movingthegrains: Orange

The Roman Theatre of Orange, known locally as the Theatre Antique, is a first century theatre and one of the best preserved Roman sites in the world.

Dating back to the rule of Augustus (31 BC to 14 AD), the Roman Theatre of Orange is an incredible site and one of the largest existing theatres of its kind, able to hold up to 10,000 spectators.

The façade wall of the Roman Theatre of Orange is an impressive 338 feet long and 121 feet high and the structure still retains its original stage. This is despite the fact that the Prince of Orange, Maurice of Nassau, damaged it in the seventeenth century by using it as a quarry for building materials.

There are only three Roman theaters with the stage wall left in the world--Syria, Turkey, and Orange.

Today, the Roman Theatre of Orange is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage historic site together with the Triumphal Arch of Orange. It is still used as a theatre, meaning that visitors can enjoy a play in its historic surroundings.

A rehearsal for Carmen was taking place during my visit.

Contemporary houses were pulled down in order to reveal the classical ruins of the Roman Theatre in Orange behind and beneath them. Work on this clearance finished in 1856. Tiny figures, who appear dwarfed by the architecture cleared up the ruins. The proscenium is on the left and the semi-circular seating, not yet uncovered, is on the right.

The artist sketched in the structure of the composition before applying his oil paints, with which he masterfully captures the play of light on the masonry brickwork and plastered walls. The artist is unknown.

Imagining a performance there . . .

The Triumphal Arch of Orange was built during the reign of Augustus 27 BC - AD 14.
It was built on the former via Agrippa to honor the veterans of the Gallic Wars.