amphitheater
amphitheater
(Greek: amphitheatron, a double theater)
A building where the scene of performance is entirely surrounded by seats for spectators, similar to the bowls and stadiums of today. That of Pompeii was built 80 B.C. , the Roman Coliseum, A.D. 80. Remains of other Roman amphitheaters are at Verona, Capua, Pozzuoli and Pola, Italy ; Nimes, Arles, Frejus, and Tours, France ; Seville and Tarragona, Spain. Many of these were scenes of Christian martyrdoms .