Silchester Roman amphitheatre situated just outside NE corner of the walled town. View across elliptical arena to S entrance. Flint & ironstone walls.
Silchester Roman amphitheatre situated just outside the NE corner of the walled town. View across the elliptical arena to the S entrance. Flint & ironstone walling retains earthen banks which supported seating for up to 9,000 (4,000 comfortably) spectators of gladiatorial combats, games, blood sports & executions. First built mid-C1stAD as a circular area retained by a timber revetment. Refurbished/modified in stone in C3rd & used through much of the C4th. It was fortified in the C12th & contained a hall building: it may be the "Castellum de Silva" taken by King Stephen in 1147 (according to a contemporary chronicle) during his war against Matilda.
Size: 4961px × 3677px
Location: Silchester Roman Amphitheatre, Mortimer West End, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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