Skip to player
Skip to main content
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Bookmark
Share
More
Add to Playlist
Report
Last Roman Gladiator Arena Unearthed In Switzerland
Live Science
Follow
9 hours ago
Archaeologists in Switzerland have uncovered the ruins of a Roman-era amphitheater — possibly the youngest on record — where spectators likely watched gladiator fights and animal hunts with bated breath.
Category
🤖
Tech
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Archaeologists in Switzerland have uncovered the ruins of a Roman-era amphitheater,
00:05
and it may be one of the youngest of its kind on record.
00:13
Just like spectators at the famous Colosseum in Rome,
00:16
spectators at this arena likely watch gladiator fights and animal hunts.
00:20
Researchers discovered the amphitheater while monitoring construction work for a new boathouse
00:26
for the Basel rowing group on the Rhine in December 2021. The site falls within the ancient Roman city
00:32
of Augusta Rorica, and it already has two other known Roman-era amphitheaters. But this amphitheater
00:39
was thought to be extraordinarily young, at least by Roman standards. Researchers think it was built
00:44
in late antiquity or in the 4th century AD, possibly making it the youngest amphitheater of its kind.
00:50
So, what are the clues pointing to its age? For starters, the amphitheater was built in a quarry
00:56
that the Romans abandoned in late antiquity. This means that the structure was built after the
01:01
quarry work stopped, or in the 4th century. Another clue is that the building materials and style in
01:08
which they were used are reminiscent of a late antique fort wall. Also compelling is the discovery
01:14
of a coin at the site, which dates to AD 337 to AD 341. Finally, let's dig into the history of Augusta Rorica.
01:23
The ancient Roman city already had two other known amphitheaters, as we mentioned,
01:28
that were in the upper part of the city. There was no reason to build one in the lower part of the city,
01:34
said Jacob Balotcher, an archaeologist at the site and head of excavations in Kaisergass, Switzerland.
01:40
Near the newfound amphitheater is a Roman fort, known as the Castromorascens, which was built in
01:46
about AD 300. The fort was built to protect the northern border of the Roman Empire, as just across
01:53
the Rhine River was Germania. In about 351 AD, Germanic tribes crossed that Rhine River and destroyed
02:01
the fort, although it was later rebuilt. This fort had military personnel, but it was also an administrative
02:07
center. So perhaps the better question is, why not build a Roman-era amphitheater there to entertain
02:14
all the people in that area? The oval-shaped amphitheater was sizable. It was about 164 feet long
02:21
and 131 feet wide, but it was small compared with the Colosseum. That marble built in the AD 70s held
02:28
roughly 50,000 people, and its central arena was about 285 feet by 180 feet, or larger than the entire
02:37
square amphitheater, just found in Switzerland.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment
Recommended
2:38
|
Up next
Lost and found! Ruins of ancient Nero’s Theater discovered near Vatican
euronews (in English)
2 years ago
1:10
4K View Of Neptune Via James Webb Space Telescope
Space.com
5 hours ago
1:04
Fossil evidence hints that Roman Gladiators did battle with bears
Bang Bizarre
2 months ago
1:09
New Drawing Unearthed at Pompeii Reveal Kids May Have Been Spectators of Gladiator Fights
Amaze Lab
1 year ago
3:00
James Webb Space Telescope: Breathtaking 'Face-On' Views Of 19 Spiral Galaxies
Space.com
6 hours ago
2:17
Leonid Meteor Shower, Saturn's Rings Disappear and More In Nov. 2025 Skywatching
Space.com
6 hours ago
1:29
IRS Quietly Changes The Rule On How Your Children’s Inheritance Will Be Taxed
Kiplinger
5 hours ago
3:48
What Is A College 529 Savings Plan - How Does It Work?
Kiplinger
6 hours ago
1:33
What Are iShares Core S&P 500 ETFs?
Kiplinger
6 hours ago
14:43
How To Create A Patch On The Boss GX-100
Music Radar
1 week ago
6:06
Alex Lifeson Epiphone Les Paul Standard Axcess Sound Demo | Music Radar
Music Radar
3 weeks ago
1:45
Earth Is Spinning Too Quickly - Clocks Aren’t Keeping Up
Live Science
6 hours ago
3:48
Hubble Studies Galaxy Lacking Dark Matter
Live Science
7 hours ago
3:06
Where Do Eels Come From?
Live Science
7 hours ago
3:09
What Is Type 3 Diabetes?
Live Science
7 hours ago
1:29
This Weird Skeleton Is Definitely Not An Alien
Live Science
8 hours ago
2:14
Divers Discover 'HMS Urge'
Live Science
9 hours ago
1:45
Solar Maximum Might Arrive Earlier Than Expected
Live Science
9 hours ago
2:02
Naked Mole Rats Dig Carbon Dioxide
Live Science
9 hours ago
2:23
What Did Ancient Humans Use For Toilet Paper?
Live Science
9 hours ago
0:44
Amazing Footage Shows Underwater Volcano In Japan Erupting
Live Science
9 hours ago
0:51
Earth's Annual CO2 Levels
Live Science
9 hours ago
1:16
Rescued Python Covered In Hundreds Of Ticks
Live Science
9 hours ago
9:40
Those Beautiful Auroras Were From A Major Solar Flare
Live Science
10 hours ago
2:02
Polish Archaeologists Unearth Remains Of Nuns Executed By Soviets
Live Science
10 hours ago
Be the first to comment