The theatre

The Theatre of Pompeii is among the most visited places of the ancient city of Pompeii.

It was built in the Samnite era and was entirely rebuilt in the second century BC. Like many other buildings in Pompeii, it was damaged by the earthquake of 62 A.D. before being covered by ash and lapilli from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

The architecture of the great theatre

The theater, which could accommodate up to 5,000 spectators. has a horseshoe shape and a hill was used to make the public steps. Among the steps there are some balconies for important guests.

The public was organized according to social classes with the richest who sat in the lower ranks with the best view, up to the upper floors where the less well-off were. The women were seated in the upper flight of steps.

Inside the theatre there were various types of comedies, some of them in dialect and one of the people’s favorite were mimes. The shows were free because they were financed by the most important people who used it as a means of political propaganda.

How to visit the great theatre of Pompeii

You can visit the theater by paying the entrance ticket to the park or by buying a ticket for an evening show during the theater season.

If you choose to visit the entire park, entering from Porta Marina, continue along Via dell'Abbondanza until the intersection with Via Stabiana. Turning right you reach the Theatre.

Access from Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and go down to Via dell'Abbondanza and the theater is on the left.

The Little Theatre of Pompeii: Odeion

There is another theatre, smaller than the one just described, called Odeion. The structure of the small theatre is similar to that of the large one, both in terms of the period of construction and the architectural style and shape.

The perfect acoustics made it ideal for musical performances where up to 1300 people could attend.