ROME: FROM FASCISM TO LIBERATION

The Theater of Marcellus was dedicated around 13 BCE to honor Emperor Augustus’s nephew. At that time, it was the largest theater in Rome. It stood 100 feet high and could seat around 20,000 people. As in many Roman structures, the theater was designed with a series of barrel-vaults that add both decoration and strength to the structure. Unlike structures such as the Colosseum, however, this building also uses concrete ramps instead of stairs to wind its way up the various levels. It could originally seat approximately 11,000 spectators. While the theater itself is concrete, it was faced completely with travertine and different orders of engaged Greek columns. It is speculated that the theater was originally built as a way to rival the theater of Pompey; however, there is no factual evidence to support that claim.

Until Mussolini turned his attention to the Theater of Marcellus in 1926 as part of his new “Romanita”, the theater had been crowded with piles of old ruins, shops, shacks, and any manner of randomness that builds up over thousands of years. So much of the theater was buried at this point that there was truly no way of knowing how much of the structure remained or if what was seen was even connected to anything. Archaeologists had done a little exploring in the earlier 1900s, but even they could not say for sure. Mussolini took a chance and ordered the area to be completely cleared out and the theater restored to a recognizable state. As usual with Mussolini’s excavations, this lead to all the houses and shops in the area being completely demolished. The only people allowed to stay were the Orisinis whom had “owned” the theater for decades. By the end of the excavations in 1932, over three fourths of the façade could be seen, the barrel-vault had been cleared, and iron gates installed. Mussolini was quite proud to include this “Colosseum look-alike” in his repertoire of Ancient Roman ruins.