It was buried along with the entire city during the eruption of Vesuvius on October 24 according to the latest findings in 79 AD. On that day, a violent and sudden explosion of the volcano inundated Pompeii with a thick blanket of ash and lapilli, burying it more than 3 meters deep. Only as late as during the excavation of a well were some remains of the city of Pompeii accidentally found. Excavations have not stopped since then, and Pompeii continues to offer wonderful discoveries to this day.
The amphitheatre of Pompeii is located in Regio II. Can be easily reached by entering directly from Piazza Anfiteatro in Via Plinio, one of the three entrances to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.
The amphitheatre was built in 70 B. It was the place dedicated to gladiator fights, one of the main entertainment spectacles most loved by the ancient Romans. The amphitheatre of Pompeii consisted of two main entrances that led directly into the area and to the first seats of the tiers, while the upper part could be accessed via external staircases with double ramps.
Spectators in ancient Pompeii could reach their seats through the crypt , a barrel-vaulted gallery, reached via four corridors, two of which led directly into the arena. While the exit to the arena presumably served the winning gladiators to be able to collect their prizes during the award ceremony.
Before the entrance to the arena there were two small compartments, which were used to give first aid to injured gladiators and were most probably also used to lay the bodies of slain gladiators. The amphitheatre had a total length of metres and a width of metres, with a capacity of 20, spectators. And it consisted of a cavea divided into three zones.
