Theatre of Balbus

Ancient monuments in Rome
name=Theatre of Balbus
label_name=Theatre of Balbus


tekst1=Theatre of Balbus
label_x=0.20
label_y=0.39
location= Regione XI "Circus Maximus"
date=13 BC
builder= Lucius Cornelius Balbus (minor)
type=Roman theatre (structure)|

In 13 BC, proconsul Lucius Cornelius Balbus (minor) built the Theatre of Balbus in the Campus Martius of Rome, likely from the spoils of a military campaign by order of Augustus (Cassius Dio 54.18.2; Pliny the Elder, Natural History (Pliny) 36.59-60).

Very little is mentioned of the theatre in ancient writings. It's location was debated for decades until pieces of the Forma Urbis were finally pieced together in the 1960's. Excavations of the theatre began in 1981 and are still ongoing, however, the main portion of the crypta finished in 2000. Today what has been excavated can be seen at the Museo Nazionale Romano Crypta Balbi (National Museum of Rome), which is located at Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31, (corner of Via M. Caetani).

The museum is located in what was the crpta or courtyard in the rear of the theater's complex behind the stage. This courtyard was the smallest of all of Rome's major theatres. Here patrons would stroll between acts of a performance and seek refreshments much like a modern theatre's main lobby.

ee also

*List of ancient monuments in Rome

Notes