VIII.7.20 Pompeii. Large Theatre.

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This entrance also provided access to the two rear entrances to the Little Theatre or Odeon.

For more details of the Large Theatre:

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. pages 141-152.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north to seating. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2005. Looking north across seating from the stage area. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Seating.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Remains of seats in the media cavea.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1978. Looking towards seating on north-east side. Photo courtesy of Roberta Falanelli.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Detail of seating. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Detail of seating. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Detail of seating. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Detail of seating. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south from seating towards stage.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Inscription to Marcus Holconius Rufus in bronze letters on the marble seating.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Inscription to Marcus Holconius Rufus which would have been in bronze letters on the marble seating.

These possibly mark the place of his bisellium, or double width seat of honour, awarded for municipal services in provinces.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Large Theatre. Bronze letters would have been set into the marble stone seating of the cavea.

The inscription records the career of Marcus Holconius Rufus:

M HOLCO - - NIO V F //UFO

II V I D - - QUINQUIENS

ITER QUINQ TRIB MIL A P

FLAMINI AUG PATR COLO D D

M(arco) Holconio M(arci) f(ilio) Rufo / IIv(iro) i(ure) d(icundo) quinquiens / iter(um) quinq(uennali) trib(uno) mil(itum) a p(opulo) / flamini Aug(usti) patr(ono) colo(niae) d(ecreto) d(ecurionum)     [CIL X 838].

Mau translates this as:

Dedicated in accordance with a decree of the city council to Marcus Holconius Rufus the son of Marcus, five times duumvir with judiciary authority, twice quinquennial duumvir, military tribune by the choice of the people, priest of Augustus and patron of the colony.

See Mau, A., 1907, translated by Kelsey F. W. Pompeii: Its Life and Art. New York: Macmillan. (p.149).

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Inscription to Marcus Holconius Rufus on the marble seating.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2007. Inscription to Marcus Holconius Rufus on the marble seating.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-east from seating.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-west from seating.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking north.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south from upper level.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking north-east across Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking east across Theatre and stage. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Looking east, above the arched entrance would have been the Tribunal.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006.

Tribunal on east side. This was a rectangular platform, reserved for seats for special guests or honoured visitors.

There was also one on the west side - one on either side of the stage.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Arched entrance for ramp leading to media cavea. Looking east.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Arched entrance for ramp leading to media cavea. Looking west.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-west across stage.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2016. Looking south towards stage. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Looking south across stage. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Looking west across stage. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Looking south-west across site of stage.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Looking south-west across site of stage.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Looking south-west across site of stage.

According to Cooley:

The Holconii (two brothers, or perhaps less likely father and son) greatly increased the theatre seating capacity.

They added a new upper section of seating supported by vaulted passageways, or a crypt.

They also created two privileged areas of seating, or boxes, over the covered corridors leading into the orchestra from either side of the theatre.

There were multiple inscriptions recording the benevolence of Marcus Holconius Rufus and Marcus Holconius Celer.

These were set up in different parts of the theatre including two identical inscriptions, each well over 6 metres long, in the area of the stage.

MM(arci) Holconii Rufus et Celer cryptam tribunalia thea[trum] s(ua) p(ecunia)    [CIL X 833]

MM(arci) Holco[nii] Rufus et Celer [cryp]tam tribunalia theatrum s(ua) p(ecunia)    [CIL X 834]

Marcus Holconius Rufus and Marcus Holconius Celer built) at their own expense the crypt, boxes and theatre seating.

See Cooley, A. and M.G.L., 2004. Pompeii: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge. p. 67.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023.

Above doorway, (inv. 3821) one of the two identical white marble slabs with inscriptions each well over 6 metres long, from the area of the stage.

Left side of doorway, two marble slabs (inv. 3834 and 3823).

No. 3834 provides the name of the architect involved in the refurbishment of the theatre – M. Artorius Primus freedman of Marcus.

No. 3823 is a white marble slab in two parts, stating that M. Holconius Rufus and M. Holconius Celer arranged at their own expense for the enlargement of the seating and tribunal of the theatre and the construction of a vaulted corridor.

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023.

White marble basin of a fountain (inv. 6868) on display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.

On left, Dedication to Augustus,

On right, marble slabs ((inv. 3834 and 3823).

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023. Descriptive notice-card in “Campania Romana” gallery. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023.

White marble slab, found 28th June 1792. Dedication to Augustus, pater patriae, on display in “Campania Romana” gallery.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

According to the Epigraphic Database Roma this reads,

[Imp(eratori) Caesari] Augusto, patri

[patriae, imp(eratori) X̅I̅V̅, co(n)]ṣ(uli) X̅I̅I̅I̅, pontif(ici) max(imo), trib(unicia)

[pot]est(ate) X̅X̅I̅I̅.      [CIL X, 842]

Now in Naples Archaeological Museum. Inventory number 3812.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023.

Above doorway, second of the two identical inscriptions each well over 6 metres long, from the area of the stage (inv. 3822).

On display in “Campania Romana” gallery in Naples Archaeological Museum.  Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023.

Descriptive notice-cards in “Campania Romana” gallery.

Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2023.

Detail of the lower three Dedications, as seen on the descriptive notice-card, above. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2024. Looking east across stage. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. May 2006. Site of stage, looking east.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1898. Photo by Peter Paul Mackey. Large theatre looking north from stage.

Photo courtesy of British School at Rome Digital Collections.

See http://www.bsrdigitalcollections.it/islandora/object/MACKEY:406

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. April 2014. Large Theatre, looking south to Gladiator’s Barracks. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. September 2011. Large Theatre, looking south to Gladiator’s Barracks. Photo courtesy of Michael Binns.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021.

Looking north-east from steps leading to Triangular Forum, across Theatre. Photo courtesy of Robert Hanson.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. c.1900. C. and G. Lantern slide published by A. Laverne.

Looking north-east from steps leading to Triangular Forum, towards Large Theatre.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. August 2021. Looking south-west towards steps leading to Triangular Forum, centre right.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii, 1968. Looking south-west towards steps leading to Triangular Forum. 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.7.20 Pompeii. July 2012. Looking south-west across stage area of Large Theatre, towards steps leading to Triangular Forum.

Photo courtesy of John Vanko. His father took the identical photo in February 1952, see below.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. February 1952. Looking south-west across stage area of Large Theatre, towards steps leading to Triangular Forum.

Photo courtesy of John Vanko. His father took this photo in 1952, identical to the one above.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking south-east across stage towards Gladiators Barracks. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. October 2023. Looking south across stage towards Gladiators Barracks. Photo courtesy of Klaus Heese.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. June 2010. Looking south across stage to Gladiators Barracks. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. June 2010. Stage. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. July 1980. Looking south-east towards stage area.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.7.20, Pompeii. 7th August 1976. Looking south-east towards stage, from top of theatre.

In the background, top right, are the columns in the Gladiator’s Barracks.

Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer, from Dr George Fay’s slides collection.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. July 2012.

Looking south in Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of John Vanko.

His father took the identical photo in February 1952, see below.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. February 1952.

Looking south in Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of John Vanko.

His father took this photo in 1952, identical to the one above.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 5th June 1925. Looking south-east towards the stage of the Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 2nd February 1924. Looking south towards stage from top of Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1905. Looking south towards the stage in the Large Theatre. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. Late 19th century photograph by R. Rive no.126.

Looking south from Large Theatre towards Gladiators Barracks. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. June 2010.

Looking from the summa cavea down to the orchestra. Photo courtesy of Rick Bauer.

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1964. Preparing for a production in the Large Theatre. 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.

J64f1582

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1964. Rehearsal in the Large Theatre. 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.

J64f1583

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1964. West side of Large Theatre at rehearsal. 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.

J64f1584

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1964.

Advertising poster for “Gli uccelli di Aristofane”, a performance held whilst Wilhelmina and Stanley Jashemski were at Pompeii.

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.

J64f1778

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1964.

Performance of “Gli uccelli di Aristofane”, held at the Large Theatre. 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.

J64f1928

VIII.7.20 Pompeii. 1964. Performance of “Gli uccelli di Aristofane”, held at the Large Theatre. 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.

J64f1929

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