Odeon Pompeii

Address: Regio VIII, Insula 7, 19
Built: 80- 75 BC

Odeon Pompeii The Odeon or Little Theater of Pompeii stands near the Greater Theater. It was built in the years 80-75 BC by duumviry (two masters of the city, who were chosen by two people for one period) Marcus Porziy and Quinkt Valgom. In ancient times, the Odeon or Small Theater was covered with a wooden roof to enhance the acoustics of the building. The theater follows the plan of other theaters built in the Roman Empire. At a time when the Great Theater was mainly used for the production of drama, the Odeon was used to perform musical concerts. The vast audience in the immediate vicinity of a large untested theater was not unusual for the ancient world. The key to the special use of such a building can be found in a similar building built in Athens by Herod Atticus during the reign of Hadrian. This was called the Odum, a place for singing. The purpose of the roof was probably to add to the acoustic effect. Pompeii Odeon had two high seats (e) for important guests or priests for performing pagan religious rituals. These platforms are completely cut off from the common places. They also had separate stairs to enter. The seats were brick masonry with tuff slabs. They had slides in the back and top to make the viewers a little more comfortable.

The Small Theater or Pompeii Odeon accommodated about 1,500 spectators. The lower four rows were intended for elite cities and were separated from the upper 17 rows by a high parapet. From the former division, only its left part has been preserved (as viewed from the scene). The Small Theater was connected to the Great Theater by a small aisle.