Amphitheater of Ivrea

The Amphitheater of Ivrea is a Roman amphitheater built in Eporedia, located near the present-day historic center of Ivrea in the province of Turin.

Among the few architectural vestiges of ancient Eporedia, the last of the civium Romanorum colonies, deduced in 100 B.C. and inscribed in the Pollia tribe (in the Augustan age in the XI Regio corresponding to Transpadan Gaul), are the remains of the amphitheater. The complex was built between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century AD, like the theater in the city itself.

The amphitheater of Eporedia was unearthed by the Piedmont Superintendent of Antiquities (Prof. G. Carducci) between 1955 and 1964. From his excavation journal we note, "The major axes of the arena and of the external elliptical perimeter wall retaining the summa cavea had a direction appreciably to the south.

In the arena the planks themselves, within the inner face of the podium wall, measured m. 67 and 42 respectively; the planks of the outer wall m.96 and 72. The podium wall, preserved only in some sections, rose above the arena about m. 1.50.

The perimeter wall, which was particularly solid in nature, measured nearly two meters thick.

At the noon end of the minor axis of the arena itself rose the grandstands, now almost completely gone. Here were found a number of rich and ornate Enean backs covering seats probably reserved for the high personages."

 

Research also led to the discovery of ruins of tabernae, remains of a domus or suburban villa demolished to build the amphitheater, remains of amphorae, coins. The research, resumed in 1984, allowed further studies of the villa and of fragments of wall paintings referable to the 3rd and 4th Pompeian styles, datable to the second and third quarters of the 1st century AD. From the excavations and studies of Dr. Luisa Brecciaroli (Soprintendenza Archeologica del Piemonte) we have important information about this area of Eporedia.

 

The construction of the amphitheater, which took place towards the end of the first century AD, involved the destruction of the villa, built outside the walls of Eporedia on 20-25 AD. This villa was to the east of the city, about 500 meters from the probable walls of Eporedia, had richly frescoed walls.

 

The great architectural work was built in orders of very neat stone and brick, and because of its considerable size, the monument is to be considered among the largest of the time with a capacity of at least 5,000. The amphitheater is the most preserved and representative building of ancient Eporedia.

 

Text: P. Ramella – Gruppo Archeologico Canavesano

Map: Amphitheater of Ivrea