|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
amphitheater
amphitheater , open structure used for the exhibition of gladiatorial contests, struggles of wild beasts, sham sea battles, and similar spectacles. There is no Greek prototype of amphitheaters, which were primarily Roman and were built in many cities throughout the empire. More or less well-preserved examples are at Rome (see Colosseum ), Verona, and Capua in Italy; at Nîmes and Arles in France; at Cirencester in England; and at sites in Sicily, Greece, and North Africa. The typical amphitheater was elliptical in shape, with seats, supported on vaults of masonry, rising in many tiers around an arena at the center; corridors and stairs facilitated the circulation of great throngs. The arena itself was usually built over the quarters for gladiators, wild animals, and storage. Until the erection of the Colosseum (AD 80), practically all amphitheaters were of wood, the notable exception being that of stone built at Pompeii c.70 BC The word amphitheater is now applied to modern structures which may bear little resemblance to their ancient prototypes. |
|
|
Cite this article
"amphitheater." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "amphitheater." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-amphithe.html "amphitheater." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-amphithe.html |
|
Amphitheatre
Amphitheatre (Amphitheatrum), Roman building of elliptical shape, with tiers of seats enclosing a central arena. It was not intended for dramatic performances, which in ancient theatres were always given in front of a permanent back-scene, but for gladiators and wild beast shows, and mimic sea battles. The first amphitheatre was probably that built by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. The most famous was the Colosseum in Rome, said to be capable of seating 87,000 spectators, which was completed in AD 80 and is still extant.
|
|
|
Cite this article
PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Amphitheatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Amphitheatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Amphitheatre.html PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Amphitheatre." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-Amphitheatre.html |
|
amphitheatre
amphitheatre A flat-topped, steep-walled, depression that is shaped like a horseshoe and resembles an ancient Greek theatre. It may be the result of glacial erosion, forming a cirque, or the collapse of a volcano. In the case of Mount St Helens, Washington, the catastrophic collapse of the summit and northern slopes of the cone and the subsequent pyroclastic flow eruption on 18May1980 created a north-facing amphitheatre enclosing a small active vent, later occupied by a small dacite dome.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-amphitheatre.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-amphitheatre.html |
|
amphitheater
am·phi·the·a·ter / ˈamfəˌ[unvoicedth]ēətər/ • n. (esp. in Greek and Roman architecture) a round building, typically unroofed, with a central space for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events. Tiers of seats surround the central space. ∎ a sloping, semicircular seating gallery: a lecture in the amphitheater of the hospital. ∎ a large circular hollow in rocks or hills. |
|
|
Cite this article
"amphitheater." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "amphitheater." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-amphitheater.html "amphitheater." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-amphitheater.html |
|
amphitheatre
amphitheatre Flat-topped, steep-walled, depression, shaped like a horseshoe and resembling an ancient Greek theatre. It may be the result of glacial erosion, forming a cirque, or the collapse of a volcano. In the case of Mount St Helens, the catastrophic collapse of the summit and northern slopes of the cone and the subsequent pyroclastic flow eruption on 18 May 1980 created a north-facing amphitheatre enclosing a small active vent, later occupied by a small dacite dome.
|
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-amphitheatre.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-amphitheatre.html |
|
amphitheatre
amphitheatre In ancient Rome and the Roman Empire, a large circular or oval building with the performance space surrounded by tiered seating. It was used as a theatre for gladiatorial contests, wild-animal shows and similar events. Many ruined amphitheatres remain; the best-known being the Colosseum in Rome. The term is now used generically to refer to any open, banked arena.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"amphitheatre." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "amphitheatre." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-amphitheatre.html "amphitheatre." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-amphitheatre.html |
|
amphitheatre
|
|
|
Cite this article
JAMES STEVENS CURL. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-amphitheatre.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "amphitheatre." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-amphitheatre.html |
|
amphitheatre
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "amphitheatre." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "amphitheatre." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-amphitheatre.html T. F. HOAD. "amphitheatre." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-amphitheatre.html |
|
amphitheater
amphitheater
•theatre (US theater)
•realtor
•amphitheatre (US amphitheater)
•proprietor, rioter
•breakfaster • comforter • Lancaster
•Doncaster
•Alasdair, baluster
•bardolater, idolater
•amateur, shamateur
•schemata • stigmata • automata
•traumata • covenanter
•Mahabharata • orator • warranter
•Alberta, asserter, Bizerta, converter, deserter, Goethe, inserter, kurta, perverter, reverter, subverter
•frankfurter
|
|
|
Cite this article
"amphitheater." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "amphitheater." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-amphitheater.html "amphitheater." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-amphitheater.html |
|
amphitheatre
amphitheatre
•theatre (US theater)
•realtor
•amphitheatre (US amphitheater)
•proprietor, rioter
•breakfaster • comforter • Lancaster
•Doncaster
•Alasdair, baluster
•bardolater, idolater
•amateur, shamateur
•schemata • stigmata • automata
•traumata • covenanter
•Mahabharata • orator • warranter
•Alberta, asserter, Bizerta, converter, deserter, Goethe, inserter, kurta, perverter, reverter, subverter
•frankfurter
|
|
|
Cite this article
"amphitheatre." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "amphitheatre." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-amphitheatre.html "amphitheatre." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-amphitheatre.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
