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442:. The amphitheatre featured two main gates, from the west and the east, linked by an underground water canal. The west gate, which reaches 3.5 m (11 ft) in width, is estimated to have been topped by an arch 5 m (16 ft) in height. Among the excavated and preserved ruins are the main entrance, the underground level, part of the main section with at least seven spectator seats, and gates with sliding doors to let animals into the arena. The
378:
In July 2006, digging of the foundations of a
National Electric Company office building in the vicinity came across further parts of the arena. The eastern entrance and the section of the amphitheatre within the hotel lot, which is about a sixth of the entire building, was preserved and incorporated
209:. Discovered in 2004 and the subject of excavations in 2005 and 2006, the ruins of the amphitheatre lie on two adjacent sites in the centre of modern Sofia. The amphitheatre was built in the 3rd–4th century AD on top of a 2nd–3rd century
400:. This is false, however, since the Colosseum measures 87 by 55 metres (285 ft × 180 ft), and many other amphitheatres are larger than Serdica's. Furthermore, the Colosseum's exterior dimensions were far larger (see
391:
With its original dimensions of 60.5 m × 43 m (198 ft × 141 ft), the central arena of the
Amphitheatre of Serdica is commonly cited as having been some 10 m (33 ft) smaller than the
579:
Paunov, Evgeni (2010). "Антиной в Сердика: рядък медальон на фаворита на Хадриан от Софийския амфитеатър" [Antinoüs in
Serdica: A rare medallion of Hadrian's favourite from the Sofia Amphitheatre].
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In 2007, the western entrance and the adjacent part of the amphitheatre was excavated at the
National Electric Company lot. A campaign began to prevent the construction of the planned building on the site.
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1443:
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into the hotel's ground floor. It is freely accessible for tourists during the day, except on
Mondays, and includes a small expositions of coins and ceramics unearthed on the site.
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as involved in the fights. It is thought to have stood at the entrance of Roman
Serdica, so as to serve as advertisement for these events. The plate is currently displayed in the
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construction technique was employed in the construction of at least a part of the amphitheatre. Items discovered during the amphitheatre excavations include bear and
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The amphitheatre itself was in use for less than a century, as it was abandoned by the 5th century, perhaps due to the anti-pagan policies of
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in ancient
Serdica had been conjectured ever since 1919, when a stone plate depicting an amphitheatre's façade and fights between
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282:, the amphitheatre was constructed on top of the theatre ruins in two stages during the late 3rd and early 4th century CE, under
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in modern Paris, France, and was designed for a maximum attendance of more than 20,000 up to around 25,000. Like arenas in the
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In 2004, the amphitheatre itself was accidentally discovered during the early construction of what came to be known as the
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263:(r. 198–217); the former may have visited the theatre with his family in 202 or 209. In the first half of 268, however, a
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The theatre, 55 m (180 ft) wide, was perhaps built simultaneously with
Serdica's defensive walls under
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region, the
Amphitheatre of Serdica has an east–west orientation. It lay outside the city walls of Serdica.
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221:. However, the amphitheatre remained in use for less than a century and was abandoned by the 5th century.
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and the largest in what is today
Bulgaria. It lay outside the city walls of Serdica and hosted
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The Amphitheatre was much larger than two other Roman amphitheatres in modern Bulgaria, at
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coins and clay stones imprinted with the footprints of goats, dogs, and cats.
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The Amphitheatre of Serdica was among the biggest in the eastern part of the
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Paunov, Evgeni (May–June 2007). "Roman entertainment in Sofia-Serdica".
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lay in the southern section of the amphitheatre, near what is today the
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raid ravaged and burned the theatre, forcing its permanent abandonment.
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423:). In terms of architecture, the amphitheatre was comparable to the
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invaders set up their homes within the former arena, and during the
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and wild beasts, which were advertised at the entrance of the city.
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Minerva: The International Review of Ancient Art & Archaeology
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513:"The amphiteater of ancient Serdica (Amphiteatrum Serdicense)"
367:. In the modern cityscape of Sofia, the ruins lie south of
244:
The Amphitheatre of Serdica was built on top of an earlier
326:
Amphitheatre remains inside the Arena di Serdica hotel, a
515:. Arena di Serdica Residence Hotel Sofia. Archived from
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edifice. The plate shows crocodiles, bears, bulls, and
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and wild animals was unearthed near what is today the
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Buildings and structures completed in the 4th century
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Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd century
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headquarters and the embassy of the United Kingdom.
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period (late 14th–19th centuries), it was used as a
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255:(r. 177–192). It was active during the reigns of
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300:(r. 379–395). In the 5th and 6th centuries,
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615:(in French). Michelin. 2009. p. 113.
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1004:Saint Nicholas the Miracle-Maker Church
645:. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 89–90.
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560:. London: Aurora Publications: 40–41.
436:stand for high-ranking Roman officials
1385:Prince Alexander of Battenberg Square
828:National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria
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35:The second section of unearthed ruins
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879:Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
1423:Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard
942:National Museum of Military History
369:Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard
1024:Saint Petka of the Saddlers Church
947:National Museum of Natural History
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1469:Buildings and structures in Sofia
1014:Saint Nicholas Mirlikiyski Church
780:Sofia Cherveno zname swim complex
669:Ulpia Serdica — Amphitheatre
932:National Gallery for Foreign Art
643:Bulgaria: The Bradt Travel Guide
350:Council of Ministers of Bulgaria
52:
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1231:Monument to the Unknown Soldier
1226:Monument to the Tsar Liberator
1029:Saints Sedmochislenitsi Church
922:National Archaeological Museum
360:of Bulgaria in the same city.
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1272:Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
952:National Polytechnical Museum
912:Earth and Man National Museum
795:Vasil Levski National Stadium
775:PFC CSKA Sofia Sports Complex
310:source of building materials
1221:Monument to the Soviet Army
823:Ivan Vazov National Theatre
613:Bulgarie. Guide de tourisme
481:List of Roman amphitheatres
471:Hagia Sophia Church (Sofia)
402:List of Roman amphitheatres
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984:Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
957:Museum of Regional History
937:National Historical Museum
849:National Palace of Culture
1133:Central Sofia Market Hall
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1380:Patriarch Evtimiy Square
1282:National Academy of Arts
1236:Monument to Vasil Levski
1214:Monuments and structures
1087:Central Department Store
790:Stadion Georgi Asparuhov
396:in the imperial capital
175:Amphitheatrum Serdicense
23:Amphitheatrum Serdicense
1459:Roman sites in Bulgaria
1267:Amphitheatre of Serdica
917:Museum of Socialist Art
785:Stadion Balgarska Armia
167:Amphitheatre of Serdica
17:Amphitheatre of Serdica
1408:Georgi Rakovski Street
1019:Saint Paraskeva Church
999:Saint Joseph Cathedral
365:Arena di Serdica Hotel
335:
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1277:Central Military Club
1251:Statue of Sveta Sofia
1205:Sofia Central Station
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291:Constantine the Great
187:Amfiteatar na Serdika
183:Амфитеатър на Сердика
156:Excavation dates
102:42.69722°N 23.32833°E
61:Shown within Bulgaria
1413:Graf Ignatiev Street
1112:Serdika Center Sofia
994:Saint George Rotunda
927:National Art Gallery
907:Battenberg Mausoleum
805:Winter Sports Palace
588:(15). Sofia: 42–48.
440:National Art Gallery
387:Physical description
1464:Roman amphitheatres
1370:Independence Square
641:Kay, Annie (2008).
452:bones, hundreds of
340:The existence of a
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1050:Banya Bashi Mosque
1034:Saint Sofia Church
582:Будител" / Buditel
342:Roman amphitheatre
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136:3rd–4th century AD
122:Roman amphitheatre
107:42.69722; 23.32833
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1107:Park Center Sofia
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1009:St Nedelya Church
967:Places of worship
884:National Assembly
857:
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833:Satirical Theatre
652:978-1-84162-155-5
622:978-2-06-713911-4
312:for new housing.
289:(r. 284–305) and
259:(r. 193–211) and
257:Septimius Severus
213:, which had been
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1375:Macedonia Square
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466:History of Sofia
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1179:Capital Fort
1158:Royal Palace
1153:Vrana Palace
758:Sport venues
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521:. Retrieved
517:the original
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298:Theodosius I
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191:amphitheatre
186:
166:
164:
145:Roman Empire
1334:City Garden
869:Court House
445:opus mixtum
105: /
81:Coordinates
76:, Bulgaria.
1438:Categories
1241:Roman wall
862:Government
716:structures
523:2011-05-17
487:References
346:gladiators
332:classicism
287:Diocletian
234:gladiators
151:Site notes
93:23°19′42″E
90:42°41′50″N
1297:Sofia Zoo
1193:Transport
1068:Retailing
899:galleries
707:landmarks
594:1312-7829
566:0957-7718
394:Colosseum
354:wild cats
316:Discovery
302:barbarian
261:Caracalla
189:) was an
179:Bulgarian
1174:Sky Fort
1092:The Mall
976:Churches
815:Theatres
460:See also
328:pastiche
280:Antinous
253:Commodus
232:between
207:Bulgaria
197:city of
70:Location
1400:Streets
1354:Squares
1344:Vitosha
1126:Markets
894:Museums
725:Bridges
413:Hisarya
306:Ottoman
276:ceramic
240:History
217:by the
215:ravaged
211:theatre
193:in the
141:Periods
133:Founded
128:History
750:venues
649:
619:
592:
564:
454:bronze
421:Devnya
415:) and
265:Gothic
230:fights
201:, now
1321:Parks
1260:Other
1043:Other
874:Largo
842:Other
705:Sofia
219:Goths
203:Sofia
171:Latin
74:Sofia
647:ISBN
617:ISBN
590:ISSN
562:ISSN
450:boar
434:The
398:Rome
274:and
272:coin
165:The
159:2004
118:Type
1356:and
896:and
404:).
330:of
1440::
631:^
602:^
558:19
556:.
532:^
494:^
185:,
181::
177:;
173::
697:e
690:t
683:v
655:.
625:.
596:.
586:1
568:.
526:.
419:(
411:(
334:.
169:(
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