Ancient site · Italy · Partial ruin

Theatre of Pompey

Teatro di Pompeo

The Theatre of Pompey was the first permanent stone theatre in Rome, completed in 55 BC as a vast complex combining a semicircular auditorium with a long enclosed quadriporticus and temple. The complex contained covered porticos, galleries, a curia, a stage building and an inner garden with fountains and statues. Its footprint later became built over; in antiquity it functioned as a major performance, social and political centre.

Recreate Ancient site to Explore →

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

54 BC

Its prime

55 BC

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 55 BC

What Theatre of Pompey looked like in its prime.

A vast semicircular stone auditorium (cavea) set against a long rectangular quadriporticus and temple complex. The curved outer façade shows stacked arcades of travertine arches; inside are tiered stone seating facing a high scaena with columned stage front and a flat-roofed temple block at the top. The quadriporticus surrounds a formal garden with paved walkways, small decorative fountains and colonnaded galleries; terracotta roof tiles cap the stage and temple blocks.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 55 BC.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Theatre of Pompey, including 6 interiors: orchestra (floor) looking up at the cavea, scaena (stage front) and scaenae frons, curia of pompey (senate chamber) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Outer façade approachOrchestra (floor) looking up at the caveaScaena (stage front) and scaenae fronsCuria of Pompey (senate chamber)Colonnaded portico (quadriporticus) galleryInner garden (quadriporticus) with fountainsCryptoporticus (vaulted substructure corridor)Vomitoria and radial stair corridorTemple of Venus Victrix on the upper terrace

Build Your Own Castle