London's Roman Amphitheatre

London’s Roman Amphitheatre is housed underneath Guildhall Art Gallery. The Roman Amphitheatre was open to the public in 2002 after 2,000 years of when it was first erected.

It was a complete mystery to Historians as to where the Roman Amphitheatre was or if there even was one, especially the fact that London was known to the Romans as “Londinium”. It was not until 1988 that the Amphitheatre was found after it was dug up following the plans to expand the Art Gallery, with excavations finally completed in 1996.

It was originally built in AD 70 as a timber structure, raised by wooden bench seating, with a calculation of the size round about 100m by 85m. It was improved in the 2nd century with rebuilt walls and the surfaces of the arena were laid soft sand on a bed of gravel mixed together with mortar. It is estimated that the arena can hold up to 6,000 spectators.

The arena was used for public entertainment, gladiatorial battles and public executions. There was a chamber with an altar, so that gladiators were able to pray before the battle for the lives began. In the chamber running opposite them held the ferocious animal, usually a lion, that they would be pit against. Gladiatorial combat came to end at the end of the 4th century possibly due to the rise of the religion of Christianity.

Public executions were done and the timber drains can still be found at the structure. The timber drains washed away the blood with heavier items dropping into a crevice. Coins adorned with the face of the Emperor were found in the pit as well, which could be viewed at the Museum of London.

The Roman Amphitheatre along with the Art Gallery is free to visit and a 360 degrees tour can also be viewed online as part of visitlondon’s series of virtual tours.

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