The Arena of Nîmes: 2000 years old and (almost) not a day older!
Step into the arena and discover the secrets of the best preserved amphitheater of the Roman Empire!
Arènes vue du toit du cheval blanc (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The arena of Nîmes
If a single monument had to be chosen as being symbolic of Nîmes, it would definitely be its ampitheater! Famous all over the world for its outstanding state of preservation, this Roman monument is a source of pride for the inhabitants and is still considered an exceptional building for shows.
Panorama des Arènes (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The arena of Nîmes is a Roman construction that was built between the end of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century, and is called an amphitheater.
Médaillon de Cavillargues (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
This building is characteristic of Roman civilization and was designed for a specific purpose: to host gladiatorial combat.
La piste des Arènes (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
However, the word amphitheater comes from the Greek amphitheatron, which means the theater on both sides. The Romans adopted the semi-circular shape of the Greek theater, which they doubled and joined to obtain a complete shape, here an ellipse.
Vue de la piste des Arènes (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
This type of construction is also called an arena. The name is derived from the Latin word arena, which means sand. Sand was the material that covered the floor in the middle of the building.
Façade des Arènes (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The architecture of the Nîmes amphitheater drew its inspiration from the Colosseum in Rome–the building has a hollow structure supported by a series of arches and vaults that form the entrances and access corridors to the stands.
Vue aérienne des Arènes (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
In Nîmes, the track is 223 feet (68 m) long by 124 feet (38 m) wide. The entire arena building is 328 feet (100 m) wide, 436 feet (133 m) long and 65 feet (20 m) high.
La louve des Arènes (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The she-wolf suckling two children, sculpted on one of the pilasters of the main façade, is a reference to Rome. According to legend, Remus and Romulus, the founders of Rome, were a pair of twins who were abandoned by the River Tiber before being adopted by a she-wolf.
The 60 arches of the first floor were the entrance doors leading directly into specific parts of the stands. Thanks to an ingenious system of corridors and staircases, some 24,000 spectators could quickly reach their seats.
Un vomitoire (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The entrances leading to the stands are called vomitories. The set of 34 rows in the stands forms what is called the cavea. The seats were allocated to the spectators according to their social rank: the position where a person was sat in the arena was the exact opposite of their social status.
Avant corps de taureaux (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The entrance reserved for the editor, the organizer of the venues, was decorated with two sculpted bull torsos called protomes. Through this door, at the very bottom of the stands, in the middle of the ellipse, the best seat in the house could be reached.
The original stands, like the whole building, were made of limestone.
Inscription sur les gradins (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
Even today, on the preserved stone stands, it is still possible to find carvings on certain blocks that archaeologists have identified as evidence of a counting system or seat numbering.
Attique de l'amphithéâtre (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
On the outside of the building, at the top, there are stone blocks pierced at regular intervals.
These stones were used in Roman times to support the velum, which was a large awning stretched over the stands to provide shade for the spectators.
Reconstitution d'un combat de gladiateurs (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The amphitheater was mainly built to host gladiator combats, but also the wild animal hunts. These shows were part of what was known as the circus games and lasted all day.
La salle cruciforme (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
The track's basement was equipped with underground facilities that housed the backstage area and enabled the performers in the shows to appear from below. Only two perpendicular galleries have survived. They form what is known as the cruciform room.
Inscription latine de la salle cruciforme (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
This is where two slabs with mysterious inscriptions were discovered: "T. CRISPIUS REBURRUS FECIT", which means: "T(itus) Crispius Reburrus did this." But who was he? And what did he do? It remains a total mystery …
Enluminure de Ferdinand Perthus intitulée "Wamba s'empare des Arènes en l'an 673" (XIXe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
During the Middle Ages, the amphitheater was turned into a fortress. At this point, it became known as the Castrum Arenae. This was the headquarters of the feudal power, embodied by the viscount of Nîmes and the knights of the Arena. The site served as a refuge for the local population in times of danger.
Vue de l’Amphithéâtre de Nismes (XIXe siècle) by Ostervald l’ainéNîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
From the 14th century onwards, the monument was home to a residential area with about 100 dwellings and more than 700 occupants.
Fenêtre murée de l'amphithéâtre (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
Three walled arcades, still visible today, provide rare evidence of the monument's occupancy during the Middle Ages.
Les Arènes avant restaurations (XXe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
At the beginning of the 19th century, the monument was completely emptied of the buildings that crowded it and recovered to its original form.
Archaeological excavations were carried out and the first phase of restoration work began. The ampitheater was listed as a historical monument in 1830.
Un spectacle dans les Arènes en 1859 (XIXe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
By the middle of the 19th century, it had regained its primary function as a place of entertainment. Concerts, bullfighting shows such as the Camargue bull race (Spanish bullfight), sports events, and historical re-enactments have been held here since then.
Restauration de l'amphithéâtre (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
While the constant use of the amphitheater ensures its preservation, this does not mean it hasn't suffered damage. It took several restoration campaigns to ensure the monument's future.
Restauration de l'amphithéâtre (XXIe siècle)Nîmes, Ville d'art et d'histoire
Today, an ambitious restoration program is underway. Along with these works, archaeological excavations will help us better understand the Romans' know-how and the history of this monument, which has not yet revealed all its secrets …
Realization: Ville de Nîmes, Centre d'interprétation de l"architecture et du patrimoine (https://nimesartethistoire.fr/) en collaboration avec l'Office du Tourisme
Iconography: © Ville de Nîmes © Office du Tourisme de Nîmes
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