Teatro di Marcello 1
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Teatro di Marcello

The Teatro di Marcello was originally begun by Julius Caesar and completed by his adopted son Augustus between 11 and 13 B.C.

The Emperor dedicated the building to his nephew, son of his sister Octavia, and son-in-law Marcello, who died in 23 B.C. He was his official heir and was immortalized by Virgil in a passage of Aeneid.

The building is said to have provided space for 15,000 people, which could be increased to 20,000 under certain circumstances. It was thus the largest theatre in the city, and later served as a model for the construction of the Colosseum. The building is located right next to the temple of Apollo Sosianus.

Over the centuries, the building has been reused in various ways. In the 13th century it served as a fortress and in the 16th century as a palazzo, while the lower arches were used as dwellings or workshops. At the beginning of the 19th century it was the seat of the Prussian legation to the Pontifical See.

Today concerts are still regularly held in the theatre.

Teatro di Marcello

Teatro di Marcello (Rome)