VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Teatro Grande, ingressi ai livelli superiori, tra cui ingressi non numerati dal Foro Triangolare.

Large Theatre. Entrances to upper levels including unnumbered entrances from the Triangular Forum. Also see VIII.7.20 for other photos.

Excavated 1764, 1767, 1769, 1771, 1791, 1808 and 1812.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3      Plan of Large Theatre

In the area of the theatre and the porticus sixty-three bodies were found.

See Eschebach, L., 1993. Gebäudeverzeichnis und Stadtplan der antiken Stadt Pompeji. Köln: Böhlau, p. 391.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii, August 2021. Looking south-west on west side of Via Stabiana, with entrance doorway, on right.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

Via Stabiana, Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north from between VIII.7, on left, and I.3, on right. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

The entrance doorways at VIII.7.20 and VIII.7.21 are on the left.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1959.

Entrance doorway on Via Stabiana with Wilhelmina Jashemski and Tatiana Warscher in a deserted roadway. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2023.

Looking west along ramp from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2024.

Looking west along ramp from entrance doorway. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking west along ramp from entrance doorway.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 2005. Entrance doorway to ramp with steps at far end.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1968.

Entrance doorway to ramp with steps at far end. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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VIII.7.21 Pompeii (on right) and VIII.7.20 (on left). 1968.

Looking west towards entrances. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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VIII.7.21 Pompeii, on left, and VIII.7.20, in centre. December 2018.

Looking east from entrance corridors towards Reg. 1, insula 3. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii (on left) and VIII.7.20 (on right). April 2018. Looking east across upper level of entrance corridors.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii (on left) and VIII.7.20 (on right). April 2014. Looking east across upper level of entrance corridors.

Looking east across top of Via Stabiana towards Reg. I.  Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 (on left) and VIII.7.20 (centre). Pompeii. June 1962.

Looking east from entrance corridors towards Reg. 1, insula 3. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 (on left) and VIII.7.20 (on right). Pompeii. 1959. 

Looking east. Photo by Stanley A. Jashemski.

Source: The Wilhelmina and Stanley A. Jashemski archive in the University of Maryland Library, Special Collections (See collection page) and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License v.4. See Licence and use details.

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VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005.

Looking north-east towards Large Theatre from Triangular Forum, with dedication plaque visible on wall, on right.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Dedication plaque on wall by the entrance from the large theatre to the small theatre.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Pompeii. September 2024.

Dedication plaque on wall by the entrance from the large theatre to the small theatre. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Dedication plaque on wall by the entrance from the large theatre to the small theatre.

C QVINCTIVS C F VALG

M PORCIVS M F

DVO VIR DEC DECR

THEATRVM TECTVM

FAC LOC AR EIDEMQ PROB

C(aius) Quinctius C(ai) f(ilius) Valg(us)

M(arcus) Porcius M(arci) f(ilius)

duovir(i) dec(urionum) decr(eto)

theatrum tectum

fac(iundum) locar(unt) eidemq(ue) prob(arunt)    [CIL X 844b]

Gaius Quinctius Valgus, son of Gaius, and Marcus Porcius, son of Marcus, duumvirs, by decree of the town councillors awarded the contract for the construction of the covered theatre and also approved it.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.20, B9). CIL X 844=ILS 5636.

A Theatrum Tectum was a covered theatre; in this case it refers to the Small Theatre or Odeon in Pompeii.

According to Cooley, two copies of this inscription were set up near the main entrances to the Covered Theatre.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, B11, p. 29-30.

This one is from the entrance from the Large Theatre to the small theatre and a second was from the entrance on Via Stabiana.

VIII.7.19 Pompeii. September 2017. Identical dedication plaque above entrance VIII.7.19 on Via Stabiana. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

C QVINCTIVS C F VALG

M PORCIVS M F

DVOVIR DEC DECR

THEATRVM TECTVM

FAC LOCA R EIDEMQ PROB

C(aius) Quinctius C(ai) f(ilius) Valg(us)

M(arcus) Porcius M(arci) f(ilius)

duovir(i) dec(urionum) decr(eto)

theatrum tectum

fac(iundum) locar(unt) eidemq(ue) prob(arunt)          [CIL X 844a]

According to Mau, the names of the builders of the Small Theatre are known from an inscription found in the building.

C. Quinctius C. f. Valg[us], M. Porcius M. f. duovir[i] dec[urionum] decr[eto] theatrum tectum fac[iundum] locar[unt] eidemq[ue] prob[arunt]

“Gaius Quinctius Valgus the son of Gaius, and Marcus Porcius the son of Marcus, duumvirs, in accordance with a decree of the city council let the contract for building the covered theatre and approved the work”.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan, (p.153).

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2024. Reproduction plaque on wall between theatres. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. December 2018. Reproduction plaque on wall between theatres. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

The text on the original white marble slab (inv. 3834) provides the name of the architect involved in the refurbishment of the theatre –

M. Artorius Primus, freedman of Marcus.

The original plaque is now on display in the “Campania Romana” gallery of the Naples Archaeological Museum.

Also see VIII.7.20 Pompeii.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. September 2005. Reproduction plaque on wall between theatres.

M(ARCVS) ARTORIVS M(ARCI) L(IBERTVS) PRIMVS

ARCHITECTVS

M(arcus) Artorius M(arci) l(ibertus) Primus / architectus

Marcus Artorius Primus, freedman of Marcus, architect.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. (p.67, D52). CIL X 841=ILS 5638a.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards upper area of Theatre, on west side. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 2015/2016.

Looking towards upper area of Theatre, on west side. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2018. Entrance doorway to upper level in west wall of Large Theatre.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-east from upper level.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-east from upper level.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-east from upper level, detail of flooring.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking west across Theatre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2011. Large Theatre, view from the top, looking south-west. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. May 2004. Large Theatre, view from the top, looking south-west.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. c.1900. C. and G. Lantern slide published by A. Laverne. Looking west across Large Theatre.  

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Late 19th century photo by Mauri, no. 022. West side of Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. April 2014. Looking west/north-west across top of Theatre. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Large Theatre. June 1962. Looking west/north-west. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. June 2010. Restored seating. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Upper corridor, looking south-west.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Upper corridor, looking north-east.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Upper corridor, looking north-east towards Temple of Isis.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Upper corridor, looking north-west.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. Pre-1875. Photo by Alphonse Bernoud., no. CDV 142.

Looking north-east from Large Theatre, the Temple of Isis can be seen on the lower right. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking north from upper corridor towards Temple of Isis at VIII.7.28.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north at top of theatre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. 1945. Looking north.

The remains of the crypta or passage beneath the summa cavea of the Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii. June 2010. Looking north.

Remains of vaulted corridor over which ran the summa cavea. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.21 Pompeii, on left. April 2018.

Looking north-east from upper level of large theatre towards Vesuvius, across garden of VIII.7.26 and 24 and with the passages to theatres, on the right.

Photo courtesy of Ian Lycett-King. Use is subject to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License v.4 International.

Part 2      Part 3      Part 4      Plan of Large Theatre