Roman Amphitheatre of Albano Laziale

Description

The amphitheatre stands on a slope: to reinforce the platform on which it was built, a terrace had to be constructed, 6.75 m high and 59.6 m long, running parallel to the amphitheatre's perimeter to the west at an average distance of 23 m. The terrace wall, adorned with fourteen niches positioned 2.1 m above the ground, is built with irregular layers of peperino ashlars and bricks.

The two main entrances (Vomitoria) were, unusually, not aligned with the major axis of the arena because of the rugged terrain.

This vomitorium, shifted slightly from the major axis of the arena, was largely carved into the solid rock of peperino, to a height of about 2.5 m. The rest was constructed with opus quadratum in the same volcanic stone. Only the first section of the vomitorium, approximately 6.5 m wide, was covered by a barrel vault for a length of 11.5 m. In the second section, two staircases, each 1.7 m wide, provided access to the seating. The entrance is partly closed by a partition, probably added later, and partly open but originally closed by a gate, the hinges of which are still visible. In the floor of the vomitorium, there is a rectangular pit containing a low medieval Christian burial, dating to the period when the amphitheatre was partially converted into a Christian oratory.

This vomitorium also has an unusual rectangular shape, allowing the entrance to align with the major axis of the arena. Archaeologist Giuseppe Lugli praised the architect's skill in solving this issue. The first section, aligned with the major axis of the arena, is 6.35 m long and 4.7 m wide, while the second section, perpendicular to the major axis of the arena and forming a right angle with the first, is 30 m long and exits outside the amphitheatre. Like the western vomitorium, part of the structure is carved into the peperino rock, while part is constructed with opus quadratum in the same stone. …