Arles, Amphitheater

(3 photos)
The Arles Amphitheater is slightly larger and a few years “newer” than the one in Nîmes, but both were designed by the architect, T. Crispius Reburrus. At one time there were seats for 25,000 people with many exits, so the crowd could enter or leave rapidly. In the 12th century the Arles Amphitheater served as a fortified village. The seating area and the exterior arches served as the protective wall, and houses were built on the seats and on the arena floor.
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Two levels of arches surround the outside of the arena. Some spectator seats are still on the original stone terraces, simple wooden bleachers provide the remainder. During one trip there were advertisements for a concert by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, to be held in this ancient arena a few days later. Another year they advertised a Bull Fight, bloodless, we were told. We wondered what that meant, but didn't wonder enough to bother finding out what it meant.

We were careful to notice how these amphitheaters were built. The area under the arches, the steps to the seating area, then the steps up to the higher seats. They still build arenas exactly like that today, no change at all — well maybe the Coke dispensers, and the peanut and hot dog vendors are a little different.
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Four times we have visited the amphitheater in Arles, and our feeling while walking around this lovely old structures is difficult to describe. It is exciting to see the construction up close, to view the craftsmanship of the stone cutters, and see the skill of the people who laid each stone in place, without mortar. It is amazing to see how the ancient stones were able to exist all these years with only a little wind and rain damage.