Ampitheater

An amphitheater is a freestanding building of a round or, more often, oval shape with a central area, the arena, and seats placed concentrically around it. They were built by the Romans to house gladiatorial games, contests of beasts with one another, and combats between men and beasts.

The word amphitheater word is Greek, meaning "theater with seats on all sides." 

About 230 Roman amphitheaters have been found across the area of the Roman Empire.

The best known amphitheater is The Colosseum in Rome, completed in 80 AD, which held 50,000 spectators.

The interior of the Colosseum,

The oldest permanent amphitheater of which remains exist is one from about 80 BC located in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. It is built of stone 445 by 341 feet (136 by 104 meters) with the arena sunk below the natural level of the surrounding ground. The amphitheater seated about 20,000 people. 

Built in 90 AD, the Arles Amphitheatre in the southern French town of Arles. held over 20,000 spectators of chariot races and bloody hand-to-hand battles. The Roman arena is still used for bullfighting, plays and summer concerts.

Arles Amphitheatre by Paul-louis de la société MEROPS-Photo 

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was a three-storey, open-air amphitheater near Southwark Bridge, London, which opened in 1599 and housed up to 3,000 spectators. It burned down to the ground in 1633.

A natural amphitheater is a performance space located in a spot where a steep mountain or a particular rock formation naturally amplifies or echoes sound, making it ideal for musical and theatrical performances. 

One of John Wesley's most famous preaching places was a subsided mine which formed into the shape of an Amphitheatre. In 1762 a violent gale forced his congregation to shelter there and it became a regular meeting place for his preaching where thousands were able to attend.

Source Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia © 1998 The Learning Company, Inc.