The Heart's Battlefield: A 2000-Year-Old Gladiatorial Stage at Arles

Erected in 90 AD, the Arles Amphitheatre – a close sibling to Rome's Colosseum – boasts an oval arena encircled by two-level terraces and arcades. Unlike the grandeur of its Italian counterpart, this archaeological gem measuring 136 meters long and 109 meters wide, with 120 arches, demonstrates the genius of Roman engineering, tailored to suit the local topography. In flagrant contrast to popular belief, this amphitheater was not merely a ‘temple of games’. For four centuries, it served as a stage for gladiators, though hunting scenes were never the main event here. Nowadays, the amphitheater – absent of a Southern tower – becomes the stage for concerts and plays throughout summer months.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons