2. Mérida amphitheatre
The Amphitheatre of Mérida, was built in the
Roman colony of Emerita Augusta, which was
founded in 25 B.C. by Octavius Augustus, to
resettle emeritus soldiers discharged from the
Roman army from two veteran legions of the
Cantabrian Wars: Legio V Alaudae and Legio X
Gemina. The city was the capital of the Roman
province of Lusitania. The term emeritus meant in
Latin "retired" and referred to retired soldiers with
honor.
3. The amphitheater is part
of The Archaeological
Ensemble of Mérida,
which is one of the
largest and most
extensive archaeological
sites in Spain. It was
declared a World
Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1993.
4. Roman Theatre (Mérida)
The Roman Theatre of Mérida is a construction
promoted by the consul Vipsanius Agrippa in the
Roman city of Emerita Augusta, capital of Lusitania
(current Mérida, Spain). It was constructed in the years
16 to 15 BCE.
The theater has undergone several renovations, notably
at the end of the 1st century or early 2nd century CE
(possibly during the reign of Emperor Trajan), when the
current facade of the scaenae frons was erected, and
another in the time of Constantine I (between 330 and
340)
5. which introduced new decorative-architectural
elements and a walkway around the monument.
Followin the theatre's abandonment in Late
Antiquity, it was slowly covered with earth, with
only the upper tiers of seats (summa cavea)
remaining visible. In local folklore the site was
referred to as "The Seven Chairs", where, according
to tradition, several Moorish kings sat to decide the
fate of the city.
6.
7. Circus Maximus (Mérida)
The Circus Maximus is a Roman hippodrome in
Mérida, Spain. Used for chariot racing, it was
modelled on the Circus Maximus in Rome and
other circus buildings throughout the empire.
Measuring more than 400 m in length and 30 m of
width, it is one of the best preserved examples of
the Roman circus.
The circus could house up to 30,000 spectators.
