Gladiator Arena Found in Turkey

[guy]

 

This is an exciting find in Turkey:

 

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Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered the remains of a "magnificent" Roman-era arena, where up to 20,000 spectators likely cheered and jeered as they watched gladiator matches and wild animal fights, the excavators said. 

The 1,800-year-old arena was discovered on the rolling hills of the ancient city of Mastaura, in Turkey's western Aydın Province. Its large central area has since filled with earth and vegetation over the centuries.

"Most of the amphitheater is under the ground," and the part that is visible is largely covered by "shrubs and wild trees." 

 

 

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Archaeologists found the arena in the summer of 2020, after they received permission from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to conduct archaeological research in the ancient city. After finding immense stonework rising out of the ground, the team immediately began clearing and studying the site.

https://www.livescience.com/roman-era-arena-discovered-in-turkey.html

 

Summary: Turkey seems to have the potential for many great discovery.

 

 

guy also known as giaus

 

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by guy

[caldrail]

Not that suprising when you realise that the Roman Empire exported its culture via two methods - trade and sports. The latter was fundamental as the single most unifying aspect of Roman life everywhere. If you read internet posts and especially history written for younger people, there is an unfortunate tendency to illustrate the Roman world in terms of stereotypes - villas, togas, soldiers, statues, etc. This obscures the cosmopolitan feature of Rome. Despite their often gratuitous culturalism the Romans did not assimilate populations in the provinces. It was always the choice of subject peoples about how they lived, thus provinces were hybrid societies, not identikit Roman, with local rule overseen by Roman presence. Nonetheless the Romans are guilty of presenting their way of life as superior and rewardable. Thus the manifestation of the arena, the export of Roman martial values in entertainment.