Roman Amphitheatre
The Chester amphitheatre is one of the largest known from Roman Britain. It was probably built in about 100 AD, immediately outside the south-eastern corner of the defences of the Roman legionary fortress. Almost half of this masive structure has been excavated and further excavations will take place over the next three years.
Until recently it had been thought that the first amphitheatre on the site was built of wood, but excavations now suggest that it might have been stone from the outset. The amphitheatre was enormous, seating as many as 7,000 people. They would have sat on tiered rows of wooden seats, rather like those in a modern football stadium. The front rows were reserved for the most important men, while women and slaves sat high up at the back.
There were four main entrances at north, south, east and west. The principal or ceremonial entrances faced the civilian town to the north and the river to the south. Eight smaller entrances led to the seating banks.
For many years it was thought that Chester's amphitheatre was mainly used for military training and parades. While this is possible, there is no actual evidence and recent research indicates far more exciting and bloodier uses. Fragments of human bones found on the arena floor suggest that many people were slaughtered in the amphitheatre, possibly in gladatorial combat. A small shrine near the north entrance was dedicated to Nemesis, the goddess of fate and divine retribution. Did gladiators make offerings there before performances, in the hope avoiding an untimely death?
There was also a religious aspect to these spectacular gladatorial shows and it is possible that other religious festivities took place in the area, including public rituals involving the army or celebrations such as the emperor's birthday.
Sometime before the middle of the 2nd century, the amphitheatre seems to have fallen out of use and became a rubbish dump. It was repaired and brought back into action towards the end of the 3rd century, but nor for long. By the early 4th century it was abandoned and part of the site began to be used for other purposes. There are indications that people were living in the amphihteatre during the post-Roman period. The foundation of nearby St. John's Church in 689 AD may be associated with this settlement.
The remains of the ruined amphitheatre, robbed of stone for other city buildings, probably survived into the medieval period, certainly long enough for it to cause a bend in the road which is now little St. John Street. The hollow of the arena was not filled in until the 18th century, when two large Georgian houses were built over the site; St. John's House, demolished in 1958 and Dee House which stands on the unexcavated half of the amphitheatre.
The amphitheatre was discovered in 1929 and exploratory excavations took place in the 1930s. The northern part of the site was a pleasant public garden.
Major excavations and consolidation work took place between 1957 and 1972, giving the amphitheatre its present appearance. These excavations concentrated on the Roman phases of the monument.
Between 2000 and 2003 research investigations by archaeologists from Chester City Council showed that the amphitheatre is far more complex than was once thought. The Council, in partnership with English Heritage, is now undertaking a three year programme of excavation and research to discover much more of the story of this fascinating site.