Rome's Great Theatre of Pompey

Location of Temples, Performances, and Demise of Julius Caesar

Oct 16, 2009

Theatre Pompey, Rome's first permanent theatre, was probably the largest ever built, and became the place where Julius Caesar was assassinated.

Permanent theatres were built in the provinces much earlier, but in Rome the Senate would not allow such structures.

Pompey Built First Permanent Theatre in Rome

The construction was planned and financed by the general and consul, Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus), 106-48 BC.

The theatre (theatrum Pompei) was situated on the southern part of ancient Rome’s Field of Mars (Campus Marius). The area normally used for military assemblies contained marshes, streams, and a lake.

The structure was the first in Rome to be free-standing, not set into a hillside. It was built with concrete foundations from the ground up, with access corridors under the seating. The theatre was one of the most ambitious undertakings of its kind.

The stone/masonry edifice with a stage 300 feet wide comprised a large leisure complex where gardens were enclosed within a colonnade, galleries for rare artworks, and a curia (Senate meeting hall). The semi-circular seating area’s façade consisted of three arcades with columns.

Julius Caesar in Theatre’s Senate Hall

Pompey cleverly avoided censure from the Senate. He constructed a temple of Venus Victrix (Venus victorious) at the top center of the seating area. The rows of seats appeared to be steps leading up to the temple. Four temples were incorporated into the ‘Sacred Area’. In 52 or 53 B.C. he dedicated the entire place as a temple, not as a theatre.

Early in 44 BC, Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life. The Senate, famous for political wrangling, turned against him for his constant quest for power. On March 15, 44 BC, the Ides of March, despite warnings from his wife Capurnia and some priests, he entered the curia in Pompey’s theatre.

He was expecting to be named King of all Roman provinces outside of Italy. Instead, the betrayed leader was stabbed 23 times. He died (age 55) at the foot of the statue of Pompey, his old friend, son-in-law, and rival.

Severely damaged by fire several times, the theatre was restored and refurbished through the years by Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula or Claudius. Each made changes or additions to the decorations and statuary.

It was reported that in 66 AD when the King of Armenia visited Rome, Nero had purple awnings stretched over the seating area, and gilded parts of the theatre’s exterior. With each successive restoration, its magnificence increased, and it was described as one of the most notable monuments of the city.

Able to seat at least 10,000, the theatre saw some great spectacles, games, and celebrations of Rome’s military victories, notably under Julius Caesar.

Until the 6th century, it was one of Rome’s most prestigious buildings. As a result of Christian influence, the theatre was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Portions of its structure were used in construction of buildings around the city. Pompey’s great theatre was in ruins by the 8th century.

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