Little Secrets Of The Arena For Gladiator Fights
Little towns in Italy often contain unexpected treasures. They preserve antique artifacts better than famous tourist attractions. The amphitheater of Susa is a perfect example.
Little towns in Italy often contain unexpected treasures. They preserve antique artifacts better than famous tourist attractions. The amphitheater of Susa is a perfect example. Hidden away from the bustling crowds, it offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing the raw beauty and history of gladiator fights.
I have visited many amphitheaters in Italy and with this “live” example I will tell you some of their secrets.
Sponsored content
Amazon: hiking shoes for man
Trains in Italy can take you to interesting and relatively unfrequented places. Regular ticket prices have increased again this year, but my favorite offer from last year has remained unchanged. It's called Italy In Tour and with the ticket you can travel on regional trains for three days wherever you want.
Sponsored content
Amazon: adidas terrex uomo goretex ax3 hiking shoes
I wanted to visit the castles where Philip II of Acaja spent the last months of his life, which I mentioned in another article (Once Upon a Time, a Brave Count Built a Fortress), and then on the next day, I wanted to go to the sea. Unfortunately, the sea was not reachable due to construction work in that direction, so I decided to go to a city where the roads from France arrived, Susa.
Honestly, I wasn't ready for the visit: I usually read everything I could to avoid missing the interesting things on the spot. But this time it was a spontaneous visit.
Many small towns in Italy are very curious: you leave the train station and see a modern neighborhood (first photos in this article). Take a few steps and you are in the 14th-15th century. You exit than these two or three streets that often also have porticoes (not only to protect the citizens, but to increase the area occupied by the upper floors of the building because space inside the city walls was limited).
Many streets in ancient cities are so narrow that we can't even get through. This was very important because early medieval cities were practically fortresses and a narrow street could easily be blocked with whatever was under your hands. There aren't even windows up to the second floor, and the ones that are there are normally made recently.
A few steps and you are outside the city where the roads pass between the high walls. It is said that the height was supposed to protect from a knight on horseback.
The next three photos want to show you how what I say is true.
A critical border town could not fail to be of Roman construction. And so just in the middle of the medieval streets, I find a splendid example of an ancient type amphitheater in excellent condition.
Older amphitheaters were buried. They are said to be of the Greek type. This type is found in Pompeii. That is, they dug the hill and placed steps for the spectators. There are no underground areas like the Colosseum or the amphitheater of Capua.
You see, the seats in this amphitheater are all the same: there are no separate seats for the “nobility” yet.
Sponsored content
Amazon: hiking shoes women
I stood near the wall to show you the height of the wall. Obviously, to protect the spectators from the gladiators and beasts.
There was a gate for the gladiator parade (I think the one you see in front because behind it there are the remains of the buildings that I believe are the rooms where gladiators waited their turn) and there are small rooms where the corpses were brought. The rooms of the parade gate are larger.
The side rooms were probably used for the “surprises” that appeared during the show.
I must say that the most spectacular amphitheater I have seen is the one in Capua. After watching the film, many men want to visit it. But the amphitheater we see today is not the one of Spartacus. He probably fought in an arena similar to this one in Susa.
Did you enjoy this article?
I would be very grateful if you click on the button ⬇︎ and share it with your friends.
Write me if you have questions, and I’ll be happy to answer.
Sponsored Content
Thank you to this week’s sponsor for keeping this letter free for everyone
Learn how to get your local business ranked #1 on Google
