor, three rectangular doors — the “royal gate” in the center, the two “guest doors” on the sides — are separated by a series of arcades.

Cavea
The cavea could hold some 9,000 spectators[3] distributed according to their social rank. It is divided into three zones (mæniana), tiered in 34 tiers and separated by walls. Below, the orchestra forming a semicircle is separated from the bleachers by a parapet. The first mænianum, called ima cavea, consists of twenty tiers, the first three of which were reserved for the knights, as is shown by the inscription Eq(uitum) g(radus) III[4]. The second area (media cavea) consists of nine tiers for merchants, Roman citizens, while the third part (the highest, called summa cavea) consists of five tiers for prostitutes, slaves and people who do not hold Roman nationality. Large superimposed rooms were used to welcome the public and housed the backstage.

Stage and stage wall
The stage, made of a wooden floor under which the machinery was housed, is 61 m long and 9 m deep: it dominated the orchestra by about 1.10 m, supported by a low wall, the pulpitum. Behind is the curtain pit (which was lowered during performances). The stage wall (frons scænæ)[Note 1] measuring 35 m was once decorated with statues, friezes and marble columns, of which some remains remain. This wall is pierced by three doors: the royal gate in the centre and the two side doors (entrance of the secondary actors). Above the royal gate is a frieze of centaurs 0.70 m high. The niche of the stage wall houses a colossal statue, 3.50 m high, whose head is not original. It is considered by some to be a statue of the Emperor Augustus, but according to others, it is much later than this emperor. It is said to be dated to the second century AD.

My name is Eric Clark and I am a world traveler. I have been around the world a few times and decided to help fund my travels by sharing my videos and pictures. I have been to almost every country and would be glad to give tips and pointers. Drop me a note. = )