Amphithéâtre Gallo-Romain

NileGuide Expert tip:

Head up the steps and to the back of the amphitheatre for a unique vista across Lyon. Try this in the morning, as the amphitheatre was built to face the rising sun!

Description:

• An inscription that was discovered in 1958 and is now on display in the Museum of Gallo-Roman civilisation helped date the construction of the Amphithéâtre Gallo-Romain to 19 AD, under Tiberius. This amphitheater was used for entertainment and showcasing of tragicomedies, but it was also the federal sanctuary of the Three Gauls in which each tribe was represented, thus ensuring loyalty of the Gallic people to the Emperor. The highest social standing a Gaul could reach was to become a federal priest of Rome and Augustus. The amphitheater is nestled atop a hill and measures 128 x 104m. Coins displayed in the Museum of Gallo-Roman civilisation reproduce the holiness of the altar of Rome and Augustus which is overlooked by two statues of the Victory perched on columns. Call the museum for more details.
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