James Gaston

Fondation van Gogh

Around Arles

Amphitheater and Roman theatre 27 Oct 2022 Amphitheater and Roman theatre 27 Oct 2022 Arles --

A few minutes walk from our apartment are the Roman amphitheater and the Roman theatre. The amphitheatre dates from 90 BC and could seat 20,000 spectators who came to see battles and chariot races. The theatre was built in the first century and could seat 8,000 spectators. The theatre is in worse condition because during the middle ages it was a source of stone for building the city wall.

Arles Amphitheatre

Model of amphitheatre in antiquities museum

Note the seats originally went to the top and also the clever sun block held by ropes.

Model of amphitheatre in antiquities museum

Note the seats originally went to the top and also the clever sun block held by ropes.

Model of amphitheatre in antiquities museum

Note the seats originally went to the top and also the clever sun block held by ropes.

Van Gogh easel, next to amphitheatre

There are easels throughout Arles that mark locations that inspired van Gogh.

Van Gogh easel, next to amphitheatre

There are easels throughout Arles that mark locations that inspired van Gogh.

Van Gogh easel, next to amphitheatre

There are easels throughout Arles that mark locations that inspired van Gogh.

Arles amphitheatre

The amphitheatre has a long storied history. Originally it had seats up to the top of the outer wall. Later some stones were removed to use elsewhere in Arles. And then the amphitheatre was turned into a walled city containing 200 (!) tiny homes. It is currently used as an amphitheatre but most of the seating is metal, and rather ugly.

Arles amphitheatre

Roman Theatre

The Roman theatre is not nearly as interesting to my eyes as the amphitheatre. But like the amphitheatre it is still in use.

Roman Theatre

The Roman theatre is not nearly as interesting to my eyes as the amphitheatre. But like the amphitheatre it is still in use.

Roman Theatre

The Roman theatre is not nearly as interesting to my eyes as the amphitheatre. But like the amphitheatre it is still in use.

Roman theatre

Fondation van Gogh

Around Arles