Description of the Theatre (Reg VIII, Ins 1, 8) The Large Theatre, built into the slopes of a hillside in typical Greek form, dates from the end of the 3rd century B.C. During the Augustan period the theatre was extensively restored and enlarged, as stated in many inscriptions, under the auspices of the brothers Marcus Holconius Rufus and Marcus Holconius Celer. .. .. The modifications by the freedman Marcus Artorius Primus converted what had been a Hellenistic theatre into the Roman form we see today, very much in line with the layout defined by Vitruvius in his Ten Books on Architecture (Book V, chapter VI, 'Plan of the Theatre'). .. .. The cavea was divided into three tiers ( Ima, Media and Summa) and could accommodate in the order of 5,000 spectators. The Roman stage, built over the original, had a monumental facade (scaena) adorned with columns, cornices, pediments and statues. The housing for the curtain, which was dropped rather than raised for a performance, can still be seen. The audience was protected from the elements by a velarium supported on poles round the outside. The photograph on the left shows the theatre from the outside, taken from behind the stage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------